Butadon (Japanese-style Pork Rice Bowl)
Butadon (Japanese-style Pork Rice Bowl)
Easy & Delicious Butadon Recipe: Sweet & Savory Japanese Pork Bowl
Butadon is a perfect, light meal to make for kids during their school break! This is a Japanese-style pork rice bowl dish, simmered in a sweet and savory soy sauce-based sauce. It’s versatile too – delicious with chicken or any cut of pork you prefer. It’s a recipe you absolutely must try!
Ingredients- Pork Belly (or Pork Belly Slices) 320g
- Soy Sauce 4 Tbsp
- Oligosaccharide (or Corn Syrup) 2 Tbsp
- Sake (or Mirin) 2 Tbsp
- Oyster Sauce 1/2 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Sesame Oil 1 Tbsp
- Baby Greens 1 handful (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The pork I’m using today is direct-heat pork belly. However, you can use any type or cut of pork you like! Whether it’s whole pork belly, sliced pork belly, or even pork neck, feel free to choose your favorite.
Step 2
Cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces that are easy to place on top of the rice. Cutting them too small might cause them to break apart during cooking, so aim for a comfortable size.
Step 3
Heat a pan without adding any oil. Lightly sear the pork belly pieces on both sides until they are just lightly cooked. If you’re using regular pork belly, it might release a lot of fat, so after searing, blot the excess oil from the pan with a paper towel. This step helps keep the sauce flavor clean.
Step 4
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the 4 tablespoons of soy sauce into the pan and let it simmer gently with the pork. Don’t cook it down too much, as you’ll want some sauce to drizzle over the rice.
Step 5
Now, add the 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1/2 tablespoon of oyster sauce, and 2 tablespoons of sake (or mirin) to the pan. Simmer together. Finally, drizzle in the 2 tablespoons of oligosaccharide (or corn syrup) for sweetness and stir everything together to coat the pork with the sauce.
Step 6
Once all the simmering is done, turn off the heat. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and stir to combine. This adds a wonderful nutty aroma and flavor.
Step 7
Place one serving of warm rice into a bowl. Top it with a handful of baby greens for a fresh touch and vibrant color. (The baby greens are optional, so you can skip them if you prefer).
Step 8
Generously arrange the perfectly simmered, sweet and savory pork belly over the rice. Finally, spoon about 2 tablespoons of the delicious soy sauce mixture from the pan over the top. Your mouth-watering Butadon is now complete! Enjoy your meal.
