Dora Yaki recipe

Terri, this is for you! Tako-Yaki (yum-yum) recipe is up next. Need to take some photos first!

Dora Yaki

Red bean paste (Anko):

• 300 g Japanese red beans (azuki) – soak for 5 hours at least
• 220 g castor sugar (this amount makes the paste quite bland for some people, not like a sweet dessert)
  
• ¼ tsp salt

Method:
For Anko:

1. Place the red beans in a thick bottom and broad base pot and fill it up three quarters way with water. Boil for 5 minutes and drain.
2. Fill the pot three quarters way with water again, pour in the red beans and bring to boil. Simmer on small fire for two hours until the red beans are soft.
3. Remove any scum or foam along the way.
   
4. Once the red beans are soft, off the fire and drain well if there are still liquids.
5. Return the softened red beans to the pot, add sugar and stir constantly. (It might suddenly turn liquid-y when you add the sugar) Just continue to stir until it dries up again. Try to mesh up the soft red beans and add the salt.
6. Allow it to cool and transfer into small containers for use with different recipes. Keep in the fridge.

For Pancakes:
I read on the internet that legend has it that the first Dora Yaki was made when a samurai named Benkei forgot his gong (‘dora’ in Japanese) upon leaving a farmer’s home where he was hiding and the farmer used the gong to fry the pancakes, thus the name Dora Yaki.

Dora Yaki pancakes:

• 100 g plain flour (sifted)
• 90 g castor sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp Maple syrup
• 1 tbsp Mirin
• 1 tbsp water
  

1. Beat eggs and sugar in Kenwood using ‘K’ beater (I only own a Kenwood but you can use any cake beater). Beat on high till the eggs become pale and thick. Add the Maple syrup, mirin and water and beat for a short while.
2. Fold in the flour and set aside. Cover it with cling film and stand in a warm corner for 15 minutes for it to ‘rise’ (becomes foamy).
3. Pour mixture into a jug without ‘disturbing’ it too much. (keep the mixture foamy).
4. Pour required amount onto a heated non-stick and slightly oiled pan and cook like ordinary pancakes. (until bubbles appear and flip)
5. Sandwich two pieces of pancakes with the cooked Anko (red bean paste) and you get your Dora Yaki. Enjoy!
   Daughter #2 couldn't resist THIS!