Japan: Osaka – Shabu shabu
After our visit to the aquarium, it was time for dinner. There was an opportunity for us to try fugu, but neither Alastair nor I thought it was worth it – both price wise and risk wise! So we had shabu shabu instead.
(For those interested, I’m told that fugu is a very firm, white fish that has a mild flavour. Everyone we knew who tried it survived – phew!)
Shabu shabu is cool! It’s pretty much a hot pot where paper thin slices of meat and vegetables are cooked in a broth at the table. Shabu shabu roughly means “swish swish” which refers to the sound of the meat being swished through the broth.
We received personal little cookers of broth to cook the meat and vegetables. Too bad I didn’t get an action shot of the swish swish!
And here is my plate of meat and a few chopped vegetables. Look at that beef – isn’t it beautiful. It was so tender after a quick cook in the liquid.
There was dipping sauce for the meat – very nutty and sesamey.
A couple of pieces of rather good sashimi, beautifully presented.
We also received some tempura. There were long beans, a prawn, and I think that item on the left was a mushroom.
Have you figured out from my posts so far that it’s not a Japanese meal without chawanmushi (savoury steamed egg custard)?
Nor is a meal complete without pickles and rice.
When everything was brought out, we had a serious lack of table space! Fortunately I’m good at Tetris, so managed to shuffle things around to fit it all in. We were so full afterwards – it was another great meal.
Coming up next time: Okonomiyaki showdown. Oh yes!
mademoiselle délicieuse
December 9, 2009 @ 1:31 am
The marbling on that beef is beautiful! And I'm looking forward to the okonomiyaki post =D
jfox
December 9, 2009 @ 6:33 am
lovely photos as always agnes! really enjoying your japan posts…
and i never knew shabu shabu meant swish swish, love it even more =)
missklicious
December 9, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Great post – I miss Japan and all the wonderful food!
Conor @ HoldtheBeef
December 9, 2009 @ 10:58 am
Yay! I remember this from my first visit to Japan back when I was an awkward 14 year old.
Isn't it great when tetris skills can be utilised in real life?
Agnes
December 9, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
mademoiselle: It will go up this week! Mhmmmm okonomiyaki……..
jfox: thanks! Ahh, we had SUCH a good time.
missklicious: Sigh, me too!
Conor: It's great to know that the hours I've spent playing Tetris have helped my life somehow. 😉
Katie
December 10, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
We enjoyed shabu shabu while we were in Japan and it was snowing outside – it was so wonderful to sit inside with a warm broth and all this amazing food while it was freezing outside. It's definitely something everyone should experience at least once!
Agnes
December 13, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
Katie: that sounds so magical! What a great memory that must be.