Delicious Chicken Donburi: A Satisfying Single-Serving Meal
Enjoy Restaurant-Quality Donburi at Home: Chicken Donburi Recipe
Today, I’m preparing a special meal just for me – a hearty and delicious Chicken Donburi! Even when dining solo, this dish is incredibly satisfying and will enrich your dining table.
Key Ingredients for Delicious Chicken Donburi- 1 fresh chicken thigh fillet (approx. 90g) – Thigh meat is recommended for its tender texture!
- 1/6 bell pepper – Choose vibrant colors like red, orange, or yellow.
- 1/4 green bell pepper – Adds a wonderful aroma.
- 1/4 onion – Its sweetness intensifies when sautéed.
- 1 tsp minced garlic – The secret to removing gamey odors and enhancing umami!
- 1 section green onion – Adds fragrance when stir-fried.
- Cooking oil, as needed – For stir-frying the ingredients.
- 1 tsp cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp water) – Mix to prepare for thickening the sauce.
Flavor-Packed Sauce: The Golden Ratio- 1 tsp oyster sauce – Adds depth and richness to the dish.
- 1 tsp soy sauce – Provides the fundamental savory flavor.
- 1 tsp sugar – Balances and harmonizes all the flavors.
- 1/4 tsp chicken stock granules – Enhances the chicken flavor (optional, can be omitted).
- Pinch of black pepper – A little goes a long way to add aromatic notes.
- 3 Tbsp water – To create a smooth, well-blended sauce.
For Tender Chicken: Marinade Ingredients- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like Mirin or Sake) – Effectively removes any gamey smell from the chicken.
- Pinch of salt – Adjust to your taste.
- Pinch of minced garlic – Further boosts the aroma.
- Pinch of ginger juice – Helps to eliminate any chickeny odors.
- Pinch of black pepper – Adds a subtle touch of flavor to the marinade.
- 1 tsp oyster sauce – Adds depth and richness to the dish.
- 1 tsp soy sauce – Provides the fundamental savory flavor.
- 1 tsp sugar – Balances and harmonizes all the flavors.
- 1/4 tsp chicken stock granules – Enhances the chicken flavor (optional, can be omitted).
- Pinch of black pepper – A little goes a long way to add aromatic notes.
- 3 Tbsp water – To create a smooth, well-blended sauce.
For Tender Chicken: Marinade Ingredients- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like Mirin or Sake) – Effectively removes any gamey smell from the chicken.
- Pinch of salt – Adjust to your taste.
- Pinch of minced garlic – Further boosts the aroma.
- Pinch of ginger juice – Helps to eliminate any chickeny odors.
- Pinch of black pepper – Adds a subtle touch of flavor to the marinade.
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, carefully trim any excess fat from the chicken thigh fillet. Then, cut it into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with the marinade ingredients (1 Tbsp cooking wine, pinch of salt, pinch of minced garlic, pinch of ginger juice, pinch of black pepper) and mix well. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes. This step will make the chicken incredibly tender and flavorful.
Step 2
Next, chop all the vegetables (bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion) into pieces roughly the same size as the chicken. Uniform pieces ensure even cooking and an appealing presentation. Slice the green onion thinly.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious donburi sauce. In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients (1 tsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp chicken stock granules, pinch of black pepper, 3 Tbsp water) and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Separately, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 Tbsp water to create a cornstarch slurry for thickening. Set this aside.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add a little cooking oil. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
Step 5
In the same pan (add a touch more oil if needed), sauté the minced garlic and chopped onion until fragrant and translucent. Then, add the cooked chicken back to the pan, along with the sliced green bell pepper and bell pepper. Stir-fry over high heat for a minute or two to keep the vegetables crisp-tender.
Step 6
Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the pan. Stir everything together to ensure the sauce coats all the ingredients evenly.
Step 7
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it bubble for a minute or two, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen into the ingredients.
Step 8
This is the final step! Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring continuously. Cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until the sauce thickens to a glossy, rich consistency. Turn off the heat immediately. Spoon this delicious chicken topping generously over a bowl of hot steamed rice. Your satisfying Chicken Donburi is ready to be enjoyed!
