What is Sukiyaki?
A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Sukiyaki
What Is Sukiyaki?
Sukiyaki is a popular Japanese hot pot dish made with thinly sliced beef, vegetables, tofu, and other ingredients. It’s cooked in a rich, sweet-and-savoury sauce, creating a comforting and flavourful dish.
One of the most famous parts of sukiyaki is dipping the cooked ingredients in beaten raw egg. 🥚
What’s in Sukiyaki?
- Thinly sliced beef 🥩
- Grilled tofu◻️
- Green onion
- Shiitake mushrooms 🍄
- Shungiku (Japanese chrysanthemum greens) 🌿
- Shirataki noodles
- Chinese cabbage🥬
- Raw egg 🥚
Shirataki are thin, chewy noodles made from konjac. They have a light flavour and soak up the delicious sukiyaki sauce.
Sukiyaki Sauce
Sukiyaki is usually seasoned with a sweet and savoury sauce made with soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sometimes sake. The exact recipe can vary between regions and households.
Good to know: Kanto and Kansai styles of sukiyaki are prepared differently, so you may see slightly different cooking methods depending on where you eat.
What Kind of Beef Is Used?
- Thinly sliced beef is the standard choice for sukiyaki.
- Well-marbled beef is popular because the fat makes the meat tender and flavourful.
- Wagyu beef is often used for premium sukiyaki, but you don’t need Wagyu to enjoy it.
How to Eat Sukiyaki 🥢
①Cook the beef, vegetables, tofu, and other ingredients in the sukiyaki pot.
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②Take your favourite ingredients from the pot once they’re cooked.
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③Dip the cooked ingredients into beaten raw egg before eating. The egg adds a smooth, creamy texture and balances the rich flavour.
Not comfortable with raw egg? No worries! You can enjoy sukiyaki without it, too.
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④Sukiyaki is often enjoyed with plain Japanese rice. The rice goes especially well with the rich, sweet-and-savoury sauce. 🍚
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⑤ Finish with “shime” 🍜
Udon, rice, noodles, or anything you like!
What Is “Shime”? 🍜
Shime (締め) means the final part of a meal. With Japanese hot pot dishes, it’s common to enjoy noodles or rice at the end, using the delicious flavour left in the pot.
For sukiyaki, udon is a popular choice because the noodles soak up the rich, sweet-and-savoury flavour.
Dietary Informatio
Sukiyaki usually contains beef, eggs, soy sauce, and sometimes sake. 🥩🥚
🌱V Vegetarian
Traditional sukiyaki contains beef.
🌿VG Vegan
Traditional sukiyaki contains beef and egg.
If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, it’s best to check the ingredients with the restaurant before ordering.
Enjoy your Sukiyaki! 🇯🇵✨