Japanese hamburger steak, or Hambagu, is a juicy and tender patty drizzled with a flavourful sauce. It's a popular Yoshoku (Western food) in Japan.
Although it is called a hamburger, the Japanese enjoy it with rice instead of buns. Therefore, it is closer to the German Hamburg and the American Salisbury Steak. You'll love a Japanese hamburger steak if you love these two dishes.
Anime fans might also recognise this dish from many anime series. Among them are 'Today's Menu for the Emiya Family' and 'Himouto! Umaru-chan'.
Let us show you how to make Japanese hamburger steak using our easy Japanese hamburger steak recipe.
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What is it made of?
Japanese hamburger steak mainly consists of ground meat, panko breadcrumbs, and sauteed onions. In Japan, cooks usually use a mixture of ground beef and ground pork. Supermarkets in Japan and the UK often sell a mix of the two in packages for convenience. In the UK, we have a 2:1 ratio (beef : pork).
The blend of ground beef and pork is called 'Aibiki Niku' with a standard ratio of 7:3. When made from scratch, the best beef-to-pork ratio is 2:1. However, you can make a Japanese hamburger steak with 100% ground beef. Hambagu with 100% ground beef will have a rich, beefier flavour.
Japanese Hamburger Steak Ingredients
These are the ingredients you will need to make our Japanese hamburger steak recipe.
To make the Hambagu patty:
- onion
- cooking oil, separate into 2 parts
- ground beef and pork
- salt
- ground nutmeg (optional)
- milk
- egg
- Panko breadcrumbs
To make the Hambagu sauce:
- unsalted butter
- whole milk
- Worcestershire sauce
- ketchup 90ml
- sugar
- water (to thin the sauce, optional)
Using 100% ground beef will highlight the beef flavour in the dish. But as mentioned earlier, you can mix ground beef with ground pork at a ratio of 2:1. Combining the meats will make your Japanese hamburger steak patty juicier and more tender.
The cooking oil will not affect the taste of the patty as long as it is neutral-flavoured. We use sunflower oil for our Japanese hambagu recipe, but any neutral vegetable oil would do.
Milk will also enhance the flavour and make the burger patty juicy and tender.
We've also seen chefs use butter to add richness to the flavour of Japanese hamburger steak. But if you are more adventurous, add a teaspoon of mayonnaise instead. You'll be surprised at how well it works with the dish.
How To Make Japanese Hamburger Steak Sauce
This Japanese hamburger steak sauce recipe only requires five ingredients: sugar, butter, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. The steps are also straightforward.
You only have to mix the ingredients and simmer the sauce over medium heat until it thickens. Then, it is ready to be enjoyed with your patty.
We use milk for our Japanese hamburger steak sauce, but you can use water. However, it will be less creamy if you use water.
Depending on your taste, you can also use any sauce you like. We've been to places in Japan that serve this dish with tonkatsu sauce or ketchup.
If you'd like, you can substitute Worcestershire sauce with Tonkatsu sauce at a 1:1 ratio. Make sure to remove the sugar since Tonkatsu sauce is sweeter than Worcestershire sauce.
The Worcestershire sauce gives it a more savoury umami flavour. Adjust the amount of ketchup since some can be sweeter than others.
Alternatively, instant Japanese hamburger steak sauce can save more time and energy. You can buy it from most Asian supermarkets, convenience stores or online from Amazon.
Japanese hamburger steak sauce is very versatile. So besides using it for Hambagu, you can also enjoy it with other dishes. For instance, it makes delicious gravy for chicken chop and mashed potatoes.
It also makes an excellent condiment for your sandwiches and dipping for your fries. However, we highly recommend taking your hamburger game to the next level by enjoying it as a hamburger sauce.
Easy Japanese Hamburger Steak Recipe
Ingredients
To make the Hambagu patty:
- 340 g ground beef and pork
- ½ onion
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg optional
- 3 tablespoon milk
- 1 medium egg
- 20 g panko breadcrumbs
To make the Hambagu sauce:
- 28 g unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoon milk 90ml
- 6 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 60ml
- 6 tablespoon ketchup 90ml
- 4 teaspoon sugar
- 2-4 tablespoon water to thin the sauce, optional
Cooking Instructions
- Finely dice the onion. Then, heat one part of the cooking oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the diced onions once the oil is hot. Sauté the onions for about 2 minutes or until caramelised before transferring them to a large bowl and let cool.
- Add the ground beef and pork into the bowl once the onions cool. Add in salt, black pepper, and nutmeg for seasoning. Then, add milk, panko breadcrumbs, and the egg into the bowl. Mix the ingredients with a spoon or silicone spatula.
- Next, mix and knead the mixture by hand until it is sticky and pale. Divide the mixture into four equal portions. Alternatively, you can divide it into six small portions. Then, toss each patty from one hand to the other at least five times to release air inside.
- Form an oval-shaped patty by hand and place it on a tray. Repeat the same process with the remaining portions. Then, cover them with cling film and allow them to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Heat the cooking oil over medium heat, and once the oil is hot, place the patties onto the pan. Indent or slightly press the centre of each patty with two or three fingers. Cook the patties for about 2 to 3 minutes or until their bottom sides turn brown, and repeat with the other side.
- Then, let it steam on low heat for 3 minutes by adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of water and cover the pan with a lid. Then, transfer the Japanese hamburger steak patties to individual plates.
- Add unsalted butter, ketchup, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in the same frying pan. Allow the butter to melt completely before adding the milk. Mix well and let the sauce simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens. Add a few tablespoons of water if the sauce is too thick. Once ready, turn off the heat and drizzle the sauce over the Hambagu steaks. Serve the dish with steamed rice, curry or steamed vegetables, and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
- If you prefer more beef over pork, you can replace the ground pork and beef with just ground beef. We like using 100% ground beef more often when making Japanese hamburgers.
