Omurice (Japanese Omelette Rice)

• servings: 2 servings
• total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

¼ onion (4 oz, 113 g) 4 113

3 oz boneless, skinless chicken thigh

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

1 Tbsp green peas (cooked)

½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (divided)

freshly ground black pepper

2 servings cooked Japanese short-grain rice (1¾ cups, 330 g; warm) 1¾ 330

5 Tbsp ketchup (plus more for garnish; for an authentic taste, I highly recommend KAGOME brand Japanese ketchup)

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

4 large eggs (50 g each w/o shell) (divided)

½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (divided)

2 Tbsp unsalted butter (divided)

Directions

Before You Start: For the chicken rice, you can use reheated frozen rice if you have it. See how to cook Japanese rice with a rice cooker, pot over the stove, Instant Pot, or donabe.

Gather all the ingredients.

To Make the Chicken Rice

Lay ¼ onion flat side down on the cutting board. With the knife edge toward the root end, make ⅛-inch horizontal slices to within ½ inch of the root end, keeping the root intact. Then, make ⅛-inch vertical slices, again keeping the root intact.

Mince finely into ⅛-inch (3-mm) pieces. If you need to chop the onion pieces finer, run your knife through them using a rocking motion. Hold down the tip of the knife; otherwise, the onions will go flying around the room.

Angle your knife back and diagonally, and then slice 3 oz boneless, skinless chicken thigh along the grain into strips about ½ inch (1.5 cm) wide. Next, angle your knife again and slice the chicken strips against the grain into pieces about ½ inch (1.5 cm) square. This sogigiri cutting technique gives the chicken pieces equal thickness and creates more surface area for fast cooking and better absorption of the flavors.

Heat 1 Tbsp unsalted butter in a large frying pan over medium heat and add the minced onion.

Sauté the onions until tender.

When the onions are tender, add the chicken and season it with half of the Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Cook the chicken until it‘s no longer pink.

Reduce the stove‘s heat a little and add 5 Tbsp ketchup and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine. Let the excess moisture evaporate so the rice will not become mushy.

Add 2 servings cooked Japanese short-grain rice. Use a cutting motion with your spatula to break the clumps into small pieces.

Season with remaining half of the Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Add 1 Tbsp green peas and toss to combine. Remove from the heat. Divide the chicken rice into 3 portions; use 2 portions today and freeze the extra portion to use next time. Set aside. You will shape the rice before you add it to the omelette using the side of a small bowl and spatula.

To Make the Omurice

We‘ll make the omurice one at a time. Crack 2 large eggs in a small bowl. Using chopsticks, beat the eggs in a zigzag motion while you keep the chopsticks' tips touching the bowl's bottom. Cut the egg whites instead of whisking.

Add ¼ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Then, strain the beaten eggs through a fine-mesh strainer. This removes the stringy bands on the yolks called the chalaza to give the cooked eggs a uniform and silky-smooth texture.

Heat 1 Tbsp unsalted butter in the pan over medium heat. Distribute the butter to make sure the surface of the pan is coated well.

Check if the pan is hot by adding a drop of the egg mixture into the pan with a chopstick. If it sizzles, then pour in the egg mixture.

Stir the eggs quickly in a spiral motion with chopsticks while you shake the pan. Keep the eggs moving so you end up with soft, small curds and an even exterior surface. I found that chopsticks can create really nice small curds better than a silicone spatula.

Stop stirring when the eggs are half-cooked. You want to see a smooth omelette surface, not the chopsticks’ stirring marks, so stop stirring while the eggs are rather runny. Tilt the frying pan to spread out the uncooked egg mixture. The egg curds should look creamy, soft-scrambled, and custardy at this stage. You don‘t want to overcook them, as they’ll continue to cook a little with the residual heat. Make sure to level the egg curds.

Place 1 portion of chicken rice in the center of the omelette. Spread it out to the sides a little. Create a rough football shape without moving and touching the omelette. Turn off the stove‘s heat.

Move the pan to a wet folded cloth to cool it. This keeps the omelette from browning so that your omurice is an even pale yellow color. Then, slide the omelette to the far edge of the pan. Wrap the rice with the omelette from both sides.

Hold a plate in one hand and the pan in the other and tilt the plate next to the omurice. Then, flip the frying pan upside down at an angle to transfer the omurice, seam side down, onto the plate.

To Serve

Place a paper towel on top of the omurice and gently mold it with your hands into the shape of a football or rugby ball. Drizzle additional ketchup on top or in a zigzag pattern. Enjoy!

To Store

You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for a month.

Nutrition

• Calories: 609 kcal
• Total Fat: 37 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 268 mg
• Sodium: 607 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 39 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2 g
• Total Sugars: 4 g
• Protein: 28 g