Gyudon donburi (Beef Rice Bowl)
Japanese Comfort Food
Gyudon is a Japanese rice bowl with thinly sliced, tender beef and onions coated in a sweet and savory mirin-soy sauce. The word “Gyu” means beef, and “don” means bowl. I love gyudon because it is simple yet packed with comforting Japanese flavors. Traditionally, gyudon is topped with raw egg yolk, but since American eggs are less often eaten raw, we’ll substitute it with a sunny-side-up egg.
Notes:
Thinly Sliced Beef: Look for beef meant for hot pot at Asian grocery stores. I use the shabu shabu from Costco, which isn’t quite as thin but is affordable and can be frozen for later. If you can’t find pre-sliced, you can thinly slice ribeye yourself.
Onions: Yellow onions add a natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with the beef.
Don’t Overcook the Beef: For leaner cuts, cook just until the beef is no longer pink to keep it tender.
Recipe
PDF Version
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp neutral oil, for cooking
2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 lb thinly sliced beef (chuck or ribeye)
1 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp mirin
3 Tbsp sake
¼ cup soy sauce
1 cup dashi stock (or substitute with beef or chicken stock)
3 cups cooked white rice
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Sesame seeds, for garnish
4 eggs, fried sunny-side up
Instructions:
Prep Ingredients:
Thinly slice 2 yellow onions and cut 2 green onions into thin slices.Cook Onions:
In a large pan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes until they turn golden brown.
Add Beef and Seasonings:
Cut the Beef slices into thirds. Then add the beef slices and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar, cooking until the beef is mostly browned. Then, add 3 tablespoons of mirin, 3 tablespoons of sake, ¼ cup soy sauce, and 1 cup dashi stock.
Bring everything to a simmer and let it cook until the sauce reduces to a thin sauce, about 10–15 minutes.
Fry the Eggs:
While the beef simmers, heat a bit more oil in a separate pan and fry the eggs sunny-side up, making sure the yolks stay runny.Assemble Bowls:
Spoon rice into each bowl, top with the beef and onion mixture, and add some of the sauce over everything. Place a fried egg on top.Garnish and Serve:
Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Let me know if you try it!