Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (2024)

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Featured Comment:

“This was absolutely delicious!! I forgot to snag a picture since we devoured it so fast. Thank you for recreating the recipe from the show!!”

– Shannon (from Pinterest)

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What is Chaliapin Steak?

Chaliapin steak (シャリアピンステーキ) is a super soft steak that has been marinated in grated or finely chopped onions to make it extremely tender and then served topped with onions and a rich red wine sauce.

I have to be honest; I’d never heard of this dish until the anime “Shokugeki no Soma” (食戟のソーマ) made it popular, but it’s a real Japanese steak dish with an interesting history!

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (1)

Chaliapin steak was created by a chef working at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo in 1936.

During that time, a Russian opera singer named Feodor Chaliapin was visiting Japan. He was said to be suffering from toothaches during his visit and requested an extra tender steak to prevent worsening the pain. A chef named f*ckuo Tsutsui fulfilled his request, and the Chaliapin steak was born!

Tsutsui’s method for making the steak extremely soft included beating it with a meat tenderizer and then coating it in chopped onions. It is believed that he got the idea from using onions in beef sukiyaki.

Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma

As I mentioned, Chaliapin Steak gained popularity through a famous anime called “Shokugeki no Soma” (食戟のソーマ) in Japanese and “Food Wars!” in English.

The recipes featured there create a lot of hype online, and even though they’re animated, you have to admit that they look so delicious.

One thing that captured my interest was making Chaliapin steak into a donburi dish and using “umeboshi” pickled plum paste to flavor the rice. I had to try it out! I added my own twist by adding sliced shiso leaf to the rice too; shiso and ume taste great together.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (2)

Ingredients & Substitution Ideas

  • Thick Sirloin Steaks or Fillet: Opt for cheaper cuts like sirloin, chuck, or chuck eye. Ensure it’s thick for slices with a pink center.
  • Yellow Onions: Tenderizes beef in a Shaliapin style and flavors the sauce.
  • Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted to control the saltiness; adjust if using salted.
  • Beef Fat or Neutral Oil: Choose beef dripping or a high smoke point oil like vegetable or canola.
  • Cooked Japanese Short-Grain Rice: Short-grain is best for donburi. Refer to my how to cook Japanese rice guide for cooking tips and recommended brands.
  • Pickled Plums (Umeboshi): Adds a unique sour and salty flavor to the rice. It’s popular in Japan and available in Japanese supermarkets or online.
  • Perilla Leaves (Optional): Also known as ooba or shiso, adds a fresh, herby touch.
  • Finely Chopped Green Onion: For garnish.
  • Sauce Ingredients: Unsalted butter, red wine, soy sauce, water, and cornstarch or potato starch.

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Visual Walkthrough & Tips

Here are my step-by-step instructions for how to make Chaliapin Steak Donburi at home. For ingredient quantities and simplified instructions, scroll down for the Printable Recipe Card below.

STEP

Preparing the Onions and Steaks

Firstly, grate or blitz one-third of the onions in a food processor.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (3)

Wrap thick sirloin steaks with cling film and pound them to about 1.5 – 2 cm thick using a meat tenderizer or rolling pin.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (4)

Unwrap and score both sides diagonally with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut too deeply.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (5)

Then, line a plate or container with half of the grated onion, place the steaks on top, and cover with the remaining onion. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes in a cool place (not the refrigerator).

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (6)
Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (7)

Why This Step?

The process of tenderizing meat involves breaking down proteins and muscle fibers to make the meat soft and tender. There are several ways to achieve this, such as marinating the meat, using a meat tenderizing tool, making crosshatch patterns with a knife, poking holes, slicing against the grain, allowing the meat to reach room temperature before cooking, and resting the meat after cooking.

Personally, I find marinating to be the most common method I use in my recipes. Acidic ingredients like lemon, pineapple, vinegar, and even yogurt are great for breaking down the proteins in beef. These ingredients contain “proteolytic enzymes,” which can also be found in onions.

In this particular recipe, we’re aiming for extremely tender meat so that I will be using all of these techniques and a lot of onions.

STEP

Cooking Sautéed Onions

Finely chop the rest of the onions.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (8)

Melt unsalted butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add the onions, and fry until they’re lightly golden and softened.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (9)

Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, continue frying until golden brown, then set aside.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (10)

STEP

Cooking the Steak

Before cooking, remove the onion from the steaks, wash them with cold water, and pat dry.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (11)

Heat 1 tablespoon of beef fat in a pan over high heat. Season the steaks with salt and pepper and fry to your desired doneness—I suggest rare or medium rare, around 53°C (127°F).

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (12)
Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (13)

Once done, transfer the steaks to a plate to rest.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (14)

Please remember that serving the steak rare or medium-rare is recommended for the recipe. However, if you prefer a well-done steak, it can still be cooked that way.

It’s challenging to provide an exact time for how long it takes to cook the steak to your preferred level of doneness. Several factors impact cooking time, such as the thickness of the steak, whether the steak is at room temperature or straight out of the fridge (it’s recommended to bring it to room temperature before cooking), and even the type of pan used, and its heating capacity.

