Japanese Rice Bowl Recipes

JAPANESE-STYLE MACKEREL RICE BOWL

Steps:

• Cook the rice following pack instructions, adding the soya beans to the pan for the final 3 mins.
• Meanwhile, mix together the teriyaki sauce, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Brush a little of the teriyaki sauce mixture over the mackerel and sear the fillets, skin-side down, for 1-2 mins. Turn the fish over and add the teriyaki sauce mixture to the pan, bring to a bubble and cook the sauce for 1-2 mins more. The fish will warm through and the sauce will thicken.
• Spoon the rice into bowls, then top each bowl with a mackerel fillet. Spoon over the sauce and sprinkle over the spring onions. Serve with a blob of wasabi paste, if you like.

GYUDON (JAPANESE BEEF & RICE BOWLS)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, and cook the sliced onions for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the beef and sugar, and cook until the beef is slightly browned. Add the mirin, soy sauce, and stock. Bring to a simmer, and cook for about 10-15 minutes to reduce the stock into a thin sauce. Taste for seasoning, and add a little more soy sauce if needed.
• Meanwhile, heat another couple tablespoons of oil in a cast iron or non-stick skillet. Cook the eggs sunny-side up. You can cook them in batches if needed. The yolks should still be runny!
• When the beef is done simmering, divide the rice among 4 bowls, and top with the beef and an egg for each bowl. Garnish with chopped scallion and toasted sesame seeds, if using.

OYAKODON (JAPANESE CHICKEN AND EGG RICE BOWL)

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine dashi, sake, mirin, soy sauce and sugar; stir to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
• Heat a small (6- or 7-inch) nonstick (or well-seasoned carbon steel) slope-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the skin side of each piece of chicken until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes (meat will still be mostly raw). Transfer to a cutting board, skin-side down. Dice into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook chicken and egg in two batches: In a small bowl, beat two eggs until yolks and whites are broken, but still distinct. Return skillet to medium-high heat, wiping out any excess grease. Add half the sliced onions and half the sauce (about 1/3 cup), and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until onions just begin soften. Add half the cut-up chicken; simmer for another 1 to 3 minutes, stirring, until chicken is white on the outside.
• Pour about half of the beaten eggs around the pan; let cook undisturbed for 30 seconds. Add the rest of the beaten eggs, and half the mitsuba or scallion. Adjust heat to low, and cook 20 seconds longer. Cover pan with a lid or foil and remove from heat. After a minute, uncover pan; eggs should be wobbly, but not raw (if they need more cooking, return the covered pan briefly to the heat).
• Carefully slide egg, chicken and sauce onto a bowl of cooked rice, trying to keep the mixture from flipping over. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 with remaining ingredients. Serve with shichimi togarashi, if desired.

CHICKEN RAMEN BOWL

Steps:

• Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; cook about 30 seconds more. Add rice vinegar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, fish sauce, and sriracha sauce; stir to combine. Add chicken broth and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes. Add chicken and bok choy; simmer gently until bok choy is just tender, about 2 minutes.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Add ramen noodles and return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender yet firm to the bite, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and drizzle with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
• While ramen is cooking, fill a pot with enough water to cover the eggs and bring to a boil. Gently lower eggs into the boiling water and cook until yolks are barely set, about 7 minutes.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Transfer soft boiled eggs to the ice bath to stop the cooking process; let sit about 3 minutes. Drain eggs, carefully peel away shells, and slice in half.
• Divide ramen between 4 bowls. Add broth. Top each with jalapeno, green onions, cilantro, and soft boiled egg. Serve immediately.

JAPANESE BEEF AND RICE BOWL (GYUDON)

Steps:

• Cut beef into 1/8 inch thick slices.
• Cut slices into strips about 1 inch wide and 2 or 3 inches long.
• Cut green onions crosswise into 1 inch lengths.
• Reserve.
• Wash rice with cold water.
• Cook rice with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 3/4 cups of water.
• About 10 minutes before serving, heat remaining 1/4 cup water, the mirin and soy sauce to boiling over medium high heat.
• Add beef and boil until beef reaches desired doneness.
• Add green onions and boil 30 seconds.
• Remove from heat.
• Divide rice among 4 individual serving bowls.
• Place equal amounts of beef and onions over rice in each bowl.
• Ladle equal amounts of cooking liquid into each bowl.
• Serve immediately.
• Note: I sometimes add a litte ginger, garlic, pea pods, green beans (cooked), bamboo shoots or water chestnuts to the mix.