Omu-rice: A Comforting Japanese-Style Omelet Rice
Omu-rice bursting with a savory and sweet sauce – a true delight!
This omu-rice features a sauce that’s not too strong in flavor and has a pleasant sweetness, making it a guaranteed hit with children. It’s a dish that will surely be loved!
Fried Rice
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 50g ham
- 5 Tbsp minced carrots
- 5 Tbsp minced zucchini
- 5 Tbsp minced mushrooms
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
Sauce
- 60g cooking oil (approx. 60ml)
- 40g all-purpose flour
- 4 Tbsp ketchup
- 6 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 4 Tbsp vinegar
- 3 Tbsp store-bought tonkatsu sauce
- 4 Tbsp corn syrup
- 400cc water
- 1/10 tsp black pepper
- 60g cooking oil (approx. 60ml)
- 40g all-purpose flour
- 4 Tbsp ketchup
- 6 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 4 Tbsp vinegar
- 3 Tbsp store-bought tonkatsu sauce
- 4 Tbsp corn syrup
- 400cc water
- 1/10 tsp black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by making the delicious sauce that will elevate your omu-rice! In a pot, combine 60g of cooking oil and 40g of flour. Set the heat to the lowest setting and stir constantly to prevent lumps. While the weights of oil and flour differ, their volumes are roughly 1:1. It’s best to stir slowly until the mixture turns a nice brown color, but if you find temperature control difficult, you can proceed to the next step once it reaches a color similar to soy milk.
Step 2
Once the oil and flour mixture has developed a nutty aroma and a light brown color, add the 400cc of water and all the remaining sauce ingredients (ketchup, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, tonkatsu sauce, and corn syrup) all at once. Stir well, then bring to a simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes, allowing it to thicken. Finally, sprinkle in 1/10 tsp of black pepper and give it one last stir. Your flavorful omu-rice sauce is ready!
Step 3
Now, it’s time to make the fried rice! Pour 3 Tbsp of cooking oil into a pan. Add 50g of diced ham and cook until it’s crispy and slightly fried, releasing its savory protein flavor into the oil.
Step 4
Once the ham is golden brown, add all the prepared minced vegetables (carrots, zucchini, mushrooms) and stir-fry quickly over high heat for 1 minute. The key is to keep the vegetables slightly crisp. Add 1/4 tsp of salt and mix everything together evenly.
Step 5
Push the cooked ham and vegetables to one side of the pan. Pour the 2 Tbsp of soy sauce into the empty space. As the pan heats up, the soy sauce will sizzle and bubble, like it’s slightly burning. Avoid mixing it with the vegetables immediately. Wait until the soy sauce’s moisture evaporates and it starts to slightly caramelize, then quickly stir it into the vegetables. This step infuses a deeper soy sauce flavor.
Step 6
Once the soy sauce is well combined with the vegetables, add 2 bowls of cooked rice. Gently mix the rice with the ingredients, using the side of your spatula to break up any clumps without mashing the rice grains. Keep the heat at medium or high and continue to stir-fry until the rice grains are separated and slightly toasted.
Step 7
In a separate pan, spread one egg thinly and cook it like a crepe. Once cooked, carefully place the thin omelet onto a rice bowl. Then, firmly press the fried rice mixture into the rice bowl on top of the egg. Invert the bowl onto a plate, and you’ll have a beautifully shaped omu-rice, perfectly wrapped in the egg blanket.
Step 8
Generously ladle the prepared omu-rice sauce over the egg-covered fried rice. Your delicious omu-rice is now complete! The sauce has a perfect balance of savory and sweet notes that children will absolutely adore. If you prefer a saltier taste, you can add an extra 1/4 tsp of salt to the sauce or let it simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes. Enjoy your homemade masterpiece!
