New! Teriyaki Chicken Bowl

I wonder how many times I walked up to a food court vendor in a mall, feeling very indecisive about what my hunger means, and resorted to "Can I have a chicken teriyaki bowl, please?" Yup. Countless times. I do ask for brown rice when they allow substitutes, though.

As I pay for my order, I stare at a plastic round bowl being filled with a few scoops of brown rice, a few pieces of glazed teriyaki chicken strips, a small scoop of steamed broccoli, and a few slices of steamed carrots. The staff slaps on the transparent round cover, throws in a pair of chopsticks, and hands the heavy packed bowl over to me. As I stare at my teriyaki chicken bowl, I get excited about the sweet, juicy flavor of teriyaki marinated chicken while knowing that those steamed broccoli and carrot pieces will have no flavor whatsoever.

Teriyaki Chicken Bowl - teriyaki rice sandwich, broccoli pesto, and spicy carrot purée

After a great workout tonight, I was feeling motivated. I vowed to make a memorable and unique teriyaki chicken bowl full of flavor. I created a vertical teriyaki bowl with teriyaki chicken sandwiched between two stacks of brown rice. I always found it impossible to have to mix the teriyaki chicken into the center without making a mess. I made an easy teriyaki marinade and sauce with mirin, sake, soya sauce, sugar, and corn oil. The teriyaki bowl is topped with creamy broccoli pesto and served with spicy carrot purée. One bite into the dish and I knew the flavors worked perfectly together as I had imagined. Finally! No more plain teriyaki chicken bowl - until I find myself hungry at a food court again, that is.