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Japanese tsukune don with glazed chicken meatballs, egg yolk and scallions over rice in a bowl on a dark slate surface

Tsukune Don (Japanese Chicken Meatball Rice Bowl)

Pan-glazed Japanese chicken meatball patties over rice with a raw egg yolk. About 46 grams of protein per serving, ready in 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 700
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g ground chicken thigh about 14 oz
  • 1 egg lightly beaten, for the meatball mixture
  • 3 tbsp panko about 20 g
  • 2 scallions finely chopped, whites and greens separated
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp soy sauce for the meatballs
  • 1 tsp neutral oil for the pan
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce for the tare
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp sake or water
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 300 g cooked short-grain rice about 2 cups, 150 g per bowl
  • 2 egg yolks fresh, one per bowl
  • shredded nori and sesame seeds for serving

Method
 

  1. Mix the ground chicken, beaten egg, panko, scallion whites, ginger and 1 teaspoon soy sauce in a bowl. Mix with your hand for about a minute until the mixture turns sticky and holds together. Wet your hands and shape into 8 oval patties, about 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) thick.
  2. Stir the 2 tablespoons soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar together in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for 4 minutes without moving them, until the bottoms are deep golden. Flip and cook 3 minutes more.
  4. Pour the tare over the patties, lower the heat slightly, and cover for 2 minutes so the chicken cooks through. Uncover and cook 2 to 3 minutes, turning the patties, until the sauce reduces to a glossy glaze and the centers reach 74C (165F).
  5. Divide the rice between two bowls. Top each with four patties, spoon over the remaining glaze, and make a small well in the rice for an egg yolk.
  6. Finish with the scallion greens, nori and sesame seeds. Break the yolk and stir it through the rice as you eat.