Welcome to our first series of Local Secrets by Miru. As we continue walking on the path of uncertainty, we find solace through the Japanese style of mindful cooking. We invite you to embark on a culinary travel journey from the comfort of your own home, the Miru way. You can also discover our other tasty recipes featured by our sister properties (Miru Amami and Miru Kyoto). Curb all that travel and food cravings by getting creative in your kitchen. It’s our way of giving you the Miru experience, curated by our chefs exclusively for you.

Imagine yourself with this moorish burger in one hand and a cold pint of Sapporo in the other, paired with the calming views of Mount Yotei. Albeit not entirely possible at the moment, here’s a step by step guide on how to enjoy the tastes of Miru Niseko’s restaurant, Black Wood Grill, right from the comfort of your own home. Pop your favorite Japanese beer in the fridge and let’s get started!

Comfort Food with a Japanese twist: BWG Buttermilk Chicken Burger

A long day of tearing up on the slopes of Niseko tends to strike up a huge appetite and an intense craving for hearty food. Our guests love our quick, convenient options on the Black Wood Grill menu to fill them up before their next ski or snowboard session. This recipe is undoubtedly one of our guests’ favorites because… who doesn’t love fried chicken and carbs?! Our Buttermilk Chicken Burger is crispy, moist, rich and yes – indulgent… Perfect for those #treatyourself moments!

At Miru Collection, we believe food is a great way of uniting people, and we pride ourselves on serving food from the heart. We source the highest quality ingredients locally, and truly celebrate local produce. As this may be challenging during this period, fret not! Most of the ingredients in this recipe can be easily found at your local supermarket. Here we go…

The Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the chicken:

• 2 boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of Kosher salt

Batter:

• 1 cup of flour
• 1⁄2 cup of cornflour
• 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper or chili powder (if you love it spicy, add more!)

Wasabi Mayonnaise:
You can buy this off the shelf or simply mix wasabi & mayonnaise. We of course prefer fresh wasabi, but if not available, wasabi paste works just fine, and gives that little kick we all love!

• 3 tablespoons of your favorite mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Wasabi paste
• Salt & pepper to taste

For Assembly:

• 4 of your favourite burger buns
• Wasabi Mayonnaise
• Sliced pickles
• Coleslaw

Now the fun part…

Method

How to Marinate the Chicken:

• Cut each chicken thigh in half to make 2 pieces of chicken, estimate about the same size as the burger bun
• In a large enough bowl or Tupperware, mix buttermilk, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt & black pepper.
• Add the chicken, cover the container and place in the fridge to marinate at least 3 hours.

How to Fry the Chicken:

• Heat oil in a deep skillet or pot on medium fire or until the temperature reaches 350F. Use enough oil to cover the chicken so you don’t have to flip the chicken around. (Chef note: Using more oil also ensures the oil temperature doesn’t drop too much when you introduce the chicken in).
• In a flat tray or shallow bowl, mix the flour, cornflour and spices. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the buttermilk into the flour mixture and mix it thoroughly. (Chef note: Adding the buttermilk creates those extra yummy crunchy bits)
• Fry 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken through the flour mixture, making sure to press the flour in to form a nice crust. Fry chicken for 5-7 minutes or until the outside is crispy and golden and the internal temperature reaches 165F.
• Remove the chicken from the oil and drip away excess oil. Set aside.

*Chef tip: While the chicken is frying…TOAST YOUR BUNS… with unsalted butter! Melt the butter at low heat in a large; flat pan and toast buns face down until they turn golden and brown. You won’t regret it… 

FINALLY, stack your burger!

• Spread a generous amount of Wasabi mayo on those buttery buns, then layer with pickles
• Place breaded chicken on the buns, then top off coleslaw as finishing. Use chopsticks for precision.

Bon appetit or Itadakimasu!

What are some of your favorite Japanese dishes that you would like to learn to make at home? Leave us your questions or comments below and our chef and team at Miru Niseko will assist you further.