Go Back

Chawanmushi (Savoury Egg Custard)

Chawanmushi: a delicate steamed Japanese egg custard with dashi, chicken, shrimp and mushroom.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 eggs
  • 400 ml dashi cooled
  • 1 tsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp mirin
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 80 g boneless chicken thigh diced
  • 4 raw prawns peeled
  • 4 shiitake mushrooms sliced
  • 4 sprigs mitsuba or spring onion

Method
 

  1. Gently whisk the eggs without making foam. Stir in the dashi, soy sauce, mirin and salt and strain through a fine sieve.
  2. Divide the chicken, prawns and mushrooms between 4 heatproof cups.
  3. Pour over the egg mixture and skim off any bubbles. Cover each cup with foil.
  4. Steam over low heat for 12–15 minutes until just set with a slight wobble.
  5. Garnish with mitsuba and serve warm.

Notes

Keep the steam gentle. Too much heat makes the custard bubbly instead of silky.