We may not be able to travel to Japan right now but there are plenty of ways we can experience the Land of The Rising Sun at home and that includes making Japanese recipes. To start off, why not treat yourself to homemade halal takoyaki (or octopus balls) - one of the most popular Japanese street foods. While they're typically made using a special mold, this recipe will show how you can whip them up without one! P.S. For a sweet treat, go ahead and check out these 8 easy halal Japanese dessert recipes. Ingredients (yields 12)

400g (14oz.) potato
Diced boiled octopus
4 tbsp potato starch or corn starch
1/2 tsp salt
Cooking oil

For the fillings: Choose whichever filling you prefer and cut finely into small cubes

Chicken
Prawn
Octopus
Sausages
Crabstick

For the toppings:

Takoyaki sauce or Okonomiyaki sauce
Mayonnaise
Katsuobushi (bonito flakes)
Aonori (green laver)

P.S. You can find these ingredients online on Shopee, Lazada or your closest grocery store. Directions

Peel and cut potatoes into chunks. Wash and boil them on medium until soft (insert a skewer to check if they are done). Drain and mash them while hot. You can also microwave potatoes for 8 minutes to cook.
Mix in salt and Katakuriko (potato starch) or corn starch.
Roll into about 12 balls - including the filling of your choice.
Heat about 0.1 inch oil in a frying pan, then roll around to cook. The more 'sides' you cook, the rounder the balls become.
Serve on a dish, top with takoyaki/ okonomiayki sauce, mayonnaise, Katsuobushi, and Aonori.

Watch how it's done using this video recipe by ochikeron: For more Japanese recipes, check these out:

An Easy Halal Takoyaki Recipe You Can Make (Without Using A Pan!)