Gyu Don (Beef Rice Bowl) 牛丼飯 (níu dòng fàn) is one of my family’s favorite thing to eat when I just want to make something quick, easy and nutritious. My recipe is a greatly simplified version of a Japanese classic dish. Although it’s simplified, it still tastes awesome!
I remember visiting Tokyo when I was 7. My dad took us into an alley way restaurant with a long bar table and bar seats. It’s where I had my first bowl of Gyu Don! It was so good that I can still remember the aroma! The steam from my bowl of rice had an intense beef aroma that had my mouth watering. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the same restaurant nor have I found anything comparable. I don’t even know the name of the restaurant (which doesn’t help). I think that the key is in the master sauce or stock. Sometimes a restaurant’s master stock can be decades old and impossible to replicate.
I have tried making authentic Gyu Don which includes making a broth with bonito, kombu, burdock root, mirin and sake. I still didn’t get the flavour from when I had it in Tokyo but it was definitely pretty tasty. Once, I ran out of all my Japanese ingredients and only had a packet of dashi soup powder. I used it along with soy sauce, sugar and salt to make the broth base. It turned out pretty good! Since then, it’s how I’ve been making it and my family loves it!
Dashi powder and/or kombu soy sauce can be found not only in Asian supermarkets, but western ones too. It’s not a “must” but it adds a bit of a mystery flavour that gives the soy sauce and sugar a bit more complexity. So I definitely recommend adding some to your Gyu Don (Beef Rice Bowl) 牛丼飯 even if it’s the simplified version.
In my Gyu Don (Beef Rice Bowl) 牛丼飯 recipe, I’ll show you how to make this super yummy dish in less time than it takes for your rice cooker to make your rice.
My family really loves beef on rice! Here are a few of our other favorites: Luc Lac Beef 柬埔寨炒牛肉 (this is a copycat of a dish at our favorite restaurant). Hong Kong Minced Beef on Rice 免治牛肉飯 (a classic Hong Kong dish). Tomato, Egg and Beef on Rice 滑蛋蕃茄牛肉飯 (a fun & healthy meal for kids).
Gyu Don (Beef Rice Bowl) 牛丼飯
Ingredients
- 300 g Fatty beef , thinly sliced
- 1 Yellow onion (Medium)
- 1 stalk Green onions , chopped
- 3 slices Ginger
- 1 packet Dashi powder
- 1 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 2 tsp Sugar
- ½ tsp Salt
- 300 ml Water
- 2 tsp Oil
- 2 bowls Cooked rice
- 2 Eggs (optional)
Instructions
- Make 2 bowls of rice
- Thinly slice onions and set aside
- Chop green onions
- Prepare 3 slices of ginger
Ginger can be minced or grated. I don’t like to eat the ginger, but I like a bit of the ginger taste so keeping it in slices makes it easier to fish out - In a pot or pan, add 2 tsp oil, ginger and add sliced onions on medium-high heat. Cook the onions until they start to soften
- Add 300ml water and 1 packet of dashi powder, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, 2 tsp sugar and ½ tsp salt. Mix well and bring to a boil on high heat
- Add beef and mix well into the broth. Cook until your desired doneness for the beef. Remove the beef from the broth and put on top of hot rice. I
cook the beef for approximately 2 minutes for medium rare. - Bring the broth to a boil. Boil it longer if you want a thicker sauce. Use a ladle to add broth into the rice bowl
- Sprinkle with green onions
- Serve on its own or with an egg on top
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