Takoyaki

is a popular ball-shaped Japanese dumpling.  It is like a savory pancake in a ball-shape which is cooked in a special pan.

Takoyaki is a specialty of Osaka and Kyoto.Kaneko, Amy. (2007). Let's Cook Japanese Food!: Everyday Recipes for Home Cooking, p. 36  It is usually eaten as a snack.Hill, Brenda D. and Maralyn D. Hill. (1999). Our Love Affairs with Food and Travel, p. 119.

Many people in Osaka and Kyoto have a special cooker that makes takoyaki. This is because they eat takoyaki often.

History
Takoyaki was invented in Osaka in 1935 by Tomekichi Endo.JapanVisitor, "Takoyaki: Icon of Osaka"; retrieved 2012-3-6.  It is most often made with flour and small pieces of boiled octopus.

 How to make Takoyaki 
First, mix flour and egg with water to make dough. It is important the dough is not too thick but not too watery. 
Second, pour the dough into a takoyaki pan. 
Third, put a piece of cut, boiled octopus into each of the holes of the takoyaki pan. Also, put pickled ginger, and tenkasu (deep-fried flour dough). 
Fourth, turn the dough as it cooks to make a ball-shape. 
Finally, once cooked, put takoyaki sauce, katsuobushi (dried fish flakes), and aonori (green laver) on the balls.

Minor planet
A minor planet named "6562 Takoyaki" was discovered in 1991 by M. Yanai and K. Watanabe at Katani.  The name was selected by children who visited the Funai Space Festival which was held in Osaka in 2001.Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, p. 541.

References

Other websites

 Just Hungry,  "Takoyaki, the great street snack that's fun to make at home"

Category:Japanese food