With this in mind, rather than giving you time, I want you to follow the chart below!

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (15)

If you use this method of comparing the firmness of your palm with the firmness of your steak, you’re on the road to making the perfect steak every time! It’s easy to remember, too!

STEP

Making the Sauce

In the same pan, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Add soy sauce, red wine, and the remaining juices from the steaks. Let it simmer for a minute.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (16)
Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (17)

Meanwhile, mix water with cornstarch to make a slurry. Pour this into the pan and cook until the sauce thickens to a gravy-like consistency.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (18)

STEP

Preparing Ume Rice (Optional)

For the ume rice, thinly slice perilla leaves and remove the seeds from pickled plums. Chop the plums finely until they form a paste.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (19)

Mix this paste and sliced shiso leaves with cooked Japanese short-grain rice until well combined.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (20)

STEP

Serving

Divide the rice into bowls. Thinly slice the steaks and arrange them over the rice.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (21)

Top with the sautéed onions, drizzle with the red wine sauce and garnish with finely chopped green onions.

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (22)

This dish combines tender steak, flavorful onions, and aromatic rice for a truly satisfying meal!

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Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (23)

I hope you enjoy this Chaliapin Steak Don recipe! If you try it out, I’d really appreciate it if you could spare a moment to let me know what you thought by giving a review and star rating in the comments below. It’s also helpful to share any adjustments you made to the recipe with our other readers.Thank you!

More Japanese Beef Recipes

  • Gyukatsu(Japanese beef steak cutlet)
  • Sukiya Gyudon(Japanese Beef Bowl)
  • Beef Hayashi Rice(Without Roux Packet)

If you want to explore more Japanese beef recipes, check out my roundup post!

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (24)

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe)

5 from 3 votes

By Yuto Omura

"Chaliapin Steak Don" is the ultimate tender steak rice bowl. This dish was made famous through an anime called "Food Wars!" and is made up of refreshing umeboshi and shiso flavored rice, topped with marinated steak, soft golden onions and a rich red wine sauce. It will literally melt your mouth!

Prep Time40 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course Beef, Donburi, Lunch, Main Course, Meat

Cuisine Anime, Japanese

Servings 2 portions

Prep Time: 40 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Course: Beef, Donburi, Lunch, Main Course, Meat

Cuisine: Anime, Japanese

Servings: 2 portions

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Ingredients

  • 2 thick sirlion steaks or fillet
  • 3 yellow onion(s) medium size
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp beef fat beef dripping or a neutral oil with a high smoke point (like vegetable oil or canola)
  • 300 g cooked Japanese short-grain rice
  • 3 pickled plums (umeboshi) optional
  • 4 perilla leaves (ooba/shiso) optional
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped green onion(s) to garnish

Sauce

  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 5 tbsp red wine
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp cornstarch or potato starch

Instructions

Prepping steaks

  • Grate or blitz one third of the onions in a food processor.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (27)

  • Wrap 2 thick sirlion steaks with cling film and pound with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin. Beat until approx 1.5 – 2cm thick (approx 3/4 inch).

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (28)

  • Unwrap and score the top and bottom diagonally with a sharp knife, making sure not to cut too deep.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (29)

  • Take a plate or container and line the bottom with half of the grated onion. Place the steaks on top and then spread the other half of the onion over the top until completely covered.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (30)

  • Cover the container with a lid or cling film and rest in a cool place for 30 minutes. (Don't refrigerate.)

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (31)

Sautéed Onions

  • Finely chop the rest of the onions.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (32)

  • Heat a frying pan on medium and melt 1 tbsp unsalted butter. Add the onions and fry until lightly golden and softened.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (33)

  • Add 1 pinch salt and pepper and stir-fry until golden brown, then remove from the heat and set aside for later.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (34)

Cooking steak

  • Scrape the chopped onion off of the steak and discard, then wash the steak with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (35)

  • Heat up a frying pan on high and add 1 tbsp beef fat. Sprinkle each side of the steaks with salt and pepper and place them in the pan.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (36)

  • Fry the steak until slightly charred and then flip. Fry until it reaches your preferred "doneness." I recommend rare or medium rare 53 °C (127 °F) for Chaliapin steak.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (37)

  • Once cooked to your liking, transfer the steaks to a plate and leave to rest.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (38)

Sauce

  • Using the same pan, melt 1 tbsp unsalted butter over a medium heat.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (39)

  • Add 1 tbsp soy sauce, 5 tbsp red wine and the juices from the resting steaks into the pan for extra flavor. Let it bubble for one minute. While you wait, mix 1 tbsp water with 1 tsp cornstarch in a small bowl to make a slurry.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (40)

  • Pour the slurry into the pan and cook until thickened to a gravy-like consistency. Remove from the heat and set aside for serving.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (41)

Ume Rice (optional)

  • Cut 4 perilla leaves into thin strips and remove the seeds from 3 pickled plums. Cut the pickled plums and finely chop until they form a paste.

