Tamagoyaki is a sweet, savory, and light-textured Japanese Rolled Omelette. It is usually made with beaten eggs that are seasoned with a few ingredients like soy sauce, and sugar, and sometimes with fillings like veggies, proteins, or seafood. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Tamagoyaki also called Japanese rolled omelette in a pan with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home.
I have also shared the detailed video of this recipe below to make the cooking process visually clear. This classic Tamagoyaki is one of the best omelette recipes and is usually served with breakfast, on top of sushi rice, or as a complimentary side dish in bento boxes.
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What is Tamagoyaki?
Tamagoyaki is a sweet, savory, and soft Japanese Rolled Omelette. The term "Tamago" refers to an egg and "Yaki" refers to grilled/fried. It is usually made with beaten eggs that are seasoned with a few ingredients like soy sauce, sugar, and mirin sauce and sometimes with fillings like veggies, proteins, or seafood. This Japanese rolled omelet is usually served with breakfast, on top of sushi rice, or as a complimentary side dish in bento boxes or for lunch and dinner.
The making of this Tamagoyaki involves rolling the thin egg omelette into a layered log and then sliced into pieces. It is one of the most loved dishes among kids and adults, due to its sweet, savory, and delectable taste and flavor.
The Japanese also have a special rectangular pan called Tamago or Tamagoyaki pan for making this omelet. It helps to make a rectangular thick log-like omelet and delivers a perfect shape when sliced. Also, you can make your Japanese-inspired bento lunch with rice, Teriyaki Chicken, or Teriyaki Salmon along with these golden rolls.
So let's see how to make this Tamagoyaki, a popular Japanese Omelette at home in the below sections. And the best part is you can make it with a regular frying pan.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette) are basic ingredients. And you can find them easily in most grocery stores around. So let's see what are they below.
- Egg - Feel free to use organic, brown, or white eggs that are handy to you. I have used 6 eggs that yield about 2 servings but you can always customize the quantity as per your requirements
- Soy Sauce - A tsp of soy sauce for authentic umami flavors
- Sugar - Delivers mild sweetness to your rolled omelet. You can also use mirin sauce nothing but Japanese cooking wine for a more rich flavor
- Oil - For oiling the pan
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette)?
The recipe I have shared here is a Tamagoyaki, a popular Japanese Rolled Omelette made with simple ingredients. Here I have used a circular nonstick frying pan instead of a Tamago pan and it delivered me a similar shape and layer similar to a Tamago pan.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Beat the Eggs - In a glass bowl, crack the eggs and beat until it turns frothy
- Season - Now season the beaten eggs with soy sauce and salt. Give it a good mix
- Oil the pan - Oil the frying pan with a cotton cloth or tissue paper and allow it to heat evenly. The pan should reach medium temperature before pouring the eggs
- Pour the Beaten Eggs - Now pour a thin layer of egg mixture into the pan and tilt quickly to spread the mixture to coat the pan
- Cook then Roll - Allow the egg mixture to set at the bottom. While the top part is still soft, gently start rolling the eggs into a log from one side to another
- Oil again - Move the rolled omelet to the farthest side of the pan and oil the pan again with a cotton cloth or tissue paper
- Pour Beaten Egg - Pour the thin layer of egg mixture again into the pan and make sure to spread the mixture underneath the rolled omelet. It helps to glue the omelet and roll it properly
- Roll - Roll again once the egg mixture sets at the bottom and push the roll towards the end of the pan. Repeat the process until your egg mixture is finished. Note: The quantity of egg mixture used here gave 5 layers in a round frying pan but may create more layers if you use a Tamagoyaki pan.
- Remove - Now remove the rolled omelet from the pan and transfer it to a cutting board
- Slice - Slice the Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette) into circular pieces. Now the savory Japanese Rolled Omelette is ready for you to taste and enjoy
- Serve - Serve this Tamagoyaki as breakfast or as a side dish in a bento box for lunch
Tips
- For Perfect rolls - I have used a circular nonstick pan for making this Tamagoyaki, but for the perfect shapes I suggest using a Tamagoyaki pan. Since Tamago pans are not handy to everyone, any circular pan can also be used to achieve the desired results
- Heat the Pan Evenly - Allow the pan to heat to medium temperature before pouring in your egg mixture. And always make sure to maintain temperature evenly throughout the cooking process for best results
- Oil the Pan - I would suggest oiling the pan for each layer even if you using a nonstick pan. This helps to make nonsticky omelets
- Use Cotton Cloth or Tissue - For oiling the pan, fold the cotton tissue paper or cotton cloth and dip it in a tsp of oil. Use that folder paper or cloth for oiling the pan through the cooking process. Doing this way helps you to avoid more usage of oil and also make this dish healthy
- Sweetness - I have added soy sauce and sugar which delivers the slightly sweet and umami flavor to this rolled omelette. But you can also make it without sugar for a nonsweet version
- Other Addins - You can also use seaweed, veggies, seafood like shrimp, salmon, and other proteins in Tamago layers for different variations
Different types of Tamagoyaki?
