Name: Ajitsuke Tamago - Japanese Marinated Eggs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 1 airtight jar slightly larger than the eggs; 4 eggs; 6 cl soy sauce; 6 cl water; 6 cl mirin; 12 g brown sugar; 4 cl sake; 1 garlic clove, crushed and chopped; 2 cm piece of ginger, chopped; 1 spring onion, chopped

Introduction

Ajitsuke tamago (味付け玉子) is a soft-boiled marinated egg, iconic in Japanese cuisine. The texture is unique: the yolk remains creamy and slightly runny, while the white absorbs the flavors of a sweet, umami soy-based marinade.

MIBE illustrations - patience is a virtue egg This preparation is typically served with ramen. Its origin dates back to the late 19th century, during the Meiji era (1868–1912), a period of modernization when Japan incorporated new culinary influences, particularly from China, into its traditional cuisine.

Ajitsuke tamago has become a versatile ingredient, used not only in ramen but also in donburi (rice bowls), bento (lunch boxes), and even Japanese sandwiches (tamago sando).

Namiko Hirasawa Chen, founder of Just One Cookbook, emphasizes the importance of cooking soft-boiled eggs perfectly. Chef Charlotte Ng highlights precise cooking to achieve a runny yolk.

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Ingredients

1 airtight jar slightly larger than the volume of the eggs, so they are fully submerged
4 eggs
6 cl (about 4 tablespoons) soy sauce
6 cl (about 4 tablespoons) water
6 cl (about 4 tablespoons) mirin (rice wine, similar to sake but sweeter and less alcoholic)
12 g brown sugar
4 cl sake
1 garlic clove, crushed, peeled, and chopped
2 cm piece of ginger, chopped
1 spring onion, chopped

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The Recipe.

Cook soft-boiled eggs.
Peel them.
In a small saucepan over low heat, mix the marinade ingredients, adding the garlic and ginger, and the spring onion just before removing from heat.
Place the eggs in the jar and cover with the marinade.
Let cool.
Refrigerate covered for 12 to 24 hours.

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Additional Tips

Do not marinate for more than 48 hours; consume within 2–3 days.

Use high-quality ingredients such as authentic soy sauce, mirin, and sake for the best flavor.

The marinade can be enhanced with optional ingredients such as kombu or katsuobushi to add depth to the flavor.

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About

Simple at first glance, the egg hides many virtues: versatile, nourishing, and economical. It appears in kitchens all over the world, always different, always inspiring.
Think cooking is complicated? Not at all. As a passionate cook, I want to show you that cooking can be simple and enjoyable. No professional equipment or hours of effort needed—just a few techniques and a bit of attention, and anyone can make delicious dishes and enjoy them. This site offers recipes and methods you can easily recreate at home.

Tasty Wall Art

Do you love culinary art and want to have these recipes in your kitchen? Visit MIBEARTSHOP.COM to order the poster "The Egg as King" and discover other unique creations.

“The Egg as King” is a playful nod to the French expression “enfant roi” (spoiled child), celebrating the egg’s importance in the kitchen. Fragile and precious, it’s always at the center of everything!

AFFICHE - l'œuf en roi par MIBE - MIBEARTSHOP.COM