Tamagoyaki Love

Tamagoyaki is the Japanese version of omelette. Today (and yesterday,) I was able to whip up something good despite the lack of the rectangular omelette pan, or even a flat pan.

tamagoyaki 001

For yesterday's version, I made it for K-kun's bento. I've been making bento for him for the past days but it's my first time making a tamagoyaki. Something that just popped up in my head since he's done with corned beef and anything that could be fried in the fridge. Something fried is essential to him because he doesn't want to bring an extra lunch box just for the soup or saucy dishes. Anyway, tamagoyaki 001 came with finely chopped hotdogs.

tamagoyaki 002

While tamagoyaki 002 came with finely chopped ham. This time it's for our lunch. K-kun's bento for the day are burger patties plus three slices of tamagoyaki 002.

To make tamagoyaki 002, you'll need:

• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 slices of ham, finely chopped and pre-cooked
• salt and white pepper to taste
• your choice of butter and/or cooking oil for cooking (because I don't use a non-stick pan, little oil will do.)

How-to:

1. Pour egg mixture into the well-heated pan, enough to cover the face of the pan thinly. Cook the egg gently until you see the top almost set.
2. Roll the egg to one side of the pan using a slotted turner while supporting the eggs to keep in place using chopsticks or tongs. Place the rolled egg to the other side of the pan where the unrolled edge of the egg is set toward the face of pan (this makes the first layer.)
3. Pour another batch of the mixture into the pan making sure it flowed into the unrolled edge of the first layer (to make it looked like its the continuation of the first layer.)
4. Cook until the second layer is almost set then continue rolling the first layer joined with the second layer.
5. Allow it to cool for a while into a paper towel and at the same time to remove excess oil. Get a sharp knife, and I mean a sharp wicked knife to slice up the rolled up egg while your clean fingers are acting as support to the egg roll.
6. Serve as is or drizzled with your choice of ketchup!

I like my eggs well done so it looks a bit burnt but essentially it should be yellowish, like how a normal scrambled egg would look like. But just so you know the authentic tamagoyaki are mixed with light soy sauce, mirin (rice wine with lower alcohol content) and some with... gasp... sugar!

Sorry, no step by step photos because the kitchen is too hot I want to get out of it fast. If you're a bit confused with my explanation, watch this great video I found. Darn, I do wish I have that pan!