Hambagu (Japanese hamburg steak)
ハンバーグ · Juicy beef and pork patty with a glossy ketchup sauce
JapaneseHambagu is the dinner Japanese children ask for on their birthday: a thick, juicy oval patty of beef and pork mince, browned and steamed in the pan, then smothered in a shiny sauce of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Family restaurants from Shizuoka to Hokkaido build whole menus around it, served on a hot iron plate with rice and buttered corn. This recipe uses pork mince with beef. The common mistake is under-kneading the mixture; it needs a good 2 minutes of mixing until sticky, or the patties crumble and leak their juice. Mince must reach 71 °C, so check the thickest one. Chef's tip: press a dent into the centre of each patty before cooking; the middle puffs as it cooks and the patty stays flat and even.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the patties
- 10 ½ oz beef mince
- 7 oz pork mince
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- ⅓ oz butter
- 1 ⅜ oz panko breadcrumbs
- 4 tbsp milk
- 1 egg
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ¼ cup water
For the sauce
- 4 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- ⅓ oz butter
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Method
0/8 doneStep 2: Soak 1 ⅜ oz panko breadcrumbs in 4 tbsp milk for 5 minutes.
5 minStep 3: Put 10 ½ oz beef mince and 7 oz pork mince in a bowl with ¾ tsp salt and knead with your hand for about 2 minutes until sticky and pale. Add the onion, soaked panko, 1 egg, ¼ tsp black pepper and ¼ tsp ground nutmeg and mix well.
3 minStep 4: Divide into 4 and shape into 2 cm thick ovals, tossing each from hand to hand to knock out air pockets. Press a dent into the middle. Chill for 10 minutes if soft.
10 minStep 5: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat and brown the patties for 3 minutes a side.
6 minStep 6: Pour in ¼ cup water, cover and turn the heat to low. Steam for 6–8 minutes until the patties are firm and the juices run clear; the centre must reach 160°F.
8 minStep 7: Lift the patties onto plates. Add 4 tbsp tomato ketchup, 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp sugar to the pan juices and simmer for 1 minute until glossy, then stir in ⅓ oz butter.
2 minStep 8: Spoon the sauce over the patties and serve with rice and vegetables.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hambagu (Japanese hamburg steak) take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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