Stewed Chicken Miso Udon

This is one of my favorite recipes. Sesame oil goes well with red miso creating a rich dish. The chicken thighs will release delicious fat flavors into the broth as it takes in the flavors of the miso and dashi. The mirin, cooking sake, and low heat cooking will create tender pieces of delicious chicken.

Ingredients (for 2 people)
3 shiitake mushrooms
2 eggplants (small)
1 tbsp of sesame oil
2 servings of udon noodles
2 pieces (600g) of chicken thighs
2 eggs

broth
600ml of katsuo dashi
4 tbsp of mirin
2 tbsp of cooking sake
3 1/2 tbsp (70g) of red miso

toppings
scallions
shichimi

*Fats from sesame oil used to cook the mushrooms and eggplant (14g) and calories (126). You can replace the chicken thighs with chicken breast to lower the fat by (20g) and calories by (180). Nutrition macro table does not include toppings.

Steps:
Wash and cut one chicken thigh (200g) into 2cm cubes with the skin intact.

Remove the base of the shiitake mushrooms' stem and then cut into four equal parts. Remove the stem of the eggplant and cut into 1.5cm slices, dip into water then remove excess moisture.

Make 600ml of dashi stock and add 4 tbsp of mirin, 2 tbsp of cooking sake, and 3 1/2 tbsp or 70g of red miso to the stock. Add the diced chicken thighs into the stock and let it simmer for about 10 minutes on medium-low heat. Red miso is great because it can be cooked for a long time without losing its flavor. While the chicken is being cooked through start the next step.

Add 1 tbsp of sesame oil to a heated pan and add the sliced eggplant and cook over medium-high heat. Turnover the pieces of eggplant when they start to brown. Be careful because the eggplant can burn easily. Once the eggplant becomes tender add the shiitake mushrooms and mix the ingredients until they are covered in the oil. After they are coated in oil add the eggplant and mushrooms to the stock.

Turn up the heat so the broth comes to a boil add the udon and eggs and let it cook for three minutes and mix occasionally.

Serve in a bowl and sprinkle chopped green onions and shichimi!

Notes: some of the nutrition values come from a nutrition calculator and may differ depending on the brand and size of ingredients used.