- While the beef patties are resting, you can use this time to prepare side dishes like vegetables or fries.
- We add ground nutmeg to the burger patties to add a warm and spicy zing to them. It also adds a bit of nutty aroma to the patties, which we like. In our opinion, the difference it makes is subtle, so you can omit it if you cannot find it.
- You can replace panko with regular breadcrumbs, but crush them further with a rolling pin. Japanese panko is finer than regular breadcrumbs, so crush them beforehand.
- You can use yellow or red onions, which are pretty sweet once caramelised. However, avoid shallots if possible, as they add a garlicky sweetness to it, which may not go well with the patties.
- You can replace the milk for the sauce with just water if you don't have any milk. The sauce will still be as flavourful but not as creamy.
- You can substitute Worcestershire sauce with Tonkatsu sauce. But make sure to remove sugar since Tonkatsu sauce is sweeter than Worcestershire sauce.
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimate.
Cooking Tips
It's important to toss the patty before refrigerating it to release any air inside the mixture. Otherwise, the Japanese hamburger steak will crack or crumble while cooking.
We recommend cooling them for at least 30 minutes to allow the meat to combine well and the fat to solidify. To do this, place the patties on a tray and cover them with plastic wrap. Then, refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes before frying them. If you fry them straight away, there will be some cracks on the side.
Japanese hamburger patties are usually shaped to be relatively round and not wide. Therefore, the patties are thicker than Western burger patties. Steaming is recommended after frying both sides of the patties to make a crunchy crust and ensure the meat is cooked through.
Using An Air Fryer
The Japanese hamburger steak is usually cooked in a frying pan. However, you can cook the meat patty with an air fryer. This will reduce the amount of oil used.
Start by sautéing the onions for 3 minutes at 180°C in the fryer. Then, mix the caramelised onions with your patty mix and prepare the patty as usual.
Next, cover the patty with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. While waiting, you can cook the sides you want, like potatoes and vegetables, in the air fryer.
After 30 minutes:
- Put your patty inside the air fryer and press the centre slightly as you lay it in. This will ensure the patty will not crack whilst it cooks since the centre will rise from the heat.
- Air-fry the steak patty at 200°C (400°F) for 12-15 minutes, depending on its thickness.
- Flip it around at the halfway mark.
- Once it is done, remove it from the air fryer and leave it to cool.
If your air fryer has a barrel pan, you can also use it to make the sauce! Otherwise, you can refer to the recipe below. Add butter, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce to the pan to prepare it in the air fryer. Then, add a few tablespoons of milk or water to make it saucier and creamier. Mix well and leave it to cook for 6-8 minutes at 200°C.
How To Make Vegan Japanese Hamburger Steak
This dish is easy to make vegan, so curious vegans can also try it. Since most ingredients are vegan-friendly, you will only need to switch the meat, butter, and milk.
If you can find vegan ground meat at your local vegan grocer, you can use it. You can also mix firm and soft tofu to get a soft and tender texture like the meat Hambagu.
You will also need potato starch to bind the steak together. However, if you do not have vegan ground meat, you can still make vegan Japanese hamburger steak with tofu.
You will need about 200 grams of medium-firm tofu to make it with only tofu.
We recommend using vegan butter. Otherwise, you can use olive oil or avocado oil. We don't recommend using coconut oil here as it adds a coconut flavour that doesn't go well in our recipe.
Similarly, you can replace the milk element with a plant-based alternative like oat or almond milk. Lastly, adding 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to your vegan patty mix can enhance the flavour.
Why Is Hamburg Steak Popular In Japan?
Hamburg steak is famous in Japan simply because it is cheap and delicious. The dish started becoming popular in the 1950s when ground meat was cheaper than cuts. As its popularity grew, more Japanese households began making it.
Nowadays, you can easily find and enjoy Japanese hamburger steak in any Japanese family restaurant.
Over the years, Japan's other mouth-watering Yoshoku dishes have also gained significant popularity overseas. Examples include Katsu Sando, Chaliapin Steak and Napolitan. These yoshoku dishes became a global interest through their appearance in many anime movies and series.
Variations
Japanese hamburger steak is often served with vegetables such as potatoes, broccoli, carrots, and corn. But nowadays, the Hambagu has also been adapted to the Japanese palates in many variations:
- Wafu Hambagu: “Wafu” means Japanese-style. Hence, this version is served with soy sauce-based sauce and grated daikon.
- Teriyaki Hambagu: this is another one for Japanese tastebuds that uses teriyaki sauce.
- Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce: This version has a sweet, tangy and savoury flavour. The Japanese are big fans of Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and use them in various dishes. Although these condiments come from the UK, you can find this version in any Japanese family restaurant. It is widespread in Japan.
- Japanese hamburger steak curry over rice makes a filling and warming meal.
- You can also enjoy Japanese hamburger steak with egg on top of it. It is common to have the egg fried, but some enjoy it with a scrambled or poached egg.
Japanese Hamburger Steak Calories
A serving of our Japanese hamburger steak recipe typically contains about 380 calories. Therefore, it is the perfect dish for those who want to satisfy their meat cravings guilt-free.
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Tracey
Great recipe except for the nutmeg. I used half the recommended amount and it was still way too much. Like eating meatloaf with a scented candle. I wish I had left it out completely. But the hambagu was tender and easy to make, and the sauce was very good. I’ll definitely make it again, but will leave out the nutmeg next time.
ruru
Made this yesterday for my girlffriend and she loved it! The demi glaze sauce is delicious in particular. Highly recommend ti!