Donburi (Japanese Chicken, Egg & Rice Bowl)

Donburi (Japanese Chicken, Egg & Rice Bowl)

Updated from the archives. Originally posted October 22, 2008.

Every time my husband and I go to our favorite local Japanese Restaurant, we stick with our faves - Spicy Shrimp Tempura Maki, Smoked Salmon Maki and Gyoza (Pork Dumplings). We've tried different variations of sushi, but generally we don't try anything else. We don't get to go out for supper often, so when we do, we order our favorites. I really wanted to try some other Japanese delights, so we got together with friends to make a Japanese Feast. My friend Richelle is Japanese herself, so she chose the 2 dishes to make besides sushi that she thought we would like. She decided to make Donburi which is a chicken dish with veggies and eggs served over rice.

I love trying new things, so I was really excited about this.

Recipe from Kikuchan @ Allrecipes
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Serves 4

1 tbsp oil
3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken, cut into strips
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
1 cup chicken broth
6 shitake mushrooms, sliced into strips
1 carrot, julienned
2 tbsp white sugar
4 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped green onions
5 eggs, beaten

2 cups cooked Japanese rice

In a large frying pan set to medium-high heat, saute the chicken strips and onion in oil for 5-7 minutes. Add the mushrooms and carrot and stir-fry a couple of minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, sugar, soy sauce and salt and let simmer for a 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle in half of the green onions, stirring gently. Pour beaten eggs over the chicken mixture, and simmer until the eggs are cooked through, about 10 minutes. You may have to turn the heat down a bit...our eggs started to get brown on the bottom.

To serve, scoop Japanese sticky rice into four bowls. Divide Donburi mixture into four, and place on top of rice. Garnish with a little more chopped green onion.

Click here for printable version of Donburi
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THE RESULTS?
I can see why this is popular Japanese restaurant fare...it's so good! My friend Richelle has made Donburi before using a different recipe, and she said this one is better by far. I have nothing to compare it to, but it was definitely delicious. My husband and I decided this needs to become part of our regular meals. I think I also would like to try the same recipe, but instead of using chicken breast, using pork chops and breading them in egg and panko bread crumbs and turning this into Tonkatsu Donburi - or Katsudon. Mmmm.  Serve with a pot of Green Tea or "Popcorn" Tea (Genmaicha) and you have a very authentic Japanese restaurant meal in your own home!