Dorayaki

There was a warrior called Musashibō Benkei, who lived in the 12th century in Japan. He followed the religious order of the Yamabushi and learned traditional fighting styles. Legend says he had the order to guard the Gojō Bridge in Kyōto and took the weapons of everyone who wanted to pass. He had collected a respectable stash of 999 weapons when a warrior called Yoshitsune defeated him. Benkei wanted to learn from him and became a follower. But during a battle they were betrayed, and Benkei lost his gong in a farm during his escape. The farmer used the gong (dora) to bake (yaki) dorayaki, pancakes. The pancakes are filled with Anko which you should make first, for the preparation have a look at this instructable: Anko.

If you know Doraemon, you probably didn't need this introduction.

• 3 eggs
• 175grams flour
• 80grams sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
• Anko

Interestingly if you have a Hermann dough prepared, you can use it as well, you will get the same results. The recipe for the Hermann can be found in this instructable: Sourdough.

Beat the eggs and stir them.

Weigh 90 grams sugar and add it to the beaten eggs with a spoon of honey.

Weigh 2 cups (180grams) of flour and add to the mixture. Then add the ¹/₂ tablespoon of baking powder and the 3 spoons of water, stir the mixture evenly. Then let it all rest for 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes heat your pan to a high temperature. Use a paper towel, soak it in cooking oil and wipe out the pan. Take the dorayaki mixture and give a blob the size of your palm into the hot pan. Here comes the trick of the baking powder, it activates at the right temperatur to turn the pancakes around. When you see bubbles appearing in the wet dough in your pan, then it is the right time. It is a bit tricky though because the dough is only solid on the bottom. When you feel it is completely solid it is time to take out of the pan.

Place the finished pancake on a piece of plastic wrap, then make another one. While the secound one is in the pan, put some Anko on the first one like in picture 2. Then add the secound one on top and wrap it in cling film. Press it together and it is ready to be consumed or as packed lunch for your kids.

The amount of dough is enough for 14 dorayaki, which are very sweet but tasty and filling. I had some leftover Hermann dough and realised the doughs are almost the same. The same bubbles can be seen in picture 2 and 3, just with yeast instead of baking powder.

You can fill the dorayaki also with other sweets, try it out!