Description

Gyudon, or Japanese beef bowls, is a delicious and comforting dish featuring thinly sliced beef simmered in a savory and slightly sweet sauce of soy, sake, mirin, and dashi, served over a bowl of steamed Japanese rice and topped with scallions and pickled ginger. This quick and easy recipe yields tender, flavorful beef with a perfect balance of umami and sweetness, making it a satisfying meal for any day.

Ingredients

Beef and Sauce

150 g thinly sliced beef
1/2 onion, sliced into wedges
1/2 tbsp olive oil
200 ml water
1 tsp dashi powder
2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp sake
1 tbsp mirin
1 tsp ginger juice
2 tbsp soy sauce

Toppings

1 tbsp red pickled ginger
1 tbsp scallion, diagonally and thinly sliced

Base

3 cups cooked Japanese rice

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Instructions

Prepare Onion: Slice the onion into wedges to ensure they cook evenly and retain some texture during cooking.
Sauté Onion: Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook the onion until it becomes translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, releasing its sweetness.
Create Sauce: Add water, dashi powder, sugar, sake, mirin, ginger juice, and soy sauce to the saucepan with the cooked onions. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer to meld flavors.
Cook Beef: Add the thinly sliced beef to the simmering sauce. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully cooked and the sauce has slightly thickened and reduced.
Assemble Bowls: Remove the saucepan from heat. Serve the beef and sauce over bowls of steamed Japanese rice. Garnish each serving with thinly sliced scallions and red pickled ginger for a burst of flavor and color.

Notes

Beef should be very thinly sliced to ensure quick and tender cooking.
Use Japanese short-grain rice for an authentic texture and flavor.
Adjust sugar and soy sauce to taste depending on desired sweetness and saltiness.
Ginger juice adds a fresh zing; if unavailable, substitute with freshly grated ginger.
Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.