Poulet's Sumo Wrestler Stew (Chankonabe)

Updated August 30, 2018

As always with our Cook the Book feature, we have five (5) copies of Poulet to give away this week.

This Sumo Wrestler Stew or Chankonabe from Poulet is a traditional method of carbo-loading for Japan's massive wrestlers. It's a hearty, bursting bowl of soup filled with rice, udon noodles, chicken thighs, tofu, and a load of good-for-your veggies. But even if you're not about enter the dohyō (that's a sumo ring), it's a fantastically filling bowl of soup and perfect for winter.

Like many of the other recipes in Poulet, this one lends itself to personal interpretation; feel free to swap out any veggies you'd like and add your favorite sumo-worthy proteins. But the one element that we wouldn't change is the broth, an umami-rich chicken stock enriched with kombu, soy, mirin, and red and white miso.

Why you should make this: You don't need to be a sumo champion to enjoy this overloaded bowl of chickeny goodness.

Next time we might think about: Adding handfuls of quick cooking greens and slices of fish cake or shrimp to bulk it up even more.

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Recipe Details

Poulet's Sumo Wrestler Stew (Chankonabe)

Active 75 mins

Total 75 mins

Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

2 burdock roots, peeled and thinly sliced (optional)
8 ounces udon noodles
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 leek, white and light green parts only, cut into thin rounds
3 ounces shiitake mushrooms, brushed clean, stemmed and sliced
4 bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed
8 cups chicken stock
1 sheet kombu seaweed
One 6-inch piece daikon or 6 radishes, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon white miso paste
1 tablespoon red miso paste
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon soy sauce, plus more if needed
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch rounds
6 small red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch rounds
2 cups coarsely chopped Napa cabbage
2 heads baby bok choy, trimmed and cut lengthwise into ribbons
1/2 red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into pinkie-width strips
1/2 orange bell pepper, cut lengthwise into pinkie-width strips
4 large eggs
Jasmine rice
7 ounces firm tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup fresh chives

Directions

If using the burdock, rinse under cold water. Put in a large bowl, cover with cold water, and soak for 20 minutes, changing the water once about halfway through. Cook the noodles according to the package directions, rinse, and set aside. They need not be kept hot.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch or larger cast-iron sauté pan or 5-quart or larger Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leek and cook until soft and just beginning to color on the edges, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and add the mushrooms to the same pan. This time, turn the heat up high to get some of the moisture out of the mushrooms. After 5 minutes or so, when you can really smell them cooking, transfer the mushrooms to the plate with the leek.
Heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil to the pan over medium heat. Working in batches, lay the chicken pieces skin-side down in the hot oil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is browned on both sides, turning the pieces frequently to prevent sticking. Set the chicken aside on a plate.
In a large saucepan or stockpot over medium heat, combine the stock, kombu, and daikon. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and remove the kombu. Add the red and white miso paste along with the mirin and soy sauce, stirring to thoroughly dissolve the miso pastes. Taste the broth. It should be potent and a little salty. If you think it might need salt, it probably does. Add more soy sauce a little at a time until it tastes just the way you like it.
Add the browned chicken thighs, the carrots, the potatoes, and the cabbage to the pan. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Add the bok choy and bell peppers. Keeping the heat low, cook for 5 more minutes, then carefully crack the eggs onto the surface of the barely-simmering broth. Poach the eggs for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the whites set.
Divide rice among 4 large bowls. Add a handful of udon noodles to each and arrange the noodles to make a nest. Using a slotted spoon, place a poached egg carefully in each nest. Scatter one-fourth of the tofu cubes into each bowl. Next, ladle the simmering broth, along with plenty of vegetables and a chicken thigh, around the egg in each bowl. Finish by sprinkling on the chives. The bowls should be beautiful, plentiful, and memorable.

This Recipe Appears In

Cook the Book: 'Poulet'

Soups

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
984	Calories
38g	Fat
95g	Carbs
69g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	984
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g	48%
Saturated Fat 10g	51%
Cholesterol 421mg	140%
Sodium 1137mg	49%
Total Carbohydrate 95g	35%
Dietary Fiber 10g	35%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 69g
Vitamin C 122mg	610%
Calcium 253mg	19%
Iron 9mg	47%
Potassium 2613mg	56%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.