Winter is hotpot season in Asia. It’s a way to get the entire family together around a steaming one-pot meal and take the chill off winter. In Japan, nabemono (which literally means “things cooked in a pot”) is the ubiquitous hotpot of choice appearing in homes and restaurants around the country.
But that’s not to say that there’s only one kind of nabe. Like soup, it has about as many variations as there are people who make it. It’s one of the things I love about nabe, because you can put just about anything you want into it. You can easily cook it with “no recipe” because you start with some kind of stock, add some type of protein, then toss in a bunch of vegetables. It’s a great way to clean up the vegetable drawer and as long as you’re not using pork belly, it qualifies as a healthy meal as well.
When it’s snowing outside, nabes are a regular part of the weekly line-up at my house. This week I decided to do something a little different than the usual chicken or pork. I found some monkfish at the grocery store, which makes a great nabe because the meat actually benefits from a long simmer. I also added some sake kasu to this one which is the leftover rice mash after a batch of sake has been filtered. If you’ve never had it before, it adds a wonderful earthy flavor while lending some sweetness and body to the soup.
Nabemono is ideally cooked at the table (I use an electric fondue pot), but if you lack the equipment, you can just make it all in a pot and set the whole thing on a trivet. I’ve listed the vegetables and quantities I used, but if you have a hard time finding the vegetables, you can really add just about anything you like.
Units
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 4 inches dashi kombu (kelp for making stock)
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- ¼ cup sake kasu (sake lees)
- â…“ cup miso
- 1 pound monkfish (cut into large pieces)
- 1 carrot (sliced into long thin strips)
- ½ burdock root (sliced into long thin strips)
- 1 Tokyo negi (or small leek, cut into 2-inch lengths)
- 2 ounces shimeji mushrooms (trimmed)
- 1 package shirataki noodles (rinsed and drained)
- ½ bunch shungiku (edible chrysanthemum, trimmed and chopped)
- 3 leaves napa cabbage (halved lengthwise, then cut into large pieces)
- 1 bunch mitsuba , roughly chopped
Instructions
- If you have time, soak the kombu in the water for at least one hour to make the stock for the nabe. If not, you can simmer the water and kombu for about ten minutes. Remove the kombu from the water, then add the mirin, sake kasu, miso and monkfish along with any tougher vegetables like carrot, gobo, and Tokyo negi. Simmer all the ingredients together until the monkfish and vegetables are tender (about 20-30 minutes).
- When you're ready to eat, just add the rest of the vegetables and bring it back to a simmer until they're cooked. Top with the mitsuba and serve with rice.
Nisrine M. says
What a warming and healthy nabemono! One-pot meals are the best in winter.
Foivi Geller says
It sounds delicious! The best thing when it’s cold outside! Your photos are awesome! I feel better just looking at the pot!
Marilia says
Ahh my friends and I gathered for homemade hotpot just last week. Monkfish sounds like a great variation!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
I love cooking with a donabe pot! I got one recently and have been cranking out easy and delicious nabemono all winter. So easy to create a rich and delicious stew this way.
Eftychia says
Delicious recipe. Thank you!
Soos says
Looks ono. Do you mean “mizuna”?
Mold Remediation says
Great message.So true.
Marc Matsumoto says
Nope, Mitsuba is a Japanese herb that has a vaguely carrot-like taste.
It’s the green stuff on top of the hotpot (that looks like parsley).
Marilia says
I love this! It looks very warming without being too heavy. I had the hotpot with pork belly at Hakata Tonton recently, but that is a richer meal; monkfish would provide that same gelatinous richness.
Marilia says
I think I could eat this all day long, because I love such delicious looking things 🙂
Marilia says
We’ve had steamboats and hotpots the past few weeks when it got a little rainy and chilly! Now why didn’t we think to use monkfish. It’s probably one of my favourite fish because it’s so meaty and scallop-y. Will try this and see if I can find sake kasu because the flavour sounds lovely!
tasteofbeirut says
So pretty so light yet hearty! I am getting such an education with you on Asian ingredients and culture!
Equipoise says
Your pictures are out of this world. Delicious. I’m making picture number six this evening.
Equipoise
nomad_manhattan says
This looks so yummy! I like hotpot, all kinds – Chinese, Japanese and Korean 🙂 I call it “lazy girl”‘s dinner, since it is one-pot food and requiring minimal preparation.
FlaNBoyant Eats says
oh i just love me Asian foods of all types. And since I love monkfish (though I’ve not had it in too long of a while), this is a winner bookmark recipe to make…