  • Place 300 g cooked Japanese short-grain rice in a large bowl and add the umeboshi paste and thinly sliced shiso leaves.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (42)

  • Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the rice.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (43)

Serve

  • Divide the rice into serving bowls.

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (44)

  • Thinly slice the steaks and arrange them over the rice. Top with the sautéed onion, drizzle with red wine sauce, and garnish with 2 tbsp finely chopped green onion(s) (1 tbsp per bowl).

    Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (45)

  • Enjoy!

Video

Keyword anime, beef, chaliapin steak, donburi, food wars recipes, rice, rice bowl, steak

Tried this recipe?Tag @sudachi.recipes and hashtag it #sudachirecipes

Chaliapin Steak Don (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Copycat Recipe) | Sudachi (2024)

FAQs

What is the origin of the Chaliapin steak? ›

In 1932, Chaliapin published a memoir, Man and Mask: Forty Years in the Life of a Singer. While touring Japan in 1936 he was suffering from a toothache, and a hotel chef devised a way to cook a steak to be extra tender for him. This dish is known in Japan as a Chaliapin steak to this day.

Does raw onion tenderize steak? ›

By simply dicing up onions into small pieces and mixing them with salt, chefs and home cooks alike can transform their steaks into mouthwatering delights. Onion juices act as a natural tenderizer, infusing the meat with both tenderness and an unmistakable onion flavor.

How long to tenderize beef in onions? ›

Simply dice up your onion into small pieces and mix it with some salt. Add the mixture to your steak before cooking, and let the meat sit in the onion juices for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

What is Don Food Wars? ›

Donburi (丼 literally "bowl", also frequently abbreviated as "don", less commonly spelled "domburi") is a Japanese "rice bowl dish" consisting of fish, meat, vegetables or other ingredients simmered together and served over rice. Donburi meals are served in oversized rice bowls also called Donburi.

How can I make a tender steak? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

Where did the dish steak come from? ›

Although people have eaten beef since prehistoric times, many people consider steak as we know it today to have originated in Florence, Italy. On August 10, 258 AD, St. Lawrence became a martyr when he was burned alive in Rome.

How long do you soak steak in vinegar to tenderize it? ›

It is important to note that when using balsamic vinegar to tenderize your meat you do need to plan ahead. Depending on how tough the meat is, you should leave it soaking in the refrigerator for at least twelve hours and not longer than five days. The longer it marinates, the more tender the beef will become.

Does apple cider vinegar tenderize steak? ›

Marinate with Acid

Not only does a tenderizing steak marinade imbue aromatic flavour, but the acidic ingredients in it also denature connective proteins in the meat. Regular or apple cider vinegar, wine or beer, lemon or lime juice, buttermilk or yogurt contain tenderizing acids.

How do Chinese make their meat so tender? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

Do you have to rinse meat after velveting? ›

The longer it sits, the more tender it will be. However, if you velvet for longer than an hour, the meat will become too soft—more akin to goo than a tender cut of protein. Rinse well before cooking: After velveting the meat, you have the option to rinse off the baking soda or slurry to prevent clumps in your stir-fry.

Do you need to rinse baking soda off meat? ›

Just as you would with dry brining, rinse your meat until it's (mostly) free of all the baking soda.

What is inappropriate in Food Wars? ›

Sex, Romance & Nudity

In imagination-like sequences characters' clothes explode off them and they make noises as if they are org*sming from the taste of the food. Characters' nude backsides can be seen in a few scenes. In one scene a man's genitals are hidden behind a bath toy.

Why is Food Wars ending? ›

As Tsukuda explained, he wanted to end it after the Central arc as it brought the growth of many of the series' characters to their natural conclusion, "I had been envisioning for a few years that the arc after Régiment du Cuisine would be the last.

What is the history of Chaliapin steak? ›

This steak was created specifically for the Russian opera singer, Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin, who stayed at the Imperial Hotel in 1936. Rump steak is marinated in onions to soften it, with generous helpings of onion sautê on top in place of a sauce, giving this dish its characteristic subtle and complex flavors.

What is the origin of finger steaks? ›

First came Mylo Bybee.

A U.S. Forest Service meat cutter/chef, Bybee was working in the central mountains of Idaho. He was intent on using everything possible, including the trimmings from the steak. He created the iconic dish and took the recipe with him when he opened Mylo's Torch Lounge in Boise in the late 50's.

Where did breaded steak come from? ›

The Germans are credited with the invention of country-fried steak. They have a dish very similar called Wienerschnitzel (breaded and fried veal cutlets), and in the southern United States in the 1800s, they needed an idea in order to cook up the tougher parts of meat.

What is the origin of the pork steak? ›

For a time, it was thought that a Florissant resident, Winfred E. Steinbruegge, was responsible for the cut, when in 1956 he allegedly asked Tom Brandt (of Tomboy grocery stores) to cut a pork butt into steaks that could be grilled. Also in the '50s, the Schnuck family took credit for its invention.

Where does the Bistro steak come from? ›

For more of their delicious food ventures, visit them on Instagram @cookingwithcarrrl. The bistro steak is a very tender cut of beef that comes from the shoulder of the cow.

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