Dorayaki

Inside of a dorayaki's cross-section

Dorayaki is a type of Japanese confection. It consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet azuki bean paste.

The original dorayaki consisted of only one layer. Its current shape was invented in 1914 by Usagiya in the Ueno district of Tokyo.[1]

In Japanese, dora means "gong" and the name reflects the original dorayaki was baked (yaki) on a heated gong, the Kyoto based confectionery Sasaya Iori states, claiming they invented dorayaki in request from Toji Temple[1].

There is however a rumor it is probably the origin of the name of the sweet.[2][1] Legend has it that the first dorayaki were made when a samurai named Benkei forgot his gong (dora) upon leaving a farmer's home where he was hiding, and the farmer subsequently used the gong to fry the pancakes.[1]

Azuki bean paste is normally used by itself, but chestnuts and rice cakes are sometimes added. There are also Dorayaki with amanatto.

Other varieties include "Pudding Dorayaki" with pudding sandwiched in between, "Fruit Dorayaki", a Dorayaki with fruit as the main ingredient, "Parfait Dorayaki" a hearty Dorayaki that looks as if a parfait had been placed inside the Dorayaki.

Regional variation

In the Kansai area, this sweet is often called mikasa (三笠). The word originally means triple straw hat, but is also an alternative name of Mount Wakakusa, a low hill with gentle slopes located in Nara. In Nara, a larger mikasa of about 30 cm in diameter is made.[3]

The Japanese manga and anime character Doraemon loves dorayaki and so it is depicted as his favourite food (in the English dub, Nobita (Noby in English) calls it "yummy buns" as an alternative), and it has been a plot device several times throughout the series. Doraemon is addicted to dorayaki and falls for any trap involving them. Since 2000, the company Bunmeido has been selling a limited version of dorayaki called Doraemon Dorayaki every year around March and September. Since 2015, JFC International has produced Doraemon Dorayaki for the North American market.

In 2015 filmmaker Naomi Kawase released the film "An" ("Sweet Bean"), based on a novel, Sweet Bean Paste, by Durian Sukegawa, about an elderly woman who has a secret recipe for dorayaki anko.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Food to Try at HYPER JAPAN: Dorayaki". Gaijin Gourmet. London, UK: Eat-Japan. August 19, 2010. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. ^ Yoshizuka, Setsuko. "Dorayaki". About.com Japanese Food. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  3. ^ Blankestijn, Ad. "Monaka & Dorayaki". Japanese Food Dictionary. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  4. ^ Lodge, Guy (14 May 2015). "Film Review: 'An'". Variety.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  5. ^ "映画『あん』". 映画『あん』オフィシャルサイト. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa review – a bittersweet confection about prejudice and friendship". 2017.