How to Make Omurice (Japanese Omelet Rice) at Home-Japanese Taste

How to Make Omurice (Japanese Omelet Rice) at Home

by Ayumi Matsuo

Main dish Kid-friendly Chicken Egg Weeknight meal

Omurice is a very popular western-style Japanese dish made up of ketchup fried rice wrapped in an omelet and finished with a ketchup sauce. The name "omurice" is a Japanese-English word made up of two English words: "omelet" + "rice.” It is a Japanese-western fusion dish that combines a western omelet with Japanese fried rice.

Omurice belongs to the “Yoshoku” or western-Japanese fusion category of Japanese food. It is a classic dish that is often prepared at home, but there are also many Yoshoku restaurants in Japan that specialize in making their own versions of omurice. These restaurants typically make their own signature ketchup or demi-glaze sauces or make their omelets differently. You can find some shops serving omurice topped with a thin layer of egg, while some prepare fluffy omelets which are said to be heavily inspired by French omelets.

When you take a bite of omurice, the harmony of the savory aroma from the ketchup and the mellow flavor of the omelet is so delicious that many people, ranging from children to adults, love it. Another reason why omurice is a go-to dish to prepare in Japanese homes is that it can be easily prepared with items you may already have in your kitchen.

Today, we introduce an omurice recipe that can be easily made at home. For the ketchup fried rice, we will be adding chicken, onions, and carrots but feel free to use your favorite protein and vegetables. Other vegetables such as mushrooms and bell peppers are commonly found in omurice too, so play around with this recipe and make your own original omurice!

Overview

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Total servings: 2

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
  • 300g Cooked Rice (short-grain rice)
  • 100g Chicken Breast (thigh is OK too)
  • 1/4 Onion
  • 1/4 Carrot
  • 4 Tbsp Ketchup (for the fried rice)
  • 15g Butter (for the fried rice)
  • 4 Eggs
  • 2 Tbsp Milk
  • 4 Tbsp Ketchup (for the ketchup sauce)
  • 10g Butter (for the ketchup sauce)
  • 1 Tbsp Water
  • Salt, to taste

Expert's Tip

How to Make Omurice (Japanese Omelet Rice) at Home

This cutting board has a unique shape compared to standard cutting boards. Instead of being rectangularly shaped, this cutting board features a round shape with a straight edge, which prevents your ingredients from sliding off. This shape has recently become popular in Japan. The material is Hinoki (Japanese cypress), which has a sterilizing effect and dries quickly even when wet. Additionally, this cutting board comes in three sizes, allowing you to choose the best size to suit your needs.

Instructions

1) Gathering the Ingredients

Gather the ingredients. Photo #1 shows the ingredients for the fried rice portion of this recipe, while photo #2 displays those for the omelet, and photo #3 showcases the ingredients for the ketchup sauce.




2) Preparing the Ingredients For The Ketchup Rice

Chop the onions, carrots, and chicken all into uniform, bite-sized pieces. 

3) Making the Ketchup Rice

Heat butter in a frying pan over medium heat. When it melts, add the chicken, onions, and carrots and fry them together. Once the chicken is no longer pink, sprinkle salt and pepper, and mix. Then, add the cooked rice and stir well to combine. When the chicken and vegetables are well incorporated into the rice, add the ketchup to fully coat the fried rice ingredients. Season the mixture to taste with salt, then turn off the heat and transfer the ketchup rice to another bowl.




4) Making the Omelet

In a bowl, beat the eggs with 1 tbsp of milk and a pinch of salt. Mix well to ensure that there are no strands of egg whites left in the mixture. Then, in a clean and dry fry pan, heat a bit of oil over medium-high heat. Add in the egg mixture spread it across the pan. Stir the egg mixture quickly, and only in the center.

Note: this instruction is only for one portion of the omelet. Please repeat this step to make the second portion.

5) Putting the Ketchup Rice Inside Of The Omelet

When the center of the egg is half-cooked, turn off the heat. Place one portion of the chicken rice slightly over the center of the omelet. Tilt the frying pan slightly toward you and put the tip of a spatula under the egg at an angle. Gently fold the omelet over the chicken rice. (Use the chopsticks or your fingers to support the omelet and prevent it from breaking.)

6) Shaping the Omurice

Bring the pan close to a plate and tilt it while supporting the omurice with the spatula. Then, gently flip the pan and transfer the omurice to the plate. Shape it with a paper towel.

7) Making the Ketchup Sauce

Mix the ingredients for the ketchup sauce - the ketchup, butter, and water in a small pan. Once it has thickened slightly and become shiny, it's ready. Be sure to season to taste.

8) Topping the Omurice With The Ketchup Sauce

Spoon the ketchup sauce over the omurice and it's ready to serve! 

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