Nikujaga – Japanese Beef and Potatoes 肉じゃが

Nikujaga is a quintessential Japanese consolation dish and one of the crucial traditional residence cooking meals. This aptly named dish is made primarily from the 2 elements that make up the title: meat (” niku “) and potatoes (” jaga imo”). The skinny tender slices of beef are simmered along with potatoes, onions, and different greens in a sweet-soy broth creating a pleasant mix of textures and tastes. With its wealthy flavours and heartwarming high quality, it’s certain to immediately transport you to the comfortable comforts of residence.

What’s Nikujaga ?

Nikujaga is a standard and standard Japanese stew-like dish. The phrase “nikujaga” interprets to “meat” (niku) and “potato” (jagaimo), which completely describes the primary elements of this scrumptious dish. The thinly sliced beef and chunks of potatoes are simmered in a savoury-sweet broth together with onions and different greens. It’s a hearty and comforting Yoshoku (Western) fashion dish that originated in the course of the Meiji period in Japan when Western delicacies began to affect native culinary traditions. Nikujaga is likely one of the most common home-cooking dishes and a staple weekday meal because it’s tremendous easy, satisfying, and straightforward. It’s one thing that Japanese moms go down from technology to technology and is also known as “Ofukuro no Aji” which suggests the style of a mom’s cooking as a result of its homely and comforting.

Key Elements for Nikujaga

Thinly sliced beef or pork : Completely different areas of Japan will use both beef or pork as the primary protein element. I’m from western Japan the place beef is often used and is what I’ve grown up consuming. Nonetheless, the selection between beef or pork depends upon private desire and dietary restrictions. Japanese meat is often sliced very thinly which permits for even and fast cooking and higher absorption of flavours. 

Potatoes : Potatoes are a vital part of Nikujaga as they supply a wealthy and comforting texture to the dish. They take in the flavors of the sauce throughout cooking, turning into mushy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The starch from potatoes additionally helps thicken the sauce barely, giving it a luscious consistency. 

Different greens : Nikujaga is a beef and potato stew so they’re the 2 important elements, the opposite greens are completely as much as desire and what you will have readily available. Nonetheless probably the most generally used greens are carrots, onions, snow peas, and inexperienced beans. To finish this comforting meal, some variations might embrace further elements similar to mushrooms or daikon radish. 

Konnyaku noodle : Konnyaku noodles, also called shirataki noodles or miracle noodles, are skinny translucent noodles made out of the konjac plant’s root. These gluten-free noodles are often added to nikujaga for added texture and are a preferred ingredient resulting from their low-calorie content material and varied well being advantages. 

Dashi and broth : The scrumptious broth for nikujaga contains soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, and dashi. Dashi is a standard Japanese soup inventory that types the muse of quite a few dishes in Japanese delicacies together with nikujaga. Its umami-rich taste significantly enhances the general style profile of the dish and elevates it to a different degree of deliciousness.

Step-by-Step Preparation Information for Nikujaga

Getting ready the meat

I often purchase thinly sliced meats at Japanese grocery shops or Korean grocery shops. Should you can not purchase ready-made thinly sliced meat then you are able to do it your self. There’s a trick to slicing meat very thinly and it’s to chop it when it is rather chilly almost semi-frozen.

Vegetable preparation

One of many key steps in getting ready this dish is slicing the greens into bite-sized items. Reduce the potatoes into chunks or wedges. Reduce the carrots and different greens into small items and thinly slice the onions.

The way to put together the Konnyaku noodles

Konnyaku, is a well-liked weight loss plan meals due to its dietary fibre of glucomannan and really low energy. Nonetheless, it has fairly a fishy odour and must be pre-cooked to take away this. Place 2 litres of water in a pot and convey the water to boil. Add the konjac noodle and prepare dinner for a couple of minutes. Flip the warmth off and drain the boiling water. This can take away the scent.

The way to Make Nikujaga

This step-by-step information will assist you recreate this conventional dish in your personal kitchen.

1. Put together the Elements. Peel the greens and minimize them into bite-sized items. Thinly slice the onion. Pre-boil the konnyaku, drain it, then set it apart. Guarantee all elements are prepared earlier than beginning to prepare dinner.
2. Warmth some vegetable oil in a big pot or deep skillet over medium warmth. Add the onions, potatoes, and carrots to the pot and prepare dinner till the potatoes have turn out to be barely translucent on the sides. 
3. Add the sliced beef (or pork) and sauté till browned on all sides. 
4. Add the dashi inventory and convey it to boil. 
5. Take away any scum that seems on the floor then place a drop lid (otoshibuta) or an aluminium foil sheet with a gap on high of the elements. Depart it to simmer for round Quarter-hour. 
6. Add the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. 
7. Add the konnyaku and inexperienced beans and simmer. 
8. When the greens have all cooked, flip off the warmth. Permit nikujaga to sit down for a couple of minutes earlier than serving.

Serving Options and Pairings

The normal approach to take pleasure in this scrumptious Japanese dish is with a bowl of steamed white rice. The mixture of tender meat, flavourful potatoes, and umami-rich broth completely enhances the simplicity of steamed white rice. It creates a well-balanced meal that’s each comforting and satisfying. To boost your eating expertise, it’s also possible to take into account including some further parts to your meal. Listed below are a number of serving recommendations and pairings that work nicely with nikujaga: 

Miso Soup: Begin your meal with a bowl of heat miso soup. Its savoury flavours will put together your style buds for the meal. 

Pickled Greens: Serve some pickled greens like tsukemono on the aspect. The acidity and crunchiness of those pickles present a refreshing distinction to the hearty nature of nikujaga.

I hope you take pleasure in Nikujaga. If you can’t bear in mind the title of the dish, take into consideration Mick Jagger 🤣 And when you preferred Nikujaga, please charge this recipe and remark under!

FAQ

Additionally don’t neglect to comply with me on Youtube, Pinterest, Fb , Twitter and Instagram to maintain updated with all the newest happenings on Chopstick Chronicles. Don’t neglect to make use of the hashtag #ChopstickChronicles so I can see your great creations!