Shabu-Shabu :)

So much fun, so easy to do. Great for dinner parties, with friends or a really cool family dinner. Best of all it is HEALTHY!!!! Keto-fabulous and Lean & Green. Almost no carbs and all good fresh foods. The only trick is finding the proper meat...

Shabu Shabu is one of Japan’s most popular hot pot dishes along with Sukiyaki. The name “shabu shabu” is Japanese onomatopoeic. It came from the sound when you stir the vegetables and meat with your chopsticks and ‘swish swish’ in the hot pot. It’s a fun meal since everyone sits around the hot pot at the table, cooks together, and eats while you chat, like fondue! A communal dining experience that inspires good appetites and brings people closer together.

What you need...

Equipment

-butane burner & butane (I got mine for $15 at a Japanese store but they are available at lots of places)

-about 3 small bowls and 1 small plate per person

-a netted spoon or scoop to skim the fat from the water (in the photo above it is just to the right of the orange bowl)

-Chopsticks

Veggies & Tofu

-Napa cabbage cut into 2 inch chunks

-Mushrooms (I use shiitake and enoki) but anything will work

-greens (traditional greens are chrysanthemum leaves which are hard to find unless you have an Asian grocery near you. Go crazy with the veggies....anything works! Carrots, green onions, bell peppers, zucchini, use your favorites....

-Medium firm tofu cut into 2 inch cubes

-Kombu for flavoring the water (optional)

Meat

This is what makes Shabu Shabu work...the meat is super thin beef and pork.

Traditionally fatty meats are used for this as it has a really rich flavor. Since I am only doing Lean & Green, use lean cuts of meat like a tenderloin or even turkey or chicken breast. I use about 8 to 10 ounces per person.

You can find it at most Asian groceries but if you don't have one near you it is pretty easy to do.

1. Select the cuts of meat and put them WHOLE into freezer-safe ziplock bags and freeze for about 1.5 to 2 hours until they are semi-frozen. You will need to be able to get a knife through it.

2. Using a VERY SHARP knife, slice the meat as thin as you can against the grain of the meat. If the meat is not frozen enough put it back in for another 30 min.

To make this vegetarian just skip the meat all together!!!

Sauces

-Ponzu sauce

-"Goma" which is sesame sauce. You can find this on line and in most large markets. See the photo below.

Now comes the fun part....

Set the table

each person needs:

1 small bowl of ponzu and sesame sauce each

a small plate to put the cooked food on

put the burner in the middle of the table with a semi-shallow pot of water.

put the veggies on a platter on the table

put the meats on plates on the table

go for it!

-once the water is at a rolling boil, add the Kombu (if you want)

-using your chopsticks add the tofu and veggies to the pot and let simmer for a few minutes

-grab a piece of meat with your chopsticks and swish it in the water until it is cooked

-have fun with dipping the meats and veggies in the sauces and enjoy!

-use the skimmer to remove the fat from the wate

It seems complicated but it really isnt at all. Its pretty easy once you get the stuff together and it is so so so much fun!!

If you have any questions let me know at brian@dishbybrian.com

itadakemasu!