Tokyo, the gastronomic capital of the world, offers a fascinating array of foods to try. Among them, the city's baked goods, combining traditional Japanese flavors with a unique twist, never fail to impress. Here are six delectable bakes from the streets of Tokyo that you can recreate at home.
Melonpan
Melonpan, or 'melon bread', is a popular Japanese sweet bread. Despite its name, it doesn't taste like melon but gets its name from the melon-like appearance. The bread is soft and sweet, topped with a thin layer of crunchy cookie dough. You can find them in every bakery across Tokyo, each boasting a unique touch to this classic. Here's a simple recipe to bake your own Melonpan.
- Ingredients: Flour, yeast, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, vanilla extract
- Steps: Prepare the bread dough and let it rise. Make the cookie dough and refrigerate. Shape the bread dough into balls, cover with the cookie dough, score to resemble a melon, let it rise again, and bake.
Taiyaki
Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake traditionally filled with red bean paste. It's a common sight in Tokyo street food stalls, especially during festivals. The cake is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the sweetness of the red bean paste offering a delightful contrast. Try making Taiyaki at home with this easy recipe.
- Ingredients: Flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, sugar, red bean paste
- Steps: Mix the ingredients for the batter. Fill the taiyaki mold with batter, add the red bean paste, cover with more batter, and cook on both sides till golden brown.
Hokkaido Milk Bread
Hokkaido Milk Bread, also known as Shokupan, is a staple in Japanese households and bakeries. Its pillowy texture and slightly sweet taste make it perfect for sandwiches or toasts. The secret to its softness lies in 'tangzhong', a paste of flour and water cooked together. Learn to bake Hokkaido Milk Bread with this recipe.
- Ingredients: Flour, milk, yeast, sugar, butter, salt, cream, 'tangzhong' (flour and water paste)
- Steps: Prepare the 'tangzhong' and let it cool. Combine all ingredients, knead the dough, and let it rise. Shape the dough into a loaf, let it rise again, and bake.
Anpan
Anpan is a sweet roll filled with red bean paste, a favorite amongst the Japanese. It was first created in the Meiji era and has been loved ever since. Baking Anpan at home is quite straightforward.
- Ingredients: Flour, yeast, sugar, salt, water, butter, red bean paste
- Steps: Prepare the dough and let it rise. Divide the dough, fill with red bean paste, shape into rolls, let it rise again, and bake.
Doraemon Dorayaki
Dorayaki, made famous by the anime character Doraemon, is a sweet treat consisting of two small pancakes sandwiching a filling of sweet red bean paste. They're soft, fluffy, and delectably sweet. Here's how to make Dorayaki.
- Ingredients: Flour, eggs, honey, baking soda, sugar, water, red bean paste
- Steps: Make the pancake batter and cook small pancakes. Allow to cool, then sandwich red bean paste between two pancakes.
Matcha Mochi Cake
Matcha Mochi Cake is a delightful fusion of the traditional Japanese mochi and Western-style cake. The result is a chewy, moist, and flavorful dessert, with the matcha adding a touch of bitterness to balance the sweetness. Try this Matcha Mochi Cake recipe at home.
- Ingredients: Glutinous rice flour, matcha powder, sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk, oil
- Steps: Mix all ingredients into a smooth batter. Pour into a greased baking dish, bake, and let cool before slicing.
These six delectable bakes offer you a taste of Tokyo's street food culture.
