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Hambagu (Japanese Hamburg Steak with Soy Gravy)

Hambagu (ハンバーグ), or Japanese hamburg steak, is a yoshoku dish: Western food adapted in Japan. It's a soft, juicy patty of beef and pork mince bound with panko and milk, pan-fried and then simmered in a glossy sauce.

The sauce is made right in the same pan from pantry staples: ketchup, Worcestershire (or tonkatsu sauce), soy sauce, mirin and a little butter. It's a hugely popular family dinner and a staple in Japanese diners.

Serve with rice and a simple salad, and top with a fried egg if you like.

Servings
4
Prep Time
15
mins
Cook Time
20
mins
Ingredients
16
Total Time
35
mins

Pantry bits

Panko (Japanese Bread Crumbs)
Panko (Japanese Bread Crumbs)
Soy Sauce
Soy Sauce
Mirin (Japanese Sweet Rice Wine)
Mirin (Japanese Sweet Rice Wine)
Tonkatsu Sauce
Tonkatsu Sauce
Sake (Japanese Rice Wine)
Sake (Japanese Rice Wine)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 brown onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter, plus 10g extra for the sauce
  • 1/3 cup (20g) panko breadcrumbs
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 300g beef mince
  • 200g pork mince
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • 2 tbsp sake or water
  • 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire or tonkatsu sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • Steamed rice and shredded cabbage, to serve

Instructions

  1. Cook the onion in 1 tbsp butter over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until soft and golden. Let it cool. Meanwhile soak the panko in the milk.
  2. Put the beef, pork, egg, soaked panko, cooled onion, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a bowl and knead with your hands for 1-2 minutes until sticky.
  3. Divide into 4 and shape into oval patties about 2cm thick, tossing each between your palms to push out air. Press a dimple in the centre of each.
  4. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the patties for 3 minutes, flip, add the sake, cover and cook on low for 8 minutes until cooked through. Move to plates.
  5. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, mirin and extra butter to the pan juices and simmer for 1 minute, stirring, until glossy.
  6. Spoon the sauce over the patties and serve with rice and shredded cabbage.

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