What is Genghis Khan?
Genghis Khan is a popular dish in Japan, particularly in Hokkaido.
It is made by grilling lamb and vegetables on a special iron plate called the Genghis Khan pot.
The pots have a distinctive raised center with grooves around it to hold the vegetables.
Lamb has a juicy, flavorful taste and is a relatively less-consumed meat in Japan.
In addition to lamb, the dish is usually served with vegetables such as cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and onions.
The meat and vegetables are seasoned with sesame oil or special soy sauce-based sauce and often grilled at the table.
There are different beliefs about where Genghis Khan comes from.
One theory suggests that the origin of Genghis Khan is in mainland China, and it is believed to have been adopted by the Japanese from a Chinese dish with roast mutton when the Japanese Army entered the former Manchuria (now northeastern China).
Around 2005, Genghis Khan became a booming food due to its healthy image of low-fat content compared to beef, but the boom died out in around 2010.
Varieties of Genghis Khan
The type of ingredients used for Genghis Khan varies from restaurant to restaurant.
Below are some of the typical ingredients.
Lamb
This is the main ingredient of the dish and is usually sliced thin.
Typically used meat cuts are the thighs and shoulders.
These cuts are tender and easy to grill.
Lamb has a distinctive flavor, which gives the dish its unique taste.
Cabbage
It is characterized by its crispy texture and sweetness.
Bean sprouts
They add a light texture and unique flavor.
Carrot
Provides sweetness and color.
Onion
Onions are grilled until they are sweet and tender to enhance the flavor.
How to make Genghis Khan
The following shows a typical method of preparing Genghis Khan.
In most cases, the restaurant prepares the ingredients and sauce, while customers grill the ingredients themselves.
First, the lamb is thinly sliced.
Some restaurants marinate the meat in a special sauce to enhance the flavor.
The vegetables are also cut into bite-size pieces.
Next, the sauce is prepared.
The flavor of the sauce varies from restaurant to restaurant, but generally a combination of soy sauce, sake, mirin (sweet rice wine), garlic, and other seasonings used to create a uniquely flavored sauce.
How to eat Genghis Khan
Below are some common ways to enjoy Genghis Khan.
Generally start by grilling the ingredients in the Genghis Khan pot.
Heat up pot
Heat the Genghis Khan pot.
After some time, grease the entire pot with oil (or pork fat while melting it with heat).
This keeps the meat and vegetables from sticking to the pot.
Place vegetables
Place the vegetables on the outer (hollow) part of the pot.
Keep grilling the vegetables on the outer part.
Place lamb
Place the lamb on the inner (raised) part of the pot.
The fat from the lamb naturally runs off into the outer part, helping to cook the vegetables.
You can grill the lamb first as there are no strict rules for the timing of placing the vegetables and lamb.
Dish out
When the lamb and vegetables are cooked to your liking, serve them on a small plate.
Dip in sauce and eat it
Dip the ingredients in the sauce and enjoy.
People’s reaction when eating
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