Chicken Takikomi Gohan is a Japanese rice dish infused with the savory flavors of chicken, making it a classic home-cooked meal. Here’s a simple recipe for Chicken Takikomi Gohan that’s easy to prepare with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 1 boneless and skinless chicken thigh (200g)
• 2 cups (300g) Japanese short-grain rice
• 1 ½ cups (360ml) water
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
• 2 tablespoons sake (Japanese rice wine)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
2. Rinse the rice and soak it in water for 30 minutes.
3. In a rice cooker, combine the rice, water, soy sauce, mirin, sake, salt, ginger, and chicken. Cook according to your rice cooker’s instructions.
4. Once cooked, gently fluff the rice with a spatula and sprinkle with scallions. Serve immediately.

Tips

• Remove the skin from the chicken for a less oily and lighter dish.
• Adjust the amount of ginger according to your preference.
• Let the rice rest in the cooker for 10 minutes after cooking for a fluffier texture.
• Garnish with additional toppings like mitsuba (Japanese parsley) or myoga (Japanese ginger) for extra flavor.

Variations

• Add shimeji mushrooms and aburaage (fried tofu pockets) for a more flavorful dish.
• Drizzle a teaspoon of sesame oil for added aroma.
• Substitute chicken breast for a healthier option and add shredded chicken for a more textured bite.

Health and beauty benefits

Chicken rice offers numerous health and beauty benefits. Chicken is high in protein and low in fat, which helps maintain muscle and promote metabolism. Additionally, chicken is rich in B vitamins, which support energy metabolism and aid in recovery from fatigue. When vegetables and mushrooms are added to the rice, it also provides dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This combination can improve digestive function and help maintain healthy skin.