Do you know about Japanese Crepes? The Kureepu [クレープ] in Japan is quite popular among young Japanese women, in this article we will see the main curiosities and differences between crepes in Japan.
In Brazil, we know crepes on a stick, or crepes in the shape of pancakes with savory and delicious fillings. In Japan, crepes are also a hit, but most of the time as something sweet.
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The origin of Crepes in Japan
For those who don’t know, crepes originated in France, in the Brittany region. The recipe is quite simple, they are savory or sweet cakes made from wheat flour, milk, and eggs in a flattened shape.
The batter is prepared in such a way that it can form a thin layer at the bottom of a frying pan brushed with butter. Everything is done with the support of a spatula and a kitchen scraper.
The first cone-shaped sweet crepe shop appeared in 1977 in Tokyo, in the Harajuku district, on Takeshita Street. At first, the crepe didn’t attract much attention, but soon it became popular throughout the country and around the world.
Today, crepes are quite popular and can be found practically anywhere. Some are located in strategic points where there is a large flow of students and tourists, such as tourist spots, festivals, and events.
Also read: Harajuku – The Colorful City
What are Japanese crepes like?
Japanese crepes are similar to French crepes. The big difference lies in the way they are filled and sold. There are thousands of combinations with chocolates, fruits, and creams. The savory flavors vary between teriyaki chicken, mayonnaise, eggs, cheese, curry, ham, and tuna.
Among the most popular sweet crepe flavors in Japan are chocolate and banana, apple and cinnamon, strawberry with chocolate, whipped cream, blueberry jam, and cream cheese. There are even ice cream crepes.
Like most Japanese foods, crepes try to attract attention with their appearance. Japanese crepes are made in cone shapes similar to temaki.
It is very common to find small shops filled with models of crepes in their entire display window. Of course, the models are not real; they are just samples. Many cafes also offer crepes on their menu. One of the most popular crepe shop chains in Japan is Marion Crepes.
Also read: Food Samples in Japan – Fake Food
What is the difference between crepes and pancakes?
Besides the traditional crepe, there are other Japanese recipes that resemble pancakes, such as Okonomiyaki. Some wonder, what is the difference between crepes and pancakes?
First, speaking about Okonomiyaki, it is generally filled with meat, seafood, and vegetables. Its recipe is originally Japanese with a great history and curiosities.
Also read: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Pancake – Curiosities and recipe
Both pancakes and crepes use practically the same ingredients. The difference is that the crepe has a thinner and more liquid batter. The crepe batter needs to stay in the refrigerator for two hours.
There is also the “Pancake” which is practically a pancake, but it has baking powder in its batter to rise and become thicker than the pancake.
Japanese Cone Crepe Recipe
- 500ml of milk;
- 3 eggs;
- 250g of flour without baking powder;
- 40g of sugar;
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla essence (optional);
- 1 tablespoon of margarine;
- A pinch of salt (for savory fillings);
You can follow the instructions in the video below, fill it the way you want, and complement the batter with great care.
- Sift the flour, sugar, and add a pinch of salt in the bowl;
- Beat the eggs and half of the milk;
- Add the rest of the milk, add the butter, and beat again;
- Let it sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes;
- Pour a little of the batter into the preheated non-stick frying pan and spread all the batter in the pan as if you were making pancakes or tapioca, remembering to always keep the batter thin;
- You can use a spatula to spread the batter, but be careful!
- Remember to fill only 1/4 of the pancake and then close it in the shape of a cone;
Okonomiyaki and Monjayaki
Although it is not specifically about the traditional French crepe, the dishes Okonomiyaki and Monjayaki are popular in Japan, sometimes translated as pancakes and other times as crepes, since both are similar.
Okonomiyaki are savory filled with meat, seafood, and vegetables. They can be topped with mayonnaise, Katsuobushi, Nori, pickled ginger, and a sauce similar to tonkatsu sauce.
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Monjayaki is popular in Tokyo, its difference is that they are more consistent. The result is a crispy pancake with a burnt cheese texture. Monjayaki is also prepared as a giant pancake for several people.
Videos showing Crepes in Japan
To conclude the article, we will leave some videos showing how Japanese crepes are made and filled.
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