A plated dish featuring a sliced wrap filled with sausage, noodles, and greens, garnished with sauce, greens, and seasoning on a ceramic plate.

Chicken Heart Yakisoba Chimichanga ​

Serves 1
Total Time 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Prep Time 1.15 Hours
Cook Time 15 Minutes

About

2026 Inspired by Kikkoman Finalist Christian Padilla brings Japanese spirit into a Sonoran-style Mexican dish of grilled yakisoba and mesquite-grilled chicken hearts. Katsu mole and black garlic crema tie the recipe together, which is finished with tortilla ash and toasted sesame powder for a bold fusion of smoke and flavor.

Ingredients

Katsu Mole​

Kikkoman® Katsu Sauce – 313g​

Dried Cascabel chiles – 26g​

Dried pasilla chiles – 38g​

Dried Guajillo chiles – 24g ​

Dried Chile Japones – 2g​

Burnt corn tortilla – 24g​

Charred white onion garlic – 52g​

Roasted Roma tomatoes – 344g​

Toasted pepitas – 60g​

Toasted sesame seeds – 18g​

Raisins – 50g​

Shiitake mushroom stock – 1000g​

Abuelita chocolate – 42g​

Mexican oregano – 3g​

Mexican cinnamon – 2g​

Whole clove –  3.2g​

Salt – 15g​

Mesquite Honey – 15g

Wasabi Kizami Cabbage Components​

Finely shredded napa cabbage – 13g​

Kikkoman® Rice Vinegar – 1g​

Wasabi Kizami – 8g​

Kikkoman® Soy Sauce – 2g​

Scallions – 3g

Black Garlic Crema (Culture for 24hrs)  ​

Heavy cream – 1716g ​

Kikkoman® Rice Vinegar – 85g  ​

Black garlic – 9g ​

Chimichanga Filling​​

Cooked and chilled Yakisoba – 30g​​

Mesquite Grilled Chicken Hearts – 40g​​

Wasabi Kizami Napa Cabbage – 27g​​

Smoked corn husk oil – 3g ​​

Sonoran Flour Tortilla​​

Egg (binder)

Plating ​​

126g Chicken Heart Yakisoba Chimichanga​​

27g Wasabi Kizami Cabbage​​

30g Katsu Mole​​

17g Black Garlic Crema​​

Pinch of Tortilla Ash​​

Pinch of Toasted Sesame Sand​

Directions

Mole​

  1. De-seed dry Chiles, and toast with pepitas and sesame seeds.​
  2. Roast vegetables, and char tortillas until 40%-50% charred. ​
  3. Steep Shitake in hot water for stock. ​
  4. Gather spices, raisins, and chocolate. ​
  5. Combine all ingredients and simmer for about 60 minutes.​
  6. Blend till smooth, and push through a chinoise stainer.

Black Garlic Crema​

  1. Combine Kikkoman® Rice Vinegar and Heavy cream in a glass jar.​
  2. Cover with cheese cloth.​
  3. Let sit at room temperature for 24 hours, then refrigerate to set.​
  4. Mince black garlic and add to set Crema (8g).​

Chicken Hearts​

  1. Prepare a 30% salt brine with ice water.​
  2. Soak chicken hearts for 30 minutes, then rinse.​
  3. Lay on asorbant paper, and let air dry for 24hrs.​

Chimichanga Assembly​

  1. Warm and lay tortilla flat.​
  2. Spread Wasabi Cabbage Mix.​
  3. Scatter scallions.​
  4. Grill Chicken Hearts on Mesquite Konro, until tender, and let rest.​
  5. Slice in half, and distribute grilled chicken hearts evenly.​
  6. Top with grilled yakisoba.​
  7. Brush edge with egg wash.​
  8. Roll tightly.​
  9. Fry until golden.​
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