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How to Cook Delicious and Authentic Traditional Japanese Shabu Shabu Hot Pot

How to Cook Delicious and Authentic Traditional Japanese Shabu Shabu Hot Pot

Shabu shabu is a traditional Japanese hot pot dish, famous for its lightness and sophistication in preparation. The combination of rich dashi broth, fresh meat, and vegetables creates a distinctive and appealing dish. In this article, let’s explore in detail with Kamereo how to cook authentic Japanese shabu shabu hot pot, from preparing the ingredients to enjoying it.

⛩ This article belongs to the JAPANESE FOOD CULTURE series 

This is a series of articles sharing interesting knowledge about the culture, dishes, and authentic recipes of the Land of the Rising Sun.

What is Japanese Shabu-Shabu Hot Pot?

Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hot pot characterized by its clear and light broth, simmered with vegetables such as cabbage, seaweed, mushrooms, and tofu. Shabu-shabu is eaten with two distinctive dipping sauces: sesame sauce (gomadare), with a rich sesame flavor, or ponzu sauce, which has a refreshing sour taste from vinegar and citrus.

When enjoying, diners dip thin slices of beef into the hot pot until just cooked, then dip them in sesame or ponzu sauce. The name “shabu-shabu” itself originates from the sound made when gently swishing the ingredients in the hot broth, an onomatopoeic term in Japanese.

Shabu-shabu: Japanese Hot Pot with Sweet Broth and Delicious Fresh Beef
Shabu-shabu: Japanese Hot Pot with Sweet Broth and Delicious Fresh Beef

How to Cook Japanese Shabu-Shabu Hot Pot

Below is the basic process for cooking Japanese shabu-shabu, from preparing the broth to dipping the ingredients:

Ingredients

  • Dried kelp (kombu): 1 piece
  • Udon noodles: 250g (1 package)
  • Napa cabbage: 1 head
  • Crown daisy (shungiku): 100g
  • Enoki mushrooms: 200g
  • Shiitake mushrooms: 70g
  • Oyster mushrooms: 100g
  • Firm tofu: 400g
  • Small carrot: 1
  • Beef: 500g
  • Green onions: 2 stalks
  • Ponzu sauce: 2 tablespoons
  • Sesame sauce: 2 tablespoons
  • Grated daikon radish: 1 teaspoon
  • Japanese chili powder (or regular chili powder): 1/2 teaspoon
Shabu shabu scores points for its simple and easy ingredient preparation process
Shabu shabu scores points for its simple and easy ingredient preparation process

💡 Quick Tip:

To achieve a flavorful and authentic hot pot, first, you should pay attention to some tips for choosing ingredients:

  • Beef: Choose beef brisket or navel end with a balanced lean-to-fat ratio, prioritizing meat with good marbling, fine texture, characteristic aroma, and good elasticity.
  • Enoki mushrooms: Buy mushrooms from reputable places, choose bunches with a milky white color, intact, firm to the touch, and avoid bruised or smelly mushrooms.
  • Shiitake mushrooms: Choose mushrooms with glossy golden-brown caps, a beautiful shape, medium size, and avoid soft or strangely scented mushrooms.
  • Oyster mushrooms: Fresh oyster mushrooms usually grow in clusters, with light brown caps and white stems. The packaging should be intact and not waterlogged.
  • Napa cabbage: Choose firm heads of cabbage with green leaves, crisp stems, and feel heavy for their size.

Buy fresh, authentic Japanese domestic ingredients for shabu-shabu at Kamereo: 

Instructions

To cook a standard, delicious Shabu Shabu hot pot, you need to follow these steps fully and accurately:

Step 1. Simmer the Dashi Broth from Dried Kelp:

  • First, place an earthenware pot on the stove and fill it about 2/3 full with water. 
  • Next, add one piece of dried kelp (kombu) to the pot. 
  • Then, cover the pot tightly and turn the heat to high, cooking for about 30 minutes to allow the kombu to release its natural sweet flavor.
Dried kelp broth is simmered for 30 minutes to create a natural sweet flavor
Dried kelp broth is simmered for 30 minutes to create a natural sweet flavor

Step 2. Prepare the Beef and Other Ingredients:

  • Cut the Napa cabbage and crown daisy into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 finger lengths. 
  • Cut off the roots of the enoki and oyster mushrooms and separate them. 
  • After removing the stems of the shiitake mushrooms, you can make decorative cuts if desired. 
  • Peel the carrot and cut it into thin slices, about 1/3 of a finger length. 
  • Cut the white part of the green onions into thin, long slices, and chop the green leaves. 
  • Cut the tofu into small, even-sized squares. 
  • Rub the beef all over with salt for about 2 minutes, then rinse with clean water 1-2 times until completely clean. Then, cut the beef into thin, large slices and arrange them neatly on a plate. 
  • Blanch the noodles in hot water for 3-5 minutes, then remove and place them in a bowl of ice water for about 2 minutes, then drain in a basket.
Beef and various vegetables are prepared and neatly cut
Beef and various vegetables are prepared and neatly cut

Step 3. Simmer Vegetables and Mushrooms:

Once the kombu broth is finished simmering, open the lid and remove the kombu. Next, arrange all the tofu, carrots, Napa cabbage, mushrooms, crown daisy, and white parts of the green onions in the pot. Continue to cover the pot tightly and cook over high heat for about 10 minutes until the vegetables and mushrooms are tender.

