1. Mix takoyaki mix with the water until well-blended, then whisk in the egg. For a smooth takoyaki-making experience, I think it’s best to pour the mixed batter into a measuring cup so it’s easy to pour, or you could use a ladle.
2. Mix the tenkasu, green onion, and beni shoga together in a bowl. Make sure you have this close at hand, along with the chopped octopus, before you start making the takoyaki.
3. Heat your takoyaki pan/maker until warm, then brush the surface with oil, making sure to get into all the little half-circles.
Making Takoyaki - Prepping the Pan
4. Carefully pour the prepared batter into each of the half-circles. Fill them up about half way. Again, it’s best to use a measuring cup or a ladle so you can pour more exactly.
Making Takoyaki - Adding the Dough
5. Add a piece of octopus (or two, if you have extra) to each half-circle. Then add a pinch or small spoonful of the tenkasu/green onion/beni shoga mixture to each half-circle.
Making Takoyaki - Adding Octopus, Etc.
6. Pour more batter over each circle and over the entire surface of the pan. Make sure the entire surface inside of the rim of the pan is covered in batter, but also make sure you don’t pour so much that it starts overflowing down the sides!
Making Takoyaki - Filing with Batter
7. Allow the takoyaki to cook for a couple of minutes, so the bottom part can get crispy. If you turn them too soon they will get mushy (you can see that happened to a few of mine.. this was my first time using the electric maker and I was a little bit worried about overheating due to the whole voltage thing).
Now comes the fun, yet tricky part. Using a wooden skewer or chopstick, trace around the edge of one of the half-circles. If it’s firm enough, poke the stick down along the edge of the half-circle to the bottom, then swing it around the edge so the bottom of the dumpling flips up. I like to use a second skewer to help guide the dumpling. Scoop it around until it forms the top of the “ball.” Use the skewers to poke the extra dough around the half-circle into the middle of the dumpling, and then allow the bottom side to cook. Continue with all the half-circles on the pan until you have nice, spherical dumplings, and no extra dough between them.