Originating in Japan Teppanyaki is a style of cooking that has become particularly appreciated in the wider world, more so even than in Japan itself. The word ‘Teppanyaki’ is an amalgam of two words, ‘Teppan’, meaning an iron plate, and ‘Yaki’ which translates as ‘pan fried’, ‘broiled’ or ‘grilled’. Foods typically cooked in this style would include various meats, poultry and sea foods.
This method of cooking lends itself to outdoor use, possibly fired with charcoal or gas, or, more importantly when heated with electricity, it allows us to bring the grill indoors. The purpose of this article is to concentrate on the Teppanyaki cooking method inside the house.
Almost everyone I know loves either hosting, or being invited to someone else’s barbecue. This is an excellent way to meet up with friends whilst enjoying good food and great company. These are the times that we look back on with fond memories. Of course there are times when these occasions have to be postponed because of inclement weather and for some of us; the winters can be long and dark. This is electric Teppanyaki grill time!
Electric Teppanyaki Grills are incredibly cheap to buy, take a look, you’ll be surprised. They are cheap to run, very reliable and easy to clean. They are also incredibly easy to use. Anyone who can cook an egg can use a Teppanyaki grill. Unlike many charcoal and gas grills they do not produce a raging inferno. Many of us have seen the novice with a new charcoal BBQ sharing soot blackened meat that is raw inside. This does not happen with Teppanyaki.
You can have confidence that when you turn on your electric Teppanyaki grill it is not going to attack you or your food! Most models generally on sale have thermostatic temperature control and you’ll soon realise that meats that need searing will require the grill to be turned onto maximum and allowed to heat up. Use tongs to place your (previously oiled) meat onto the grill, sear and turn the meat. Once this is done turn the temperature down. Once the meat has been sealed by searing, it needs to cook through and you can do this gently.
A general tip, if this is new to you, is to ensure that you know which steaks or burgers are to be well done. You can ‘cheat’ by putting a small cut in the meat to see how the cooking is coming along and serve your rare and medium cooked meats based on your observations of someone else’s food! Naughty but forgivable.
More experienced cooks can really shine. What might otherwise have been a barbecue in different weather can now become an informal dinner party. The host or hostess can cook food in front of their friends just as might be seen in a Japanese steak house. Salad or vegetables can be pre-prepared and eaten on a serve yourself basis. This takes the concept of the stodgy old dinner party to a whole new level.
I know that you are going to love turning a wet and windy afternoon or evening into a stunning event that your friends and family will love. If you are a little nervous, don’t worry, you can always practice on the kids first!