TAMAGOYAKI (JAPANESE ROLLED OMELET)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine eggs, mirin, soy sauce, dashi (if using) and sugar. Whisk until well combined.
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a tamagoyaki pan or a nonstick 8-inch skillet over medium. Using a small piece of folded paper towel, carefully wipe the excess oil from the pan and set aside paper towel (you will need it to grease the pan for each egg layer).
• Pour about 3 tablespoons of the egg mixture into the pan and quickly tilt the pan, swirling the egg mixture around to create an even layer. If there are thicker areas, gently poke a small hole at the thickest point with chopsticks and tilt and swirl the pan to cover exposed areas with more raw egg to form an even layer.
• After the layer is cooked, about 1 minute, using chopsticks or a rubber spatula, gently lift the egg edges on the farthest side to loosen the layer's grip. While tilting the pan, carefully fold the egg about 1/4 of the way toward yourself. Continue to fold the egg equally on itself until you have a narrow, rectangular omelet at the edge of the pan nearest you. Reduce the heat to medium-low if the egg is browning.
• Using the paper towel, lightly grease the exposed area of the pan. Pour another 3 tablespoons of the remaining egg mixture into the exposed area of the pan and quickly swirl it around to create another layer. Use chopsticks or a soft spatula to gently lift up the folded omelet and tilt the pan toward you so the raw egg mixture runs under the omelet.
• Once the layer is cooked, gently roll the omelet away from you in three to four flips. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 with remaining three layers, greasing the pan before each additional layer. The number of flips will decrease as the omelet grows in size with each additional layer.
• Transfer omelet to a cutting board or a plate when done. Cut crosswise into four pieces and rotate, cut side up, to show egg layers. (If using a nonstick 8-inch skillet, you can trim both ends of the omelet to make them even.) Serve immediately or chill for later.