Shabu Shabu
Shabu shabu is not just a delicious Japanese hot pot dish, it's also a lot of fun and a very social meal to have with friends. Traditionally it's a beef dish served with some common Japanese vegetables, raw egg, and sauces. In modern day Tokyo, however, you can also have it with pork, chicken, and seafood if you choose.
How To Eat Shabu Shabu
In short, shabu shabu consists of a plate of very thin slices of raw meat, a selection of vegetables, a bowl of piping hot water, an egg in a bowl, and your sauces. The bowl is placed on a burner that is set in the middle of your table and the water is brought to the boil. Sometimes the water is prepared in the kitchen with seaweed to add flavour and seasoning to the stock. It will be taken out though before the bowl is brought to your table.
Beat your egg in the bowl with your chopsticks until it is well mixed and then put this to one side. Once the water is simmering nicely away, pick up a slice of beef with your chopsticks and literally drag it backwards and forwards through the water until it is browned to your taste. Actually the word shabu shabu is supposed to represent the sound of the beef as you swish it through the water. Shabu shabu = swish swish.
Raw Egg and Sauces
After the meat is cooked, you can choose to dip it into the raw egg and eat it, or you can combine it with soy sauce or any other sauces available on the table. I must admit, the first time I tried this, the idea of the raw egg dip did not appeal. Once tasted though I really understood how good this is and if you can get over the whole raw egg thing, it is well worth a shot. Of course, in doing so, certain health warnings have to be put to one side. That's a choice only you can make.
The Vegetables
You are probably wondering what happens to the vegetables in shabu shabu. These are usually a mix of shiitake mushrooms, green onions, cabbage, and sometimes tofu. There are no hard and fast rules about which vegetables you will receive, and there is little choice. You will get the plate of vegetables you get if you know what I mean! That's all part of the experience though.
You can choose to add the vegetables to the broth and cook them as you swish your meat. If you prefer you can cook the meat first and then finish with the vegetables to make a soup. It's entirely up to you.
One thing to savour in any restaurant or izakaya that has this communal style of Japanese eating, is the atmosphere and hubbub that surrounds you. Family and friends will sit round a table laughing and chatting for hours as they all share in the cooking and eating. It is a happy experience, and one I have no doubt you'll want to try again once tasted.
