The taiyaki ice cream is a recipe of Japanese origin, which thanks to social networks, has become popular around the world in recent years. Generally, in Japan it is very common to see taiyaki ice cream in different bakeries, popular markets, supermarkets, fast food places and of course, in kombinis, that is, in convenience stores that operate 24 hours a day in different areas of the cities.
While taiyaki ice cream is usually very affordable in Japanese communities, with a wide variety of flavors and presentations to choose from, in other parts of the world, this particular fish-shaped cookie, can become a luxury that is served for quite high prices. Therefore, in IceCreamBusiness.PRO we have thought of you, who want to learn how to prepare the taiyaki recipe to enjoy this delicious Japanese dessert.
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What is taiyaki ice cream?
To begin with, it is important to clarify that the name of this ice cream is precisely due to the cookie on which it is served. The taiyaki is a traditional Japanese sweet, experts in the world of ice cream, indicate that this dessert was born in 1909 in a confectionery called Naniwaya, located in Azabu, in the southern area of Tokyo. This oriental delicacy consists of a kind of waffle in the shape of a fish, which was originally filled with beans or sweet beans. However, nowadays, its fillings are very varied.
When we talk about taiyaki ice cream, we must also take into account that, in general, they are usually soft ice creams, also known as soft ice creams, which are served on this popular fish-shaped cookie, just as you would do with an ice cream cone or cone. Another attraction of the taiyaki recipe is its versatility when served, since you can choose from a wide variety of flavors to go with your favorite toppings. Some people eat it with cookies, gumdrops or jelly beans, colored rain, chocolate drops, among others.
The advantage of taiyaki is that it is usually a sorbet that attracts a lot of attention. It is refreshing, it is atypical, its presentation is fun and there are hundreds of ways to eat it. Some bakeries have even dared to innovate the recipe, adding a different touch of flavor to the cookie or waffle. So it is possible to find vanilla taiyakis, chocolate taiyakis and even other shapes such as unicorns or mermaids, but always starting from the original recipe.
Origin of the taiyaki fish shape
In Eastern culture, fish are seen as a symbol of prosperity and wealth. Hence, taiyaki is a dessert of Japanese origin and therefore its shape is that of a carp fish, which has a strong meaning in Southeast and East Asian countries. In Japan, carp fish are synonymous with abundance, because they are a species capable of producing a large number of eggs after mating.
In addition, like salmon, carp also swim upstream against the current to finally access their spawning grounds. In fact, in Asian mythology there is a legend called «Carp Jumping The Dragon Gate». It tells the story of a carp fish that is able to swim against the current and jump to the top of a large waterfall called the Dragon Gate. Once there, this powerful little fish transforms into an imposing dragon. This gate is also known as Yu Gate, which is located in the gorge that divides the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. It is right in this area, where it is said that approximately 4000 thousand years ago, Dà yǔ, also known as Yu the Great, divided the mountain into two parts and that is how he managed to found what is known today as the Xia dynasty.
There is no doubt that the Asian people know very well how to honor their customs and traditions, representing them even through their gastronomy, in this case, through a delicious dessert in the shape of the great carp fish that once managed to reach the top of the waterfall. It is thanks to this legend that we can now enjoy the delicious and original taste of taiyaki ice cream.
Taiyaki ice cream machine
To prepare this delicious fish-shaped cookie, you need a taiyaki maker, a special machine that will help you give that aesthetic fish shape to your waffle batter. So there are both industrial and homemade taiyaki ice cream machines. So if you are thinking of getting one, it is important that you analyze the type of use you will give it. For example, if you require it for your business, our recommendation is that you opt for the commercial ones, which allow you to make a larger amount of cookies at the same time and also save energy while you prepare them. If, on the other hand, you wish to purchase one to prepare homemade taiyaki ice cream at home, then we recommend that you choose a domestic option for a much more affordable price. Regardless of the type of taiyaki maker you decide to purchase, it should ideally have some of these features, which will allow you to make sure you are buying a quality machine:
- Made of stainless steel with an easy-to-clean, heat-resistant handle or material to avoid burns or accidents.
- Non-stick Teflon coating, so your cookies won’t stick to the machine and acquire the perfect shape.
- Temperature control and baking time setting.
Taiyaki Ice Cream Recipe
If you have a craving for taiyaki ice cream and want to prepare it from the comfort of your home, then you will need the following ingredients:
- Taiyaki cookie mold.
- 150 grams of wheat flour.
- 15 grams of yeast.
- 180 milliliters of whole milk.
- 30 grams of sugar.
- 1 egg.
- Olive oil.
- Ice cream of your favorite flavor.
- Colored or chocolate rain (optional).
- Chocolate (optional).
How to make homemade taiyaki ice cream?
Once you have all the ingredients at hand, it’s time to put on your apron and get to work, following these step-by-step instructions:
- Start by sifting the wheat flour, then place it in a bowl and add the 30 grams of sugar along with the yeast.
- The next step will be to add the milk to the bowl, little by little, in order to be able to beat properly, until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.
- Continue pouring the egg over the batter and continue beating until it is completely incorporated with the rest of the mixture.
- Take the taiyaki mold and apply the oil on it, this to prevent the mixture from sticking to it.
- This step is optional, but it will add a unique touch of flavor to your taiyaki cookie. Add a piece of chocolate in the middle of the mold.
- Place the pan over medium heat and make sure both sides cook evenly for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let stand for a few minutes before removing your taiyaki cookie from the pan.
- Serve the ice cream in the flavor of your choice on top of the fish’s mouth, so that the cookie serves the same function of holding the ice cream, just as the cones do.
- Finally, as an optional step, you can add the colored rains, chocolate drops or the topping of your choice.
- Enjoy the rich flavor of your ice cream combined with the texture of the taiyaki cookie and its delicious chocolate filling.
Chocolate Taiyaki Recipe
Another presentation that fans of this type of ice cream usually fall in love with is the chocolate taiyaki. For this, we will prepare a delicious chocolate-flavored pastry cream with which we will fill the waffle in the shape of a fish. So, if you want to learn how to make chocolate taiyaki, you will need the following ingredients:
For the pastry cream:
- ½ cup milk.
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
- 2 tablespoons condensed milk.
- 150 grams of chocolate.
- 1 tablespoon butter.
For the taiyaki bread:
- 1 cup wheat flour.
- 2 tablespoons sugar.
- 1 egg.
- ½ cup milk.
- Cocoa powder (to taste).
How to make chocolate taiyaki?
Now that you know each of the ingredients you will need to prepare both the chocolate pastry cream and the dough for your taiyaki cookie, let’s see step by step how to make chocolate taiyaki:
- Let’s start with the preparation of the pastry cream. To do this we must place in a bowl half cup of milk, butter, cornstarch, condensed milk and chocolate.
- We put it over low heat while stirring with the help of a hand mixer. Continue mixing continuously until all the ingredients are perfectly integrated and the mixture has a homogeneous appearance.
- Let it rest and then take it to the refrigerator.
- Now we proceed to prepare our taiyaki cookie. We start by mixing in a bowl, the flour, egg, sugar, milk and cocoa powder, the latter will give a rich chocolate flavor to your waffles.
- Once the mixture is ready, pour some of it over your taiyaki machine, then add a layer of chocolate pastry cream in the middle and finally cover it with another layer of mixture. Close the mold and let them cook for about 4 minutes on both sides.
- Finally, you will have your chocolate taiyakis ready to enjoy, and if you are a real fan of this flavor, you can accompany it with a soft chocolate ice cream and cover it with a topping and syrup of the same flavor. And voila! You’ll have rich chocolate taiyaki ice cream everywhere you look.