Hambagu: Japanese Hamburger Steak
Hambagu offers a distinctive mix of Western and Japanese cuisine. It is often called Japanese Hamburger Steak and is a tasty variation of the classic hamburger. Considered Japanese-style Western cuisine, this meal is a mainstay in Yoshoku. It is appreciated in homes as well as restaurants all throughout Japan. Hambagu is usually served with rice. Its a filling and comfortable dish with a clearly Japanese taste unlike the traditional American hamburger presented on a bun.
Rich Taste with Simple Components
Made with ground meat, typically beef and pork, Hambagu combines Japanese flavors including soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. To strike the ideal mix between tenderness and taste, the beef is pan-fried and fashioned into thick, juicy patties. The umami richness of the ingredients gives Hambagu something unique among ordinary hamburgers. Often it is presented with a rich demi-glace or a basic sauce. This meal is a perfect illustration of how Japanese cuisine combines Western ideas with its own character.
Hambagu: An adaptable Comfort Food
Hambagu's adaptability adds even more special value. It can be eaten with mashed potatoes or as part of a bento box. But it is usually presented with a side of steaming rice and a salad. Apart from being a preferred home-cooked meal valued for its simplicity and pleasing tastes, the dish is not only found at restaurants. Whether eaten at a family dinner or placed on order at a Yoshoku restaurant, Hambagu offers a feeling of nostalgia and warmth.
Yoshoku
A classic Yoshoku dish, a subset of Japanese cuisine inspired by Western cookery and tailored to local tastes, hambagu is Hambagu takes a basic Western staple—the hamburger—into something distinctly Japanese, much like other well-known Yoshoku meals including Tonkatsu (breaded and fried pork cutlet), Ebi Fry (fried shrimp), and Ebi Mayo (shrimp in mayonnaise sauce). Usually eaten with rice rather than a bun, Hambagu reflects the ideal synthesis of East meets West by providing familiar tastes with a distinctly Japanese touch and seasoned with a mix of Japanese spices including soy sauce and mirin. These dishes highlight how well Japan can absorb foreign inspirations and turn them into treasured, regional favorites.
A Beloved Essential of Japanese Cooking
Combining the familiar texture of a hamburger patty with the rich, savory tastes of Japanese seasonings, Japanese Hamburger Steak exemplifies the ideal mix of East meets West. Enjoyed by individuals of many ages, its robust character and adaptability have made it a classic in both home cooking and casual eating. Whether you know Japanese food or not, Hambagu, Japanese Hamburger Steak is a delicious, filling dinner sure to become a favorite.
Hambagu: Japanese Hamburger Steak
Ingredients
- ½ lb Ground Beef
- ½ lb Ground Pork
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Onion
- ½ tablespoon Oil
- ½ cup Panko
- ¼ cup Milk
- 1 Egg
- 4 tbs Water
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup Ketchup
- ¼ cup Worcestershire
- 2 tablespoon Red Wine
Instructions
- Add salt and pepper to ground beef and pork
- Mix well and set aside
- Finely dice onion
- Add oil to medium hot pan
- Add diced onion to pan
- Cook onion until soft and set aside to cool
- Once onion is cool, add panko
- Add milk
- Mix well
- Whisk egg
- Add egg to onion mixture
- Mix well
- Add onion mixture to beef and pork
- Mix well
- Flatten meat mixture in bowl
- Cut into four even sections
- Add oil to hand so meat mixture doesn't stick
- Place ¼ of meat mixture in hand and shape patty. Pat from hand to hand to force air from patty
- Place on cold pan
- Turn on heat to medium high
- Flip when bottom is browned and cook for additional minute
- Add water
- Bring to boil. Turn heat to low and cover
- Simmer for 5 minutes
- Remove from pan
- Cover and set aside
- Add butter, ketchup, worcestershire, and red wine
- Mix well on high heat
- Cook until sauce thickens
- Add meat patties to sauce
- Pour sauce over meat patties
- Serve
