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Gyudon (Japanese Beef Rice Bowl) Recipe

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3.8 from 90 reviews

Gyudon, also known as Japanese Beef Rice Bowl, is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring thinly sliced beef and onions simmered in a savory-sweet sauce, served over steaming hot rice. This quick and easy recipe combines tender beef with a rich blend of soy sauce, mirin, and hondashi, garnished with fresh green onions, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and a raw egg yolk for an authentic Japanese experience.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • ½ lb beef, thinly sliced
  • ½ onion, sliced
  • ½ cup water
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp hondashi (Japanese soup stock powder)

For Serving

  • Cooked rice
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • Pickled ginger
  • Sesame seeds
  • 1 egg yolk

Instructions

  1. Prepare the onion: Thinly slice the onion and set it aside for use in the cooking process.
  2. Make the simmering sauce: In a skillet or pan, combine water, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and hondashi. Heat the mixture over medium heat and bring it to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar and hondashi completely dissolve.
  3. Cook the onion: Add the sliced onion into the simmering sauce. Cook until the onions become translucent and tender, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add and cook the beef: Evenly spread the thinly sliced beef on top of the cooked onions in the pan. Cover the pan with a lid and allow it to simmer for a few minutes until the beef turns brown and is cooked through, approximately 3-5 minutes depending on thickness.
  5. Plate and garnish: Serve the onion and beef mixture hot over bowls of steamed rice. Garnish each bowl with chopped green onion, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and a raw egg yolk on top for added richness and authentic flavor.
  6. Enjoy: Mix the egg yolk into the hot ingredients before eating for a creamy texture and enjoy your Gyudon!

Notes

  • Use thinly sliced beef such as ribeye or sirloin for best results and tenderness.
  • Hondashi adds umami flavor; substitute with dashi stock if preferred.
  • If uncomfortable with raw egg yolk, you may omit or use a soft-boiled egg instead.
  • Adjust sugar and soy sauce amounts to taste if you prefer a sweeter or saltier bowl.
  • Serve immediately to enjoy the best texture and flavor of the beef and egg.