Sukiyaki!

Sukiyaki! Even if you don't know what the name means, just pronouncing it (with the exclamation mark) sounds like so much fun and excitement. The easiest way to describe a sukiyaki is that its basically a sweet flavored Japanese hotpot, perfect for sharing with your friends.

Step 1: Materials

• Sliced beef
• oyster mushrooms
• shiitake mushrooms
• mini brown mushrooms
• an egg
• onion
• ginger
• napa cabbage
• green bean sprouts
• tofu
• sukiyaki soup base: buy it whole, or mix sake, mirin, soy sauce and sugar.

(Wash everything other than egg and meat)

Step 2: Cutting

• Cut cabbage into inch-chunks
• cut tofu into 1 cm thick slices
• slice oyster mushrooms in half
• chop green bean sprouts
• chop onion into large chunks
• cut 4 thin slices of ginger
• beat the egg into a bowl

Step 3: Sear the Meat

Add some vegetable oil to a hot pan, and throw in the beef to sear for a few minutes. The purpose is to lightly brown the meat so that it doesn't release blood into the soup.

Step 4: Set the Plate

In a large frying pan or (more preferably) cast iron hotpot:

• lay the ginger and small mushrooms in the bottom
• add sections of napa cabbage, oyster mushrooms and tofu
• make a ring of bean sprouts on top
• place the meat in the center
• place shiitake along the bean sprouts
• pour half bottle of sukiyaki sauce, add 4 cups of water

Step 5: Cook and Eat

• Cook on high and cover the pan with lid to reach boil
• boil for 3 minutes lid on (set heat to medium so that it doesn't spill)
• set a tabletop range on the dinning table
• place the sukiyaki pan o the table, keep it boiling as you dig in!