In the midst of the cold weather and the current spectacular rain storming through Northern California, it calls for a night of Hot Pot or Shabu or Fondue. A Rose by any other name...Hot Pot for the Chinese, Shabu for the Japanese, and Fondue for well, I guess the 70s. The three concepts are alike, hot boiling liquid in a pot, commune eating with utensils and splashes and drips from your neighbors.
My family rotates "theme" nights when we get together (often) such as Standing Rib Roast night, Crawfish Night, Pho Night, the list could go on...The hot "pot" is split in half and available for two different types of broth but we stick to a miso mix enhanced with chicken broth and (lots) dried chili peppers.
The star of the meal is the sliced fatty beef sold at Asian Supermarkets, they probably have a hot pot ingredient section too. The meat is expensive at about $10 a pound, unless one owns a commercial meat slicer; I happen to own one. I buy a higher quality fatty beef rib eye in bulk at a little over $5 a pound and sliced almost paper thin. The beef is a sight for sore eyes.
The dipping sauce is what separates a good hot pot experience to unbuttoning-my- jeans-so-I-can-eat-more experience. Below is my list of ingredients to create a perfect dipping sauce:- Ponzu
- Minced bottled garlic
- Chopped fresh scallions
- Sesame Paste
- S&B Chili Pepper (the kind used on ramen noodles)
- Sesame oil (a dab will do ya)
I like my sauce nice and chunky with ample amounts of garlic and scallions. The sesame paste creates a thickness to adhere to the cooked meat.
One could go crazy with the side dishes, past meals included - clams, geoduck, tofu, fishballs, quail eggs, and calamari (with tentacles, of course.) However, we kept it simple and sweet on this occasion with udon noddles, napa cabbage, various mushrooms and garland chrysanthemum.(茼蒿)
Hot pot, shabu or fondue is a way to cozy up with family and friends over simple, delicious, healthy and fun food!
12 comments:
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'll have to try the Laura M blush out sometime.
sounds like your family knows how to have fun and eat! great ideas
Oh, you truly make me want to have a Fondue Party. It sounds like such a hearty way to warm up given the chilly weather; and the perfect setting for fun with friends and family!! :)
oh my gosh...fondue is my HEAVEN! bathe me up and slather me happy! i love it :)
i had my first fondue experience a couple years ago. it included appetizer, main course and dessert. i've never been so full in my life!
15 pounds of meat! Holy moly! That's one HUGE hot pot. Since there's so much to share, I'll be right over. ;)
mmmm fondue sounds terrific.
*drools* I'm jealous!! I want to be part of that hot pot dinner!!
人必須心懷希望，才會活的快樂，日子才過得充實,有意義,有朝氣,有信心。........................................iphone聊天室
May I know which meat slicer do u use? I want to buy one too. But I am not sure which brand is good for slice meat for hot pot.
Hi, there,
Your rib eye beef hot pot looks so yummy. I am looking to buy a meat slicer but not sure which one is good for slicing meat for hot pot. I'd appreciate if you can let me know which brand you used. Thanks.
@Anon I use the EdgeCraft 610 to slice meat. The key is to freeze the meat and let it thaw a bit before slicing or you can break your machine.
Thanks for your reply. :)
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