Grilled Octopus Balls

Grilled Octopus Balls

　　  Grilled octopus balls are one of Japan’s most famous and iconic street foods, as well as a classic example of traditional Japanese snacks. They can be found at numerous street-side stalls across Japan. Once grilled, the aroma of the octopus balls fills the air, and taking a bite releases a burst of savory seafood flavor that lingers delightfully.

　　  The process of making Japanese-style grilled octopus balls is quite simple: first, preheat the specialized iron plate used for grilling the balls. Then pour the prepared batter into the round indentations on the plate, and place two-centimeter pieces of octopus into the batter. While grilling, use an iron skewer to turn the mixture continuously until it forms a round ball about four to five centimeters in diameter. After roughly three to five minutes, once the surface turns golden brown, it’s ready to eat. Watching grilled octopus balls being made at a street stall is also quite entertaining—a pair of wooden chopsticks or an iron skewer skillfully flips and shapes the mixture, and in moments, you have a golden, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside octopus ball, with its mouthwatering aroma making your mouth water.