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Nick DiGiovanni slicing into the omelet of plated omurice.
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5 from 1 vote

Japanese Omurice Recipe

I've made eggs just about every way possible, but this Japanese omurice recipe might be my most challenging (and rewarding) version yet. It combines savory chicken fried rice with a soft, custardy omelet and rich homemade demi-glace for an impressive dish that's worth taking the time to master.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
Keyword: Japanese omurice, omurice, omurice recipe
Servings: 2 servings

Equipment

  • 1 Medium Saucepan
  • 1 Wooden Spoon
  • 1 Small Saucepan
  • 1 Strainer
  • 1 Wok
  • 1 Spatula
  • 1 Rice Mould or Small Bowl
  • 1 (8-inch) Non-Stick Frying Pan
  • Chopsticks or Silicone Spatula
  • 1 Whisk

Ingredients

Demi-Glace

  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
  • 2 shallot sliced
  • 2 green onion sliced
  • ½ celery stalk diced
  • ½ whole carrot diced
  • 1 whole garlic clove
  • 2 teaspoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup Pinot Noir or good Burgundy wine
  • 4 cup good-quality beef broth
  • tablespoon butter
  • tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • optional black pepper freshly ground

Chicken Fried Rice

  • 2 tablespoon neutral oil
  • cup chicken thigh finely diced
  • ½ white onion finely diced
  • 4-5 button mushroom finely diced
  • 2 tablespoon Japanese ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cup cooked day-old Japanese short-grain rice
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper freshly ground, to taste
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped

Omurice

  • 3-4 large egg per person cracked and beaten the day before

Instructions

Make the Demi-Glace

  • Heat one tablespoon of neutral oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until caramelized.
    1 tablespoon neutral oil, 2 shallot
  • Add the remaining vegetables and sauté for one to one and a half minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
    2 green onion, ½ celery stalk, ½ whole carrot, 1 whole garlic clove, 2 teaspoon tomato paste
  • Deglaze the pan with the red wine and cook until reduced by half.
    ½ cup Pinot Noir or good Burgundy wine
  • Add the beef broth, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 20-30 minutes, or until reduced by about two-thirds.
    4 cup good-quality beef broth
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a clean small saucepan. Add the flour and stir with a spatula until golden to create a roux. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
    1¾ tablespoon butter, 1½ tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • Place a fine-mesh strainer over the pan with the roux. Strain the reduced broth directly into the roux, pressing the vegetables with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
  • Return the pan to the heat and gently whisk until the sauce is thickened, glossy, and coats the back of a spoon. Taste and season with freshly ground black pepper as needed. Set aside and keep warm.
    optional black pepper

Make the Chicken Fried Rice

  • Heat two tablespoons of neutral oil in a deep-sided frying pan or wok over medium-high heat.
    2 tablespoon neutral oil
  • Add the diced chicken and cook, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned and cooked through.
    ⅔ cup chicken thigh
  • Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until the onion is translucent.
    ½ white onion, 4-5 button mushroom
  • Push the chicken and vegetables to one side of the pan. Add the ketchup to the empty side and cook briefly to caramelize.
    2 tablespoon Japanese ketchup
  • Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, then add the rice. Use a spatula to break apart the rice as it cooks, stirring until the grains are evenly coated.
    1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 cup cooked day-old Japanese short-grain rice
  • Add the butter and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
    3 tablespoon butter, salt, black pepper
  • Stir in the chopped parsley and set aside.
    2 tablespoon fresh parsley

Make the Omelet

  • Heat an eight-inch nonstick frying pan over medium heat. The pan should be hot but not smoking.
  • Pour in the beaten eggs. Working quickly, use chopsticks or a spatula to stir the eggs, continuously moving the cooked portions toward the center.
    3-4 large egg per person
  • When the eggs are about 70% set but still wet on top, stop stirring and let them cook for about five seconds to set the base.
  • Tilt the pan and use chopsticks or a spatula to roll the omelet into an oval, bringing the top and bottom edges together in the center.
  • Gently flip the omelet so the seam is facing down. Cook for a few seconds to seal the seam.

Assemble and Serve

  • Pack the fried rice into an omurice mold or small bowl. Invert it onto a serving plate and remove the mold.
  • Using chopsticks or a spatula as a guide, gently slide the omelet on top of the rice.
  • Using a sharp knife, slice the omelet lengthwise down the center, allowing the soft interior to open and fall over the rice.
  • Ladle a generous amount of warm demi-glace over the omelet.
  • Garnish with additional chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

*Adjust the ingredient amounts in the recipe instructions accordingly if doubling or tripling the recipe. 
Storage:
- Refrigerator: Store the chicken fried rice and demi-glace separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to four days. For the best texture, I recommend making the omelet fresh just before serving.
- Freezer: Freeze the chicken fried rice and demi-glace separately in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. I don’t recommend freezing the omelet, as the eggs can become watery and rubbery once thawed.
- Reheating: Reheat the fried rice in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, and gently reheat the demi-glace in a saucepan over low heat. Make a fresh omelet just before assembling and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1096kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 70g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 29g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 428mg | Sodium: 2396mg | Potassium: 881mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1902IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 7mg