Oyako don (A bowl of rice topped with chicken and egg, 親子丼)

Oyako don (A bowl of rice topped with chicken and egg, 親子丼)

Oyako literally means parents and a child. This dish also represents chickens (parents) and an egg (a child). Don means a bowl of rice. This dish is very common in Japan. Family can enjoy this authentic Japanese dish together at home!

Ingredients (2 bowls):

  • 1 chicken thigh (200g, a half-pound)
  • 1 onion
  • a half carrot
  • 1/2 green onion
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of *Sake
  • 2 tablespoons of *Mirin
  • 1 teaspoon of *Hondashi
  • rice for 2 people

*Sake is an alcoholic Japanese rice wine which is made by fermenting rice.
*Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine with a lower alcohol percentage, and sweeter than Sake.
*Hondashi is bonito soup stock powders.

Here is how to make it at home. Cooking time is about 20- 30 minutes.

  1. Cook rice, in the meanwhile, cut chicken into bite size chunks. Slice carrot and onion. Chop green onion into small pieces.
  2. Put soy sauce, *Sake, *Mirin, *Hondashi and sugar in a small cooking bowl. Mix up very well.
  3. Preheat vegetable oil in a frying pan with medium heat, stir the chicken, the carrot and the onion for about 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.
  4. Add the 2. sauce into the frying pan, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce is shiny and thick. Remove a lid and flip over the chicken occasionally.
  5. Whisk eggs in a small cooking bowl. Pour and cover the eggs onto 4. and simmer about 3-5 minutes or until the eggs are half cooked. Remove from heat. -> See picture A.
Picture A
  1. Put the cooked rice into a bowl, pour a half of 5. on top. Add the green onion on top. Repeat it for 2 bowls.