Food Network
Taiyaki are filled waffle-like Japanese snacks cooked in fish-shaped molds over a burner. They date back to the Edo era, when vendors morphed a similar round treat into the shape of a sea bream, a prized fish in Japan. Taiyaki (which literally means grilled sea bream) became very popular and are now a staple at outdoor markets, food halls and street festivals. Somewhat cakey on the inside, they vary from crispy to soft on the outside. This version falls in between. Taiyaki are traditionally filled with anko (sweet red bean paste), but Nutella, custard, matcha cream, chocolate, jam and ham and cheese are other options. Taiyaki pan sizes can vary, so the first time you make the recipe, you might need to play around with the amount of batter and anko per mold. You may need to adjust the heat level and/or cooking time, too. Use the first batch as a gauge.