Japanese Butadon (Pork Donburi) Rice Bowl Recipe

side view of pork donburi with green onion garnish

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Japanese Butadon (Pork Donburi) Rice Bowl Recipe

A simple and elegant meal: Japanese Butadon, also known as Pork Donburi! A rice bowl that's quick and easy to make with thinly sliced pork belly and an irresistible sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, and butter. Pile on top of white rice with a layer of finely shredded cabbage. A complete meal in one bowl!

Prep Time7

Cook Time8

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Butadon, Cabbage, Pork Belly, Rice

Servings:

Calories: 547kcal

Author: Lis Lam

Equipment

Non-stick Skillet
Mandoline

Ingredients

1/2 cup cabbage, thinly shredded *divided, 1/4 cup per person
1/4 lb/ 4 ounces/ 110 grams pork belly, thinly sliced *1/4 lb per person (can be swapped with pork loin or pork shoulder)
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3 Tbsp Mirin
1.5 cups cooked white rice *divided, 3/4 cup per person
1 green onion, finely shredded

Instructions

Prep cabbage. Shred cabbage as finely as possible. If you can, use a mandoline for light, feathery shreds. Set aside.
Make sauce. In a small bowl, add the soy sauce and mirin. Mix together and set aside.
Cook Pork Belly. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the pork belly slices in a single layer. Cook the pork until no longer pink, about 30-60 seconds per side. Remove the pork and set aside on a plate.
Cook sauce. Wipe away the excess oil with a paper towel. There's no need to turn off the heat, if you work quickly. Add the butter and melt in the pan. Add the soy sauce and mirin mixture to the pan. The sauce will bubble. Mix with a spatula until the sauce is slightly thicker, about 1-2 minutes. Add the cooked pork belly back into the pan, directly into the sauce. Spread the pork belly around, flipping the pieces so every piece is coated in sauce, about 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Assemble rice bowls. In a medium bowl, add a scoop of white rice. Add a thin layer of shredded cabbage, spreading it evenly to the edges. Add the pork belly in a single layer on top. Spoon a bit of the sauce and drizzle over the pork belly. Garnish with green onion. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Tips:

Cook rice first. Don't forget to make the rice first! It will take the longest to cook. The rest of the dish comes together quickly.
Watch the sauce carefully. The sauce will reduce quickly. If it reduces too much, add 1-2 Tbsp of water.
Adjust portion size. You can adjust the ingredient quantities and add more pork belly for a larger serving.
Add a soft boiled egg. To add more protein, add a soft boiled egg on top.

Nutrition