Become A ‘Home Party Boss’ With The All-Purpose Takoyaki Iron Plate
Compared to Japan, it seems there are more people who enjoy home parties in the UK. You may find yourself pondering “what kind of home party should I throw? ...” It goes without saying that the main part of a party is the food, but with so many options out there, it is easy to get confused about what to go for.
If you’re looking to be the host with the most for your next home party, why not add some Japanese panache? It’s unique, special and certain to impress those guests. Thus, I’m happy to introduce the Japanese takoyaki plate that is sure to be a big hit at your next party. You will be pleasantly surprised at the versatility of the takoyaki plate as it not only makes the infamous takoyaki, but also a large variety of scrumptious dishes.
Those who have tried takoyaki before know what I’m talking about when I say “THEY’RE DELICIOUS”. They are a Japanese delicacy – Iron plate fried balls of battered octopus deliciousness; mixed with a tad of pickled ginger, a dash of green onion and sprinkling of tempura scraps. Topped with a special savory sauce, Japanese style mayo and groovy dancing bonito flakes, these octopus balls will have you (and your party guests) hooked! Don’t be intimidated by these complex ingredients; there are many easy to follow takoyaki recipes online that will have you enjoying authentic takoyaki before you can say “octopus balls”.
The birthplace of takoyaki is Osaka and it is said that each family there has their own takoyaki plate. Although I'm not originally from Osaka, even at my house, in the region of Kansai, we have had a takoyaki plate since I was little! "Takopa" (which is a cute, kawaii way to say takoyaki party) was a normality at my house. If octopus balls aren’t your thing, don’t worry. If you have a takoyaki plate you can hold different types of parties besides takoyaki! Think; ajillo, pizza, corn dog, hamburger parties, mini desserts; the list goes on. So as long as you can imagine it, you can eat it!
Personally, my favourite is the cheese fondue. All you need to do is put small pieces of Parmigiano-Reggiano in the little holes on the takoyaki plate, skewer your favourite ingredients like fresh veg and bread then dip into the melted cheese. Easy peasy, cheesy goodness! Since it’s a cast iron plate, it has a really high heat retention, thus is hard to cool. That means that even a large number of people can enjoy cheese fondue without worrying about your cheese going cold. Just remember not to use it in the micro as it’s made of metal (iron) and only use it on a hob or portable gas stove. You could even use it on the BBQ in the garden in summer!
Wow your mates with the takoyaki plate today! I thoroughly recommend it as you can effortlessly make so many types of fancy bites to eat whilst astonishing your British buddies. Why not bring a little Japanese flare to your next home party?
【ホームパーティーでも大活躍！万能なたこ焼きプレートは一家に1台！】
イギリスでは、日本よりもっと気軽にホームパーティーを楽しむ人が多いですよね。とはいえ、日本人の性格が関係しているのか、人を招くとなると「どんなホームパーティーにしよう…」と迷ってしまうもの…。特に、ホームパーティーのテーマになるといっても過言ではない料理だからこそ、何にしようか迷ってしまいがちです。
また、イギリス在住の日本人の方であれば、「日本らしさを演出できるホームパーティーにしたい♡」なんて考えている方もいるかもしれませんね。そこで今回は、イギリスのホームパーティーでも活躍する、日本のたこ焼きプレートをご紹介します！「たこ焼きはちょっと…」と思った方ほど、さまざまな料理を楽しめるたこ焼きプレートの万能さに驚かされるはず◎
たこ焼きの発祥地である大阪では、たこ焼きプレートが一家に1台あるともいわれています。大阪でなくとも関西出身である私の家にも小さい頃からたこ焼きプレートがあり、もちろん「たこパ」なるものをやっていましたよ～！たこ焼きプレートがあれば、たこ焼き以外にもさまざまなパーティーができるのを知っていますか？アヒージョやピザ、アメリカンドッグ、ハンバーガーなど、アイディア1つでバラエティに富んだホームパーティーを楽しめるからこそおすすめです◎
なかでも私のイチオシは、チーズフォンデュ♡たこ焼きプレートに、小さく切ったパルミジャーノチーズを入れ、とろ～り溶けたところに串刺しにしておいた野菜やパンなどお好きな具材を付けて食べるだけ！保温性が高く冷めにくい鉄鋳物製のたこ焼きプレートだから、大人数でもしっかりとチーズフォンデュを楽しめます。
その他にも、万能アイテムであるたこ焼きプレートを活用したレシピはたくさんあるので、ぜひチェックしてみてくださいね！「これ何？！」とイギリス人を驚かせつつ、たこ焼き以外にも華やかにホームパーティーを彩るおしゃれな料理が簡単&手軽にできるのでおすすめです。また、ガス専用のたこ焼きプレートは、お庭でのBBQなどでも活用できますよ！