The recipe that I have shared here is a basic beginner-friendly Tamagoyaki. But do you know there are different types of Tamagoyaki? According to people in Japan, Tamagoyaki is a rolled egg omelette in general.
There are two types of Tamagoyaki, one is Atsuyaki Tamago and another one is Dashimaki Tamago. Atsuyaki Tamago is usually a grilled egg that is thick, firm, and dense in its texture. While Dashimaki Tamago is a soft, juicy, and flavor-loaded rolled omelet with the addition of dashi. Dashi is nothing but an essential stock soup that you may find in Japanese cooking.
Apart from the two different Tamagoyaki based on their texture and ingredients, you can also find different fillings used on the layers of the egg. For Instance, you can find seaweed, grated veggies, seafood like shrimp, and salmon, proteins like chicken, tofu, and minced meats.
Do I need Tamagoyaki Pan to make this omelet?
Even though the authentic Tamagoyaki recipe is made using a Tamagoyaki pan, I have used only a circular nonstick pan to make this dish. Since the Tamagoyaki pan is not handy to everyone, you could always feel free to use any medium size pan to make this rolled egg omelet.
However, using a Tamagoyaki pan delivers a thick log compared to circular pans. Also using a large pan will make the shape of the rolled omelet flatter compared to smaller ones. So if you are using a circular pan then I recommend choosing smaller pans.
Storage Suggestions
You can store this Tamagoyaki in the refrigerator for up to 2 days in a closed airtight container. It is also freezer friendly dish that stays good for up to a week in the freezer. You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or defrost them in the microwave before enjoying them again.
Serving Suggestions
Tamagoyaki is usually served as a breakfast or complimentary side dish in bento lunch boxes. You can serve it over rice, and veggies, with dipping sauces alongside. If you are a lover of sushi, then you can also place a slice of tamagoyaki over sushi rice and then roll it with seaweed strips.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar omelette recipes below and more at egg recipes.
- Omelette
- Egg Foo Young (Chinese Omelet)
- Egg White Omelette
- Spanish Omelette
- Western Omelet
- Spinach Omelet
- Chickpea Flour Omelet
More popular Japanese dishes.
Tamagoyaki Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Tamagoyaki recipe below that I hope will help you to make a soft Japanese rolled omelette at home. You could also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette)
Ingredients
- 6 Egg
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- ¼ tsp Sugar, or as needed
- 1 tsp Oil, for rubbing the pan
Instructions
To make Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)
- In a glass bowl, crack the eggs and beat until it turns frothy
- Now season the beaten eggs with soy sauce and sugar. Give it a good mix
- Oil the frying pan with a cotton cloth or tissue paper and allow it to heat evenly. The pan should reach medium temperature before pouring the eggs
- Now pour a thin layer of egg mixture into the pan and tilt quickly to spread the mixture to coat the pan
- Allow the egg mixture to set at the bottom. While the top part is still soft, gently start rolling the eggs into a log from one side to another
- Oil the pan again with a cotton cloth or tissue paper and move the rolled omelet to the farthest side of the pan
- Pour the thin layer of egg mixture again into the pan and make sure to spread the mixture underneath the rolled omelet. It helps to glue the omelet and to roll it properly
- Roll again once the egg mixture sets at the bottom and start rolling it towards the end of the pan. Repeat the process until your egg mixture is finished. Note: The quantity of egg mixture used here gave 5 layers in a round frying pan but it may create more layers if you use a tamagoyaki pan.
- Now remove the rolled omelet from the pan and transfer it to a cutting board and allow it to cool down. Cooling down the rolled omelet helps to slice them perfectly
- Slice the Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette) into circular pieces. Now the Japanese Rolled Omelette is ready for you to taste and enjoy
Video
Nutrition
FAQ
Tamagoyaki is a sweet, savory, and soft Japanese Rolled Omelette. The term "Tamago" refers to an egg and "Yaki" refers to grilled. It is usually made with beaten eggs that are seasoned with a few ingredients like soy sauce, sugar, and mirin sauce and sometimes with fillings like veggies, proteins, or seafood. This Japanese rolled omelet is usually served with breakfast, on top of sushi rice, or as a complimentary side dish in bento boxes.
Yes, you can make this Japanese rolled Omelett using a regular nonstick frying pan. Since the Tamagoyaki pan is not handy to everyone, you could always feel free to use any medium size pan to make this dish.
It tastes great with grated daikon(radish) for breakfast, or as a complimentary side dish in bento lunch boxes. You can serve it over rice, and veggies, with dipping sauces alongside. If you are a lover of sushi, then you can also place a slice of tamagoyaki over sushi rice and then roll it with seaweed strips and enjoy it as sushi rolls.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
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