Vegetables and mushrooms are simmered in kombu broth
Vegetables and mushrooms are simmered in kombu broth

Step 4. Make the Dipping Sauces:

Shabu-shabu is served with two distinctive dipping sauces: ponzu sauce and sesame sauce. Here’s how to make these two sauces:

  • For Ponzu Sauce: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of ponzu sauce, 1 teaspoon of finely grated daikon radish, 1/2 teaspoon of Japanese chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of chopped green onions. Then, stir well until the flavors are fully combined.
  • For Sesame Sauce: In another small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of sesame sauce and add 1 teaspoon of chopped green onions, then stir the mixture well.
Preparing Ponzu and sesame dipping sauces
Preparing Ponzu and sesame dipping sauces

Step 5. Completion:

When the hot pot is boiling vigorously and the vegetables and mushrooms are tender, you can enjoy it. Use chopsticks to pick up a slice of beef and dip it into the pot, swishing for about 10-30 seconds until the meat is just cooked. Just-cooked beef will be tender and delicious; when eaten with the dipping sauces, it creates a rich, unique, and delicious flavor.

Dip beef slices for 10-30 seconds until just cooked
Dip beef slices for 10-30 seconds until just cooked

Delicious Shabu-Shabu Restaurants in Japan

If you want to enjoy high-quality shabu-shabu with diverse flavors and attentive service, don’t miss the 3 reputable addresses suggested below:

Shabu Shabu On-yasai

Contact Information: 

Shabu Shabu On-yasai: Diverse hot pot buffet with imported beef and signature broths
Shabu Shabu On-yasai: Diverse hot pot buffet with imported beef and signature broths

Shabu Shabu On-yasai serves hot pot buffet style with a diverse menu, including imported beef from Australia and the US, pork, chicken, and fresh vegetables and mushrooms. This place is famous for its many signature broths, prepared according to exclusive recipes, such as Japanese hot pot, Sukiyaki, spicy hot pot, and pork hot pot. The common feature of these broths is the natural sweetness from bone broth, with limited use of seasonings.

Shabu Ya Van Hanh Mall

Contact Information: 

Shabu Ya Van Hanh Mall: Japanese hot pot with premium beef and a self-service salad bar
Shabu Ya Van Hanh Mall: Japanese hot pot with premium beef and a self-service salad bar

Shabu Ya Van Hanh Mall offers an authentic Japanese culinary experience with hot pot dishes imbued with the flavor of the Land of the Rising Sun, suitable for Vietnamese palates. The restaurant serves an unlimited hot pot buffet, with premium beef cut in the Japanese style, along with many other fresh meats such as chicken, pork, shrimp, and octopus. In addition, Shabu Ya also has a self-service salad bar with fresh seasonal vegetables, making the meal more varied and nutritious.

Mo Mo Paradise

Contact Information: 

Mo Mo Paradise: Famous Japanese buffet hot pot brand, committed to quality and dedicated service
Mo Mo Paradise: Famous Japanese buffet hot pot brand, committed to quality and dedicated service

Mo Mo Paradise is a leading buffet hot pot brand in Japan, starting in 1992 in Shinjuku-Tokyo. In 2014, the restaurant officially arrived in Vietnam, operating under a chain and franchise model. With the motto “Serving customers wholeheartedly,” Mo Mo Paradise is committed to bringing absolute satisfaction and memorable culinary experiences to diners.

Kamereo – Supplier of Authentic Japanese Ingredients, Good Prices

Kamereo is a wholesale food supply application for F&B businesses, a strategic partner of Gyomu Japan, standing out by offering authentic, high-quality Japanese products at competitive prices. To ensure quality, Kamereo invests in a modern food storage and preservation warehouse system, while also applying a strict quality control process for each product before it reaches customers.

Kamereo: Strategic partner of Gyomu Japan, providing authentic Japanese ingredients at good prices
Kamereo: Strategic partner of Gyomu Japan, providing authentic Japanese ingredients at good prices

The biggest difference between Kamereo and traditional suppliers lies in the application of technology to optimize the procurement process and cost management. Here, F&B businesses can easily update product prices online via Kamereo’s application and website. This makes purchasing decisions smarter and more efficient, while also significantly saving time and costs.

In addition, Kamereo also provides order support services until 12:00 AM and delivery before 6:00 AM the next morning, ensuring that the kitchen is always ready to operate upon opening. With a commitment to an on-time delivery rate of over 99%, sufficient stock of over 98%, and a product error rate of under 0.5%, Kamereo provides absolute peace of mind to businesses regarding the stability and quality of their supplies.

Best-selling standard Japanese domestic products at Kamereo:

Participate in the exclusive Flavors of Japan event co-organized by Kamereo and Gyomu Japan in Hanoi, promising to provide F&B businesses with the opportunity to access standard Japanese ingredients and optimal, sustainable procurement solutions.

Conclusion

Above is a summary of information on how to prepare shabu-shabu hot pot at home, along with a list of reputable and worthwhile hot pot restaurants. To ensure authentic Japanese flavor, customers can find quality ingredients at Kamereo. At the same time, to expand your culinary knowledge and refer to more unique recipes, don’t forget to visit our Food and Lifestyle section.

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Cẩm Tú

As a content writer with a deep passion for culinary culture, I constantly seek inspiration from real-life experiences and innovations in the F&B industry. I believe that cuisine is not merely a story of flavors but also a reflection of culture, creativity, and social trends. Through each article, I hope to provide readers with valuable information and inspiration on the Kamereo website.View Author posts