Japanese Pork Over Rice (Butadon)
Delicious Japanese Pork Over Rice (Butadon) for a Solo Meal
Butadon is a classic Japanese rice bowl dish where tender pork is stir-fried and then simmered in a savory sauce, served generously over fluffy rice. While traditionally made with pork belly or shoulder, using thinly sliced bulgogi-style pork makes the sauce penetrate better and results in an incredibly tender and flavorful dish. It’s perfect for a quick and satisfying solo meal!
Main Ingredients- 150g thinly sliced pork for bulgogi
- 1 bowl of warm cooked rice
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 egg yolk
Pork Marinade- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp sake (or mirin)
- A pinch of black pepper
Butadon Sauce- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp sake (or mirin)
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp ginger syrup (or 1/3 Tbsp sugar + a little ginger powder/grated ginger)
- A little cooking oil
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp sake (or mirin)
- A pinch of black pepper
Butadon Sauce- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp sake (or mirin)
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp ginger syrup (or 1/3 Tbsp sugar + a little ginger powder/grated ginger)
- A little cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Gently pat the thinly sliced pork with paper towels to remove any excess blood. Separate any clumps of meat. In a bowl, combine the pork with 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 Tbsp sake, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix well and let it marinate for about 10 minutes. This step is crucial for tenderizing the meat and removing any unwanted pork odor.
Step 2
Prepare the Butadon sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 Tbsp sake, 1 Tbsp water, and 1 Tbsp ginger syrup until well combined. If you don’t have ginger syrup, you can substitute it with 1/3 Tbsp sugar and a tiny bit of ginger powder or freshly grated ginger for a similar aromatic touch.
Step 3
Peel and thinly slice the half onion into strips. For garnish, finely chop some green onions or scallions. This will add a fresh aroma and vibrant color to your finished dish.
Step 4
Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a little cooking oil. Add the marinated pork and stir-fry until it starts to brown. If you’re using fattier cuts like pork belly or shoulder, you can skip adding oil as the pork’s natural fat will render out. For leaner cuts like bulgogi pork, a touch of oil helps prevent sticking and adds a nice crispness.
Step 5
Once the pork is about halfway cooked (no longer pink), add the sliced onions to the pan. Continue to stir-fry over medium-high heat until the pork is fully cooked and the onions have softened and turned slightly translucent.
Step 6
Continue stir-frying over medium-high heat until the pork is nicely browned and slightly crispy. The onions will caramelize, adding a lovely sweetness, and the pork will develop a wonderful smoky aroma from the pan. For extra smoky flavor, you can toss the pan occasionally or ‘toss’ the meat in the air as you cook. Don’t be afraid of some browning on the bottom of the pan – that’s where the flavor is!
Step 7
Once the pork and onions are beautifully browned, reduce the heat to low. Pour all the prepared Butadon sauce into the pan. Gently toss and turn the ingredients to ensure they are evenly coated with the sauce and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the pork beautifully. Simmering on low heat prevents the sauce from burning and allows it to fully penetrate the meat.
Step 8
The pork is ready when the sauce has thickened and glazed the meat, as shown in the picture. It will be savory with a hint of sweetness. It might taste a little salty on its own, but this is intentional as it’s meant to be served over rice, balancing the overall flavor.
Step 9
Spoon the warm cooked rice into a serving bowl. Generously top the rice with the savory pork and onion mixture. Don’t forget to scrape any remaining delicious sauce and onions from the pan onto the rice – this adds so much flavor!
Step 10
Finally, make a small well in the center of the pork and carefully place the egg yolk in it. Sprinkle the chopped green onions over the top. Your delicious Japanese Pork Over Rice (Butadon) is now complete! For an even richer experience, break the yolk and mix it with the rice and pork before eating.
