Gyudon (Japanese Simmered Beef and Rice Bowls)
Tags: Beef Dinner Japanese
Yield: Serves 2
- 1 small onion, slivered (about 4 ounces; 120g)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) homemade dashi, or the equivalent in Hondashi (see note above)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) dry sake
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon (12g) sugar, plus more to taste
- 1/2 pound (225g) thinly shaved beef ribeye or chuck steak (see note above)
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) grated fresh ginger
- Salt
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 2 poached eggs (optional)
- Sliced scallions
- Beni-shoga (see note above)
- Togarashi (see note above)
- Combine onion, dashi, sake, soy sauce, and sugar in a medium saucepan or saucier and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add beef and cook, stirring until beef is cooked through and liquid has reduced down to an intensely flavored broth, about 5 minutes. Stir in ginger and simmer for 1 minute longer. Adjust seasoning with salt and sugar to taste.
- Divide rice between 2 to 3 bowls and top with beef and sauce mixture. Garnish each bowl with a poached egg (if using), sliced scallions, beni-shoga, and togarashi. Serve immediately.
- Always double this recipe.
- This is prepared hondashi, not that much of the mix. Use 1 tsp hondashi per cup of water.
- Homemade dashi is nice, but not necessary for this simple dish, which has so many other strong flavors. Look for thinly shaved beef at Japanese markets, ask your butcher to shave it for you, or use frozen shaved steak intended for Philly cheesesteaks. The beef can be cooked directly from the freezer if using frozen; just add a few minutes to the cooking time, and make sure to carefully stir the beef and break it apart as it thaws. Beni-shoga is bright red pickled hot ginger. Togarashi is Japanese chili powder, which comes in both ichimi (chilies only) and shichimi (chilies blended with other dried aromatics) versions. Either will work on this dish. All of these ingredients can be found in any Japanese market or well-stocked Western supermarket.
