Japanese Chicken Rice
A Quick and Tasty Japanese Rice Dish
One of the fondest memories of living in Japan when I was a kid, was going to the so called "family" restaurants that were all the rage back then. They served an array of dishes ranging from typical Japanese food like tempura to Japanese-style Western dishes ( Yoshoku ). Every time we visited one of these places, I already knew what I wanted beforehand. It was something called the OmuRice, which is basically chicken rice served inside an egg omelette. It's a very child-friendly dish so it's no wonder that it's extremely popular with the kids.
The Origins of OmuRice
OmuRice is said to have originated 1900 and was first served at Rengatei, located in Ginza, Tokyo., which still operates until this day. Now this is just my opinion, but I've always found it was always about the rice, and the egg was just an afterthought-something to make the dish look just a bit fancier. Apparently, a lot of people feel the same way. These days, you'll see chicken rice ( without the egg ) on the menu of many restaurants as well as in the frozen food section of grocery stores.
The Japanese Chicken Rice ( not to be confused with Hainanese Chicken Rice eaten in Singapore and Malaysia ), is one of the simplest dishes to make. But don't let the simple ingredients fool you. It's one of the most delicious things you'll ever put into your mouth. This is a great way to use up leftover rice. If you want a vegetarian version of this, simply omit the chicken.
Tips for Best Results
- If you can, use Japanese rice (short-grain) for best results.
- Cut all ingredients to the same size for quick and even cooking.
- Have all ingredients cut and ready to go before starting to cook.
Try these other great Yoshoku recipes.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1/4 onion diced
- 1 skinless chicken breast chopped
- 1/2 cup frozen peas (cooked and thawed)
- 4 tablespoon ketchup
- 2/3 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
- cooking oil
Instructions
- Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and saute the chicken and onions for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the ketchup, pears, salt and pepper to the mixture. Stir to combine ingredients.
- Add the cooked rice and mix thoroughly. Heat for another 2 minutes.
- Divide into four plates and serve warm.
