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Learn how to make restaurant-style and the best Japanese shabu shabu hot pot at home. This shabu recipe is easy with the step-by-step picture guide, complete with ingredient suggestions.
Shabu
There are many types of hot pot in Asia, each with unique flavors and ingredients. In Japan, we have shabu shabu, where thin meat slices are quickly cooked in a tasty broth and nabe, a mix of meats and vegetables. In China and Southeast Asia, we have Chinese hot pot, known for its different broths and dipping sauces.
What is shabu shabu?
It’s a type of Japanese hot pot with thinly sliced meat (mostly beef) and assorted vegetables.
The words shabu shabu meaning “swish swish,” which describes the light swishing sound of the meat in the simmering broth.
Sometimes, seafood such as crab legs can be added to the ingredients.
Shabu Shabu Recipe
Originated from China, Japanese shabu shabu is slightly different with the ingredients used, sauces and condiments.
Beef is the most common meat but pork is sometimes used. The meat is always thinly sliced.
As a result, fatty and marbled beef such as wagyu (Japanese beef) or American wagyu is the best, for example: Kobe beef or Miyazaki beef.
Shabu is an easy and fun way to eat a variety of ingredients, all cooked in the rolling boil hot soup.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Shabu Shabu
It’s very easy to make this delicacy at home. Most of the work is preparation of the soup, sauces and ingredients.
First, prepare the broth. Traditionally, the broth is made of water, kombu seaweed and Japanese cooking sake.
However, in many shabu shabu restaurants, only water is used. I prefer the soup base because it adds so much flavors.
Next, prepare and cut the ingredients such as napa cabbage, carrot, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, tofu and scallions (or Tokyo negi).
For beef, you can buy the sliced beef from Japanese stores, which usually comes in a tray.
Ponzu sauce and sesame sauce are two favorite dipping sauces for shabu. Both are available in bottles at Japanese stores or Asian stores.
The final step is to place all the ingredients on the dining table, with the hot pot set on top of a portable butane burner in the middle.
Cooking And Eating Tips
For results that rival the best restaurants, please follow my tips below:
- Please make sure that the broth comes to a boil before you start cooking.
- Pick up a slice of beef with your chopsticks and quickly dip the beef into the hot boiling broth. You might dip or swish it quickly for about 2-3 times.
- DO NOT overcook the beef. The beef should be soft, tender and just cooked through.
- Dip the beef into the Ponzu or sesame sauce and enjoy immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this is one of the healthiest ways to eat a wholesome meal.
It’s not greasy and comes with a variety of vegetables.
Rib steaks, top sirloin and sirloin tip are the best cuts for Shabu Shabu.
Japanese A5 Wagyu will be the ultimate best, but USDA Prime will be equally delightful.
Fatty cuts of USDA Choice that has adequate marbling will also be great.
Avoid USDA select beef because it has the least fat.
Check out USDA for the difference.
If you don’t have a Japanese grocery store where you are, you can still enjoy the dish by slicing the beef very thin with a sharp knife.
Freeze the beef in the freezer. Remove from the freezer and leave it out at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Use a pair of very sharp chef knife and slice the beef thinly while it’s still hard and frozen.
Lay out the thin-sliced beef on a serving platter.
This recipe is only 131 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Shabu Shabu
Serve this dish with steamed rice or ramen noodles. For a healthy Japanese meal, I recommend the following recipes.
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Shabu Shabu
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500g) beef, thinly sliced
- 1 lb. (500g) king crab legs, cut into small sections
- 8 oz. (230g) Napa cabbage, cut into pieces
- 2 oz. (60g) enoki mushrooms
- 2 oz. (60g) shiitake mushrooms
- 1 stalk scallion, cut into strips
- 2 oz. (60g) baby carrots
Soup
- 1.5 liter water
- 4- inch (10cm) kombu seaweed
- 2 tablespoons Japanese cooking sake
Dipping Sauces
- bottled sesame dipping sauce
- ponzu
Condiments
- bottled shichimi togarashi
- scallion, cut into small rings
Instructions
- Place the meat and crab on two separate plates. Arrange the Napa cabbage, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, and baby carrots on another plate.
- Combine the Soup ingredients in a shabu pot.
- Prepare the Dipping Sauces in two small bowls. Place the Condiments in small dishes.
- Heat the pot on a countertop burner. When the soup comes to a rolling boil, add the Napa cabbage, mushrooms, crab legs, and the other ingredients to the boiling soup.
- Quickly blanch and cook the meat using a pair of chopsticks. Remove the meat immediately, dip it in your favorite sauce, and enjoy with condiments to taste.
- Scoop out the other ingredients from the pot and enjoy. You may skim off any scum from the soup in the pot as needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoyed you recipe but did you know that Australia has the largest herds of Japanese Wagyu outside of Japan, so if your living in Australia you can taste the genuine article or obtain more information from the Australian Wagyu Associaton
Thanks for your information.
You don’t wipe off the Kombu seaweed FIRST before placing in the hot pot?
You can wipe.