Nabemono Food, Everything You Need to Know

It is a fact that Japan is among the top countries that most travelers want to visit for their vacation goals. They have beautiful scenic spots where you can visit for relaxation and enjoy time alone, with your family, friends or special someone. Meanwhile, aside from their beautiful tourist spots, you can also be impressed by their delicious and unique cuisine. Among their most famous foods is Nabemono. Do you want to know more about this Japanese delicacy? Then, read further.

A Short Background of Nabemono

Nabemono is originated from the word nabe that means cooking pot and mono, which means stuff or things. It is a traditional food in the country which has a simple concept. It can be a combination of meat, fresh vegetables, tofu, seafood, soybean products as well as seasonal ingredients which are cooked in a boiling soup broth in a pot.

Nabemono Dishes, Why Is It Popular?

Nabemono is a delicious cuisine that is made from authentic ingredients. It is served by many popular restaurants in Japan that feature an atmosphere with a rustic theme that signifies the origins of Nabemono on rural farming regions.

It is a perfect for eating during gloomy rainy days or winter months. If you want a warmth of hot broths, the Nabemono is a perfect choice. It is a good dish for a family gathering or even parties. Do you want to indulge yourself with the taste of Nabemono? Well, you can do it at home by following some tips below:

Remember the Order of Cooking

You can cook the Nabemono by remembering the order of cooking. You can use ingredients like chicken, kombu, and fish. Then, you can start adding the rest of the ingredients that need longer cooking time like daikon, carrots, potatoes, and the Napa cabbage’s thick white parts. Next, you can add medium-firm tofu and shirataki noodles for absorbing more flavors. You can also put a thin slice of meat and soft vegetables.

Never Overcook Any of Your Ingredients

A lot of Nabemono’s ingredients are sliced and cut into thin, bite-sized pieces, for quicker cooking time. Make sure no ingredients will be overcooked.

Skim the Broth

You must skim the broth to keep it clean. Thus, cooking proteins like seafood, meat, and vegetables can build scum on the surface of the broth. You can easily skim the broth when it is boiling.

Practice Etiquette and Be Considerate

If you eat and cook in a share nabe pot, you must observe proper etiquette. You must not take a marbled beef floating or piece of fish cake unless it is yours. Additionally, you must add the ingredients if the broth is boiling, and no one is cooking meat. If you’re not sure about what you’re doing, you can also ask the people around you. You must know the Japanese etiquette for the best Nabemono experience.

Drinks for Nabemono

To make the best of eating Nabemono, you can add drinks like foamy, cold beer, or sake. If you’re not alcoholic, it is best to drink mugicha (barley tea), iced oolong tea, or hojicha (hot green tea).

Nabemono is one of the best ways to beat the cold weather in Japan. The following are among the top 3 types of Nabemono you can try:

Types of Nabemono

Do you want to taste the traditional food of Japan? You can try the following Nabemono types.

· Sukiyaki

This is the most common type of Nabemono. It is among the favorite food during cold weather and especially during New Year. Sukiyaki comes in a soup of mirin (low-alcohol, sweet rice wine), soy sauce, and sugar. It also has thin slices of tofu, beef, leafy vegetables, and leek. After boiling of ingredients, they are dipped to raw eggs and ready to serve. This type is also known through the song by Kyu Sakamoto.

· Hakusai-Butaniku Mille-Feuille

If you want a simple Japanese hotpot, this type of Nabemono is the best. It only needs 2 ingredients, namely, Hakusai, which is a Chinese cabbage, and Butaniku, which means pork. Thinly-sliced pork are layered in between the Chinese cabbage’s leaves and boiled.

· Shabu Shabu

Shabu Shabu is an onomatopoeic word for describing the ingredients’ sound boiling away as they are stirred in the hot pot. This is considered a convivial nature of Nabemono since it is a part-meal part-activity in Japan. You can cook the flavored broth dashi, raw vegetables, and meat in the boiling water.

Trying these Nabemono types can bring you a high level of satisfaction and indulgence. You can choose the best Nabemono dish that highly suits to your taste. As you visit the beautiful country of Japan, eating the Nabemono dish can help you to have a complete and satisfying tour experience. Nabemono can indulge you while enjoying your stay in the country.