Rice Cooker Butabara Daikon (Pork Belly and Daikon)

This Rice Cooker Butabara Daikon is a simple yet flavorful Japanese dish featuring tender simmered pork belly and daikon radish in a savory-sweet broth. Made effortlessly in a rice cooker, this one-pot recipe brings out the natural sweetness of daikon while keeping the pork juicy and rich. Perfect for a fuss-free weeknight meal, serve it with steamed rice for a comforting and satisfying dish!

Rice Cooker Pork Belly and Daikon

Butabara daikon is a traditional Japanese comfort dish where tender pork belly and daikon radish is simmered with daikon radish in a savory-sweet broth, creating a rich and melt-in-your-mouth flavor. This version, made easily in a rice cooker, is perfect for busy nights when you want something cozy and full of flavor without the hassle.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here are the key ingredients you’re going to need:

• Pork Belly: This dish often uses thinly sliced pork belly but for this rice cooker version I recommend using the block because of the longer cooking time in the rice cooker. It absorbs a lot of flavour and feels more hearty when eating. If using thinly sliced pork belly, skin cooking on the stove and add directly to the rice cooker. If you don’t eat pork, try my rice cooker chicken and daikon version!
• Daikon: I use Japanese white radish but you can also use Korean radish.
• Ginger
• Dashi: homemade dashi stock or granules.
• Sugar
• Mirin
• Soy Sauce
• Eggs: I like to add hard boiled eggs for a heartier dish! You can also add soft boiled eggs if you prefer but the cooked yolks soak up the broth, making it creamy and delicious.

How to Cook Pork Belly and Daikon in a Rice Cooker

Making this rice cooker pork belly and daikon is quick and easy—perfect for a busy day or weeknight meal. With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy this comforting dish in under an hour!

1. Prepare the Daikon: Peel and cut the daikon into half-moon shapes, about 1 to 1.5 cm thick.
2. Slice the Ginger: Thinly slice the ginger.
3. Prepare the Pork Belly: Slice the pork belly into 2 cm thick pieces.
4. Cook the Pork Belly (optional): If you prefer a leaner dish, heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan and cook the pork belly until some fat is rendered. Drain the excess oil, then transfer the pork belly to the rice cooker. This step is optional, but it helps reduce the overall fat content if desired. If can swap the pork belly for a different protein if you wish. Check out my rice cooker toriniku daikon for a chicken version!
5. Cook in the Rice Cooker: Add all ingredients—daikon, pork belly, ginger, dashi, sugar, mirin, and soy sauce—into the rice cooker. Set it to the “white rice” mode.
6. Add Eggs (Optional): When the rice cooker timer goes off, add soft or hard-boiled eggs to the pot. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes to soak up the flavorful broth, rotating halfway to ensure even marination.

VIDEO: Watch How to Make It

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if necessary to maintain the dish’s moisture.

Recipe FAQ

More Rice Cooker Recipes to Try

Check out my ultimate guide to cooking meals in a rice cooker for more details and here are a few more favourites:

• Rice Cooker Bibimbap
• Rice Cooker Nikujaga (Meat and Potatoes)
• Rice Cooker Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)
• Rice Cooker Beef Pepper Lunch

Enjoy! If you make this Rice Cooker Butabara Daikon recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below, and if you share it on social media, tag me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen. I can’t wait to see your creations!

Rice Cooker Butabara Daikon

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5 from 1 review

• Author: Lisa Kitahara
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings

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Description

This Rice Cooker Butabara Daikon is a simple yet flavorful Japanese dish featuring tender simmered pork belly and daikon radish in a savory-sweet broth. Made effortlessly in a rice cooker, this one-pot recipe brings out the natural sweetness of daikon while keeping the pork juicy and rich. Perfect for a fuss-free weeknight meal, serve it with steamed rice for a comforting and satisfying dish!

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Ingredients

Units MUS

• 400–450g pork belly
• 300–400g daikon (about 700-800g total ingredients)
• 25g ginger
• 250–300ml dashi (or 2 tsp dashi granules)
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 4 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp oil (optional, for pan-cooking pork belly)

For Serving

• rice
• soft or hard boiled eggs

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Instructions

1. Prepare the daikon: Peel the skin off the daikon. Cut it in half, then slice into 1-1.5 cm thick moon-shaped pieces.
2. Slice the ginger: Thinly slice the ginger.
3. Prepare the pork belly: Cut the pork belly into 2 cm thick slices.
4. Optional step – Cook the pork belly: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the pork belly and cook to render out some of the fat. Once done, drain the excess oil. You can skip this step and add the pork belly directly to the rice cooker if you prefer, but it will be a bit oilier (you can spoon off the excess fat later).
5. Cook in the rice cooker: Add the daikon, pork belly, ginger, dashi, sugar, mirin, and soy sauce into the rice cooker pot. Set the rice cooker to the “white rice” mode and let it cook. Once the timer goes off, serve and enjoy! 
   • Note: If adding eggs, once the timer goes off add the eggs and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rotate the eggs half way to ensure both sides are marinated. 

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Main dish
• Method: Rice cooker
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 981 mg
• Fat: 53 g
• Saturated Fat: 19 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
• Trans Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 17.8 g
• Fiber: 1.7 g
• Protein: 11.4 g
• Cholesterol: 72 mg