Beef Bowl with Rice (Printable)
Tender beef and onions in a savory sauce served over fluffy steamed rice for a satisfying dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1.1 lbs thinly sliced beef sirloin or ribeye
→ Rice
02 - 2 cups short-grain white rice
03 - 2 1/2 cups water
→ Sauce
04 - 1 cup dashi stock (or beef broth substitute)
05 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
06 - 2 tbsp mirin
07 - 2 tbsp sake
08 - 1 tbsp sugar
→ Vegetables & Garnish
09 - 1 large onion, thinly sliced
10 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
11 - 1 tbsp pickled ginger (beni shoga, optional)
→ Oil
12 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
# How to Prepare:
01 - Rinse the rice under cold water until it runs clear. Combine rice and water in a rice cooker or saucepan and cook according to instructions.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.
03 - In a bowl, combine dashi stock, soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. Pour the mixture into the skillet with onions and bring to a gentle simmer.
04 - Spread sliced beef evenly in the pan. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until just cooked through and tender, skimming foam or fat if needed.
05 - Fluff the cooked rice and divide among serving bowls. Spoon the beef and onion mixture with sauce over the rice.
06 - Top with sliced spring onions and pickled ginger if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together faster than ordering takeout, yet tastes like you've been simmering it for hours.
- The tender beef and glossy sauce are so forgiving that even small mistakes turn into delicious learning moments.
- One bowl feeds you completely—no sides needed, just rice, beef, and that silky sauce doing all the talking.
02 -
- The beef continues to cook even after you remove it from heat, so pull it off the stove when it still looks slightly underdone—it'll finish perfectly by the time you serve it.
- Don't skip rinsing the rice; that simple step is the difference between fluffy individual grains and a sticky, disappointing mess.
- The sauce is where all the magic lives—balance the saltiness by tasting a bit of the liquid before you add the beef, because brands of soy sauce vary enormously.
03 -
- Ask your butcher to slice the beef thin for you—it saves time and guarantees even, delicate pieces that cook perfectly.
- Have all your ingredients prepped and your sauce mixed before you start cooking; this dish moves fast and you won't have time to chop onions mid-stir.