Chicken Soboro is a popular accompaniment to rice in Japan and is a staple in rice bowls, bento boxes (lunch boxes), and onigiri (rice balls). Its sweet and savory seasoning of ground chicken is loved by people of all ages, from adults to children.
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What is Chicken Soboro?
Chicken Soboro is a dish made by simmering ground chicken in sweet and savory seasonings. Soboro refers to ground meat, fish, or eggs that have been simmered or stir-fried until finely minced, but the most commonly used ingredient is chicken. It pairs well with rice and is also perfect as a side dish to have on hand, so it's sometimes added as an ingredient in stir-fries and simmered dishes.
You can make it easily by putting the ingredients and seasonings in a pot and simmering them. The fluffy texture of ground chicken, combined with the traditional Japanese sweet and savory seasonings, creates an appetizing dish.
The seasoning for soboro
Soboro is primarily seasoned with soy sauce and sugar. The chicken soboro in this recipe is seasoned a bit more intensely to go with rice, but you can easily adjust the seasoning to your preference.
If you want to adjust the saltiness, you can change the amount of soy sauce, and if you want to adjust the sweetness, you can alter the amount of sugar. When eating it as is, you might find that a slightly lighter seasoning is more delicious.
Recommended cuts for ground meat
When making chicken soboro, it's recommended to use chicken thighs for the ground meat. Using thigh meat results in a juicy and fluffy texture.
You can also use chicken breasts, but they tend to be drier due to their lower fat content. Since there is a significant difference between chicken thighs and chicken breasts, it's better to choose thigh meat if possible.
When substituting beef or pork for chicken
If you're using beef or pork instead of chicken, the recommended cuts for ground meat will vary. Chicken has less fat, so using chicken thighs is suitable, but with beef and pork, which have a higher fat content, it's recommended to use lean cuts.
Additionally, it is advisable to blanch beef and pork before cooking them. This helps to remove any excess fat and the distinct odor of these meats.
Ingredients
- 7 oz. (200g) ground chicken thighs
- 1 tsp ginger
- 2 Tbsp sake
- 2 ½ Tbsp sugar
- 2 ½ Tbsp soy sauce
Step-by-step instructions
🕒 Total 10 mins
Step 1
Peel and grate the ginger. Mix the ground chicken, grated ginger, and sake in a pot.
Step 2
Heat the pot over medium heat and cook the ground chicken, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
Step 3
When the ground chicken turns white in color, mix in sugar and soy sauce. Simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
To Store
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tips on how to make
- Ground chicken should be cooked over medium heat or lower. Using high heat will cause the meat to become tough.
- Keep stirring the ground chicken until it is cooked through. Continuing to stir will prevent the ground chicken from becoming lumpy and losing its appearance and texture.
Recipe Card
Chicken Soboro (Flavored Ground Chicken)
Ingredients
- 7 oz. (200g) ground chicken thighs
- 1 tsp ginger
- 2 Tbsp sake
- 2 ½ Tbsp sugar
- 2 ½ Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Peel and grate the ginger. Mix the ground chicken, grated ginger, and sake in a pot.
- Heat the pot over medium heat and cook the ground chicken, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
- When the ground chicken turns white in color, mix in sugar and soy sauce. Simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Notes
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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