What is shabu-shabu?
Shabu-shabu is one of Japan's hot pot dishes.
It is served with bite-sized pieces of thinly sliced ingredients, which are then cooked by stirring them in a pot of boiling water, or broth, that is placed on the table.
The cooked ingredients are then dipped into a small bowl of sauce and eaten.
This popular hot pot dish features thinly sliced meat and vegetables, which are quickly cooked in dashi broth.
It is served with ponzu, a citrus soy sauce, or other shabu-shabu sauces.
Ponzu and sesame sauces are most commonly used.
Shabu-shabu is a hot pot dish that was invented in Japan during the mid-20th century.
The name is derived from an onomatopoeic word that describes the sound of stirring ingredients in a pot.
Today, the variety of meat used in shabu-shabu has diversified.
In addition to traditional thin slices of beef, you may also find pork, chicken, lamb, and seafood (puffer fish, yellowtail, etc.) used.
The ingredients can vary depending on the region.
Varieties of shabu-shabu
Meat
Thinly sliced beef is the most commonly used meat in shabu-shabu, although pork, chicken, and lamb are also common options.
Fresh and lean meat is preferred for this dish.
In recent years, shabu-shabu using thinly sliced beef tongue has also become popular.
Seafood
Seafood can also be used instead of meat.
Octopus is sometimes used in Hokkaido, and yellowtail in Toyama.
Vegetables
A variety of vegetables are used, including Chinese cabbage, leeks, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, shungiku (garland chrysanthemum), pumpkins, carrots, and vermicelli.
These vegetables can be quickly cooked in the shabu-shabu broth and serve to complement and enhance the flavor of the meat.
Tofu and other processed foods
You may also find various types of tofu and konnyaku (konjac), as well as other ingredients such as kamaboko and chikuwa fishcakes made from fish paste, added to shabu-shabu.
Noodles
Udon, soba, or ramen noodles may also be served in shabu-shabu.
These are often enjoyed after boiling in the broth at the end of the meal.
How to make shabu-shabu
Thinly slice meat and seafood.
Rinse vegetables and cut them to into a moderate size.
Prepare other ingredients.
Since all of the ingredients are perishable, pay attention to temperature and other factors to keep them fresh.
Make the dashi broth by boiling water with kombu kelp, chicken stock, beef bones, and other ingredients.
The key role of the broth is to bring out the flavor of the meat.
Ponzu (citrus soy sauce) and sesame sauces are usually unique to each restaurant.
Ponzu is a soy sauce-based sauce flavored with citrus juice.
It has a light acidity that neutralizes the fatty taste of meat and other ingredients.
Sesame sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, mirin (sweet rice wine), sesame oil, and more with a base of sesame paste.
It has a rich and intense flavor that enriches the taste of the meat.
The seasoning of a sauce is essential, as it greatly affects the flavor of shabu-shabu.
How to eat shabu-shabu
Boil broth
Begin by bringing the provided broth to a boil over a fire.
Prepare sauces
Pour ponzu sauce and sesame sauce into the provided bowls.
Add condiments such as green onion, grated daikon radish, and ichimi spice to the ponzu sauce, and green onion and garlic to the sesame sauce to your liking.
Add vegetables
Place vegetables and tofu in the pot and simmer until tender.
Cook meat
Cook meat and seafood by stirring ("shabu-shabu") them in the pot with chopsticks for a few seconds.
Remove the meat when it changes color being careful to not cook too long.
Eat
Dip the cooked ingredients in a sauce prepared in advance and enjoy.
Add rice or noodles
After finishing the meat and vegetables, add rice, udon noodles, or other noodles to the broth remaining in the pot and heat.
For rice, cook until soft.
If you have an egg, beat it and add to the pot.
Once the egg is cooked, add condiments such as green onions and sesame seeds.
Dish out the food in bowls.
For noodles, cook until they are soft, then add condiments.
People’s reaction when eating
”Click here for a list of restaurants offering this item.”
