Quick and simple gyudon (牛丼) is a classic Japanese beef bowl. This delicious beef gyudon recipe only takes 15 minutes! Also, beef bowl is great to serve with rice and miso soup as a side.
Love Japanese food? Check out these popular chicken udon noodles stir fry, crispy teriyaki tofu and teriyaki sauce recipes.
What is gyudon (牛丼)?
Gyū is cow in Chinese character, and don is short form for donburi, in Japanese word means bowl. It is a classic Japanese beef bowl. Sweet onion and thinly sliced beef simmered in a slightly sweet sauce and topping on a bowl of rice.
Sometimes it serves with shirataki noodles and some like to add a raw egg or a soft poached egg on the beef bowl. Also, it is often serves with beni shōga (pickled ginger) and shichimi (ground seasoned chili pepper) as a condiment.
Yoshinoya is one of the popular Japanese fast food chain restaurants in Asia and USA. When I go to Yoshinoya for lunch or dinner. I often order beef gyudon. And, it is one of their famous items. Therefore, people often refer as Yoshinoya beef bowl.
What are the ingredients for Japanese beef bowl?
The main ingredients are thinly slice beef, onion and green onion.
In order to keep this beef gyudon recipe simple. For gyudon sauce, I used soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar and water. Some people like to use dashi (fish and seaweed stock).
You can add some sesame seeds before serving, it is optional. Besides, I added some sesame oil at the end to give more flavor to this beef bowl.
Cooking tips for beef gyudon (牛丼 ):
- Stir fry onion and simmering with sauce for couple minutes until the onion is soft.
- Add thinly sliced beef and simmering for a few minutes. I used lean beef, so I only simmering for a minute or two until it changed color. If you use fatty beef, it’s better to simmer a little longer.
- Turn off fire and add some sesame oil and green onion.
- Cook 2 cups of Japanese rice with 2 cups water in instant pot Manuel for 6 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
FAQs:
What kind of beef do you use?
Most of people use thinly sliced rib bye, tenderloin, sirloin, shabu shabu beef with more fat or some fat. Personally, I like to use leaner beef because it’s healthier.
Where can I buy thinly sliced meat?
I bought them at Asian store. Or, you can ask a butcher at regular grocery store to slice the meat for you.
How to slice thin meat at home?
If you have a meat slicer, you can do it at home. The best way to freeze the meat, then slice them. If you don’t have a meat slicer, you can use a sharpened knife. Take out the frozen beef an hour before slicing up.
What kind of rice do you use?
I used Japanese rice. They are wider and shorter.
Instructions for how to make Yoshinoya beef bowl:
1. Wash 2 cups of Japanese rice and drain them very well. Then, put them into instant pot and pour 2 cups of water. Next, close the lid and vent. Push manual button adjust time to 6 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
2. While waiting for the rice, slice an onion.
3. After that, cut 2 sticks of green onion.
4. Pour 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and add sliced onion. Stir fry them a little bit, then add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 tablespoons of mirin, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Let it simmer for couple minutes until the onion is little soft.
5. Next, add thinly sliced beef into the sauce. Let it simmer for a minute or two until it changed color.
6. After that, turn off fire add 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil and green onion mix them will. When rice is done, scoop the beef with sauce over the rice.
Enjoy this easy and delicious beef gyudon recipe! Also, check out this instant ramen stir fry, Japanese chicken curry and tonkatsu recipes.
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Gyudon
Ingredients
- 1 pound Thinly sliced beef
- 1 Onion medium size
- 2 sticks Green onion
- 1/2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
- 1/2 tablespoon Sesame oil
- some Sesame seeds optional
Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons Mirin
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
- 1/2 cup Water
Rice:
- 2 cups Japanese rice
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Wash 2 cups of Japanese rice and drain them very well. Then, put them into instant pot and pour 2 cups of water. Next, close the lid and vent. Push manual button adjust time to 6 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
- While waiting for the rice, slice an onion.
- After that, cut 2 sticks of green onion.
- Pour 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and add sliced onion. Stir fry them a little bit, then add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 tablespoons of mirin, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Let it simmer for couple minutes until the onion is little soft.
- Next, add thinly sliced beef into the sauce. Let it simmer for a minute or two until it changed color.
- After that, turn off fire add 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil and green onion mix them will. When rice is done, scoop the beef with sauce over the rice.
Video
Notes
Cooking tips for beef gyudon (牛丼 ):
- Stir fry onion and simmering with sauce for couple minutes until the onion is soft.
- Add thinly sliced beef and simmering for a few minutes. I used lean beef, so I only simmering for a minute or two until it changed color. If you use fatty beef, it’s better to simmer a little longer.
- Turn off fire and add some sesame oil and green onion.
- Cook 2 cups of Japanese rice with 2 cups water in instant pot Manuel for 6 minutes at high pressure and natural release.