Onions and tender slices of beef sit atop a bowl of rice in this delicious Gyudon Recipe. (Don’t forget the fried egg!)
I often think my love of international foods means I should become a world traveler. Sadly, my bank account has other ideas, and when I can’t hop on a plane, I often find myself exploring other cultures in my kitchen by preparing meals from my favorite cuisines. Japanese food is one of my favorites, and this gyudon recipe is one I often make, especially when I’m saving up for my next trip. It’s easy on the wallet and takes only 30 minutes from start to finish. I call that a win-win!
You don’t need to get on an airplane or cruise ship to embark on a culinary expedition. Any night can be an international event straight from your kitchen. Gyudon, which literally translates to “beef bowl”, is simply beef and rice in a bowl. The savory mirin, soy, and dashi glaze pack it with umami flavors.
Many of the ingredients in this beef bowl are items most people have in the house, like olive oil, onions, sugar, soy sauce, eggs, and rice. Although you may not have dashi, you might have beef stock. I know I always try to keep a carton of beef, chicken, and vegetable stock on hand. That means all you need is one pound of meat, mirin (which will last for many recipes), scallions, pickled ginger, and sesame seeds (although the last three items can be omitted if desired).
See what I mean about this being a budget-friendly dish? I love recipes that utilize the ingredients I regularly have on hand at home. And if you stock up on items when they’re on sale, you might even have a package of steak in the freezer, ready to defrost and cook.
Is Gyudon Healthy?
Gyudon can be part of a balanced meal when served with vegetables, as it already provides the protein and carbohydrates. Swapping short-grained brown rice for white rice adds more fiber and other nutrients. You can reduce salt intake by choosing low-sodium broth and soy sauce varieties. Make the dish gluten-free by using coconut aminos, tamari, or GF soy sauce. It is naturally dairy-free as written. You can also swap the sugar for low-glycemic coconut sugar. If you want to use honey instead, wait until you add the stock.
Slice The Beef Thin For Culinary Perfection
This recipe calls for beef chuck or rib eye rather than a leaner cut like sirloin. It needs the fat from the beef to help transform the sauce. The meat is sliced very thin, making it seem like a large portion atop the rice. Since I don’t have a meat slicer, I find that freezing the beef just until it’s firm makes it easier to slice nice and thin for this meal. Some grocery stores or butchers also sell thinly sliced beef in packages, simplifying this recipe. I still cut it into strips, but it certainly takes less time.
FAQs & Tips
If you have any leftovers, let them cool to room temperature, then refrigerate them in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Store the rice separately from the beef unless it has already been combined. I don’t recommend freezing these leftovers.
To make a heartier version of gyudon, add thinly sliced carrots, assorted mushrooms (such as enoki, baby bella, and shiitake), and cubed tofu.
You want to cook this dish until the meat is well done and browned on all sides. It needs to be thoroughly cooked because you want all the juices to seep out of the meat and into the delicious sauce, creating a thick glaze.
Serving Suggestions
My goal with this gyudon recipe is to help you create an incredible Japanese meal on a budget. You could pair it with homemade sushi, another dish that can be expensive in restaurants but is fun and affordable to make at home. Begin your culinary journey with this Avocado Sushi Roll or Sushi Hand Roll recipe. Add Asian Cucumber Salad and an Iced Matcha Latte to complete this flavor-packed meal.
Gyudon Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 1 pound beef chuck or rib eye very thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 cup dashi or beef stock
- 4 large eggs
- 4 cups cooked short-grain rice
- Scallions chopped (for garnish)
- Beni-shoga shredded pickled ginger, for serving
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté onions until soft and translucent.
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Add the beef and sugar to the skillet, cooking until beef is browned. Stir in mirin and soy sauce.
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Pour in dashi stock, bring to a simmer, and cook until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 7-10 minutes.
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In a separate pan, fry eggs sunny-side up until the whites are set but yolks remain runny.
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Divide cooked rice among bowls, top with beef mixture, place an egg on each, and garnish with scallions, beni-shoga, and sesame seeds.
Nutrition
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