Tori Nikujaga (Japanese Rooster & Potato Stew)

2023年10月31日

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In the event you’re trying to discover the pleasant world of Japanese delicacies, tori nikujaga is a must-try dish that embodies each simplicity and wealthy flavors. This hearty stew combines tender chunks of rooster, onions, potatoes, carrots, and shimeji mushroom, cooked in a savory soy-based broth, making it a comforting and satisfying meal. Let’s dive into the origin, components, and preparation of this scrumptious Japanese basic!

What’s Tori Nikujaga (鶏肉じゃが )?

Tori nikujaga is a well-liked residence cooked stew that embodies what Japanese consolation meals is all about. Tori nikujaga, which implies rooster (tori), meat (niku), and potatoes (jaga, which is brief for jagaimo), is similar to the unique nikujaga (肉じゃが ). The one main distinction is that the basic model makes use of thinly sliced meat (beef or pork) as an alternative of rooster. It also needs to be famous that the majority, if not all, nikujaga and tori nikujaga in Japan embody konnyaku noodles. I made a decision to make this recipe with out it since it may be tough to search out konnyaku within the U.S.

Due to its heartwarming properties, this Japanese rooster and potato stew is commonly served within the colder months of the 12 months, accompanied by a aspect of rice. Personally, it’s a nostalgic meal that takes me again to my childhood in Quebec. My Japanese mom favored to serve nikujaga on chilly winter days to heat our our bodies after spending a number of hours taking part in within the snow.

The normal model for nikujaga is believed to have first appeared within the late 1800s when admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, of the Imperial Japanese Navy, requested that his cooks create a model of the British Royal Navy beef stew. Nikujaga is among the first Japanese “fusion” dishes, or yoshoku in Japanese, recorded in Japanese historical past.

Tori Nikujaga Substances

Rooster: I’m utilizing boneless, skinless, rooster breast which might be reduce into chunk dimension chunks. However be happy to make use of your favourite reduce and depart the bone in and pores and skin on if you happen to desire it this manner. The rooster doesn’t should be reduce into chunk dimension chunks both however please be aware that the cooking time will differ if the items (e.g., an entire drumstick) are greater.
Onion: One massive onion sliced into skinny half moons so as to add sweetness and depth of taste.
Potatoes: Any kind of potato will work for this stew. My mom loves utilizing child potatoes whereas I desire utilizing fingerling potatoes or sliced Yukon Golds or russet potatoes.
Carrots: Carrots add sweetness and a beautiful pop of colour. I like to recommend utilizing thicker carrots to allow them to protect their form and never get too mushy as soon as they’re cooked.
Dashi (fish inventory): You can also make dashi inventory from scratch (observe this tutorial) or use a top quality dashi powder like I do. My favourite model is Kanoya.
Sake: You don’t want to make use of a top quality sake to make this dish. Common low cost sake or cooking sake (which is what I take advantage of) will just do effective.
Mirin: Mirin is a candy rice wine that’s just like sake. Actual mirin is made by fermenting koji (a mixture of glutinous rice and cultured rice) in a impartial spirit like shochu (candy potato alcohol). The actual stuff will be laborious to search out in the united statesbut I used to be capable of finding this one bought on Amazon. I haven’t tried the Kawashimaya model but it surely seems to be like the true deal for the reason that alcohol content material is comparatively excessive. I purchase mine at Marukai in Los Angeles. The flavour of actual mirin is far more advanced than what you discover bought in common supermarkets. Manufacturers like Kikkoman’s Aji-mirin isn’t actual mirin as a result of it comprises a mixture of corn syrup and vinegar, and the flavour is kind of candy. Whereas it’s nonetheless higher to make use of one of these mirin than nothing in any respect, it doesn’t come near the depth of taste actual mirin provides.
Soy sauce: Soy sauce infuses the dish with earthy and umami flavors. I like to recommend utilizing a Japanese soy sauce equivalent to Yamasa, as they have a tendency to have extra depth and be extra balanced than different varieties of soy sauces.
Shimeji Mushrooms: Shimeji mushrooms have small caps and an extended stems. They’re usually utilized in Japanese soups (miso soup), stews, salads, or as a topping for steaks and different protein. In the event you can not discover shimeji mushrooms you should utilize maitake or enoki. Or you’ll be able to fully omit mushrooms as they’re optionally available.

Ingredient Substitutions

In case you are lacking a vegetable or a primary ingredient from the recipe checklist, or would merely wish to make the dish extra filling or tasty, here’s a checklist of components that pair properly with this dish.

Be happy so as to add extra greens equivalent to snow peas, inexperienced beans, or thinly sliced daikon (make sure that it’s sliced skinny as daikon takes time to cook dinner), to the stew. You may also swap one veggie for one more.
Add a number of boiled eggs to make the dish extra filling.
Add konnyaku noodles or shirataki noodles to enhance digestion.
Use tamari or liquid amino as an alternative of soy sauce to make this dish gluten-free.
Use rooster broth as an alternative of dashi if you happen to like a extra intense rooster taste.

How To Make Tori Nikujaga

Scroll all the way in which right down to the recipe card for the total recipe.

Collect your entire kitchen instruments and cooking components.
Begin by prepping your entire components.
Add oil to a medium dimension pot and saute the rooster for a few minutes. Add the onions and saute for an extra 2 minutes.
Add the potatoes and carrots and saute for two extra minutes.
Add the remaining components, aside from the shimeji mushrooms, and produce the liquid to a boil.
Decrease the warmth and simmer for quarter-hour.
Add the shimeji mushrooms and cook dinner for 10 extra minutes. Get pleasure from!

How To Serve Tori Nikujaga

Tori nikujaga is a tasty dish that’s positive to turn out to be a household favourite! It’s a comforting dish that’s each filling and scrumptious. Right here’s tips on how to serve it in a manner that pays homage to its Japanese roots, whereas mixing slightly bit of recent with the previous.

Bowls: Use donburi bowls or deep soup bowls and serve the dish in particular person servings.
Rice: Serve a beneficiant portion of steamed white rice in a separate bowl or on the aspect. Nikujaga is commonly eaten by taking a spoonful of rice and dipping it into the flavorful broth.
Garnishes: Prime every serving of tori nikujaga with thinly sliced inexperienced onions for a refreshing crunch and a pop of colour. You may also add a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice mix) for a contact of warmth.
Pickles: Supply a aspect of Japanese pickles, equivalent to tsukemono or takuan, to enhance the flavors and supply a crunchy distinction to the stew’s extra delicate texture.
Contemporary herbs: As an alternative of inexperienced onions you should utilize recent herbs like mitsuba, cilantro, or parsley as a garnish for a burst of colour and taste.
Citrus: Add a squeeze of recent lemon juice or yuzu juice to brighten up the style of the broth.

Bear in mind, Nikujaga is all about consolation and heat. so be happy to adapt the style and presentation to your liking! Whether or not you select to serve it historically or with a contemporary twist, your loved ones or dinner friends are positive to understand the pleasant flavors of this basic Japanese dish.

What To Serve With Nikujaga

Listed here are a few of my favourite sides to pair with this Japanese rooster stew:

Did you want this straightforward tori nikujaga recipe? Are there modifications you made within the kitchen that you just wish to share? Share your ideas and proposals within the feedback part under!

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