If you’ve ever watched Japanese anime or cooking videos on social media, you’ve almost certainly seen omurice!
Omurice is a quintessential dish of yoshoku—Japan’s unique style of Western-influenced cuisine. The combination of ketchup-flavored chicken rice and fluffy egg is the ultimate “comfort food.”
It might look tricky to make, but it’s actually surprisingly easy!
Here is a simple chef’s trick: add a little bit of dashi granules (Japanese soup stock powder) to the ketchup rice. It doesn’t make the dish taste fishy; instead, it adds depth to the umami flavor, instantly transforming your homemade omurice into something that tastes like it came straight out of a classic Japanese kissaten (coffee shop).
Best of all, you can make it in just 10 minutes!
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Ingredients (Serves 1)
Warm cooked rice: 1 serving (approx. 180g)
Chicken thigh: 50g (cut into small pieces)
Onion: 1/4 (finely chopped)
Ketchup: 2 tbsp
Dashi granules: 1/2 tsp
Eggs (Size L): 2
Milk: 1 tbsp
Butter: 2 tsp (approx. 10g)
For finishing (optional)
Ketchup (for topping)
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Instructions
Make the ketchup rice.
Place butter in a frying pan and heat over medium heat.
Add the chicken and onion; sauté until the chicken is cooked through and the onion has softened.
Add the rice, ketchup, and dashi granules. Mix well to ensure the ketchup is evenly distributed throughout the rice. The added dashi acts as a secret ingredient, giving the rice depth and rich umami flavor.
Transfer the rice to a plate and shape it into a mound.
Cook the eggs. Place the eggs and milk in a bowl,
and mix well. Wipe the frying pan clean, lightly coat it with oil, and place it over medium-low heat.
Pour in the egg mixture all at once. Gently stir for a few seconds and cook until the eggs begin to set but the center remains soft and creamy.
Finish the omurice.
Carefully slide the omelet onto the ketchup rice.
Drizzle with ketchup to taste and sprinkle with chopped parsley for the finishing touch.
A simple variation:
Don’t worry if you can’t wrap the rice perfectly! Simply placing the soft omelet on top of the rice is delicious enough. It looks beautiful, tastes amazing, and is a style commonly enjoyed in Japanese households.
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Tips
Why add dashi to the ketchup rice?
Adding a small amount of dashi enhances the natural umami of the chicken, onions, and ketchup. It creates a deeper, richer flavor profile while preserving the comforting, familiar taste that makes omurice so special.
Can I add vegetables?
Of course! We recommend adding ingredients like frozen mixed vegetables, mushrooms, corn, or green peas.
Can I use cold rice?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, using rice that has cooled down after cooking is ideal because it is easier to stir-fry and less likely to become mushy.
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