Izakaya Sakura Niku Jyaga Japanese Beef Stew Recipes

NIKU JYAGA (JAPANESE BEEF AND POTATO STEW)

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut each into 4 to 6 pieces, so they are relatively uniform in size. Bevel the edges of each piece with a vegetable peeler. Soak in cold water for about 10 minutes to remove some starch.
• Cut carrots in rangiri: Hold the knife at a diagonal, and rotate carrot quarter turns to cut irregular, multifaceted chunks. Cut each onion into 6 to 8 wedges, about 3/4 inch wide. Cut beef into 2-inch pieces.
• Prepare a drop-lid for a 3- or 4-quart heavy-bottomed pot: Cut a circle of parchment paper about 1 inch smaller than the diameter of the pot, and cut a 1/2-inch hole in its center.
• Drain and rinse potatoes. Add to pot with carrots, onions and 1 1/2 cups water (it will not fully cover the vegetables). Tuck kombu (if using) into the water. Bring to a boil, then discard kombu. Add soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar. Add beef, stirring to distribute.
• Place parchment lid directly on top of vegetables and liquid, and simmer - don't boil - stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until potatoes are very tender. Turn off heat, discard parchment, and rest for at least 30 minutes (overnight is even better) to allow the potatoes to soak up the seasoning. Reheat, and serve with white rice, or a frosty beer.

IZAKAYA SAKURA NIKU JYAGA (JAPANESE BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• Thinly slice the sirloin steak. Cut potatoes into 4 pieces each and soak in cold water. Cut carrots into bite-size pieces.
• Cut shirataki into 2-inch lengths. Cut onion in half top to bottom, slice into half rings.
• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet. Stir-fry beef lightly. Add potatoes, carrots, onions and shirataki and continue stir-frying.
• Add dashi and cook until potatoes are tender. Add sake, sugar, mirin and soy sauce. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until liquid is half gone.
• Turn off the heat and let it sit for more than 15 minutes to allow vegetables to soak up the flavor.
• Re-heat the pan and serve in a bowl. Sprinkle with chopped green onions on top.

JAPANESE BEEF STEW FOR THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Combine the flour, garlic powder, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the beef and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (can be done ahead).
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil then the beef in batches, browning on all sides. Remove browned beef to a Crock Pot. Drizzle approximately a cup of the beef broth into the skillet, gently scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Carefully pour the broth from the skillet into the Crock Pot.
• Add all remaining ingredients except the snow peas to the Crock Pot and set to warm. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add the snow peas for the final 30 minutes of cooking. Serve immediately.

NIKU JYAGA

Steps:

• Freeze steak. Remove from freezer and thaw about 30 minutes, or until soft enough to slice (it should still be frozen). Slice into very thin strips of meat. Peel and cut potatoes into chunks. Soak potatoes in cold water 5 minutes. Slice onion into thin strips.
• Heat oil in dutch oven or large frying pan. Cook beef over medium heat just until the outside turns color. Add the onions. When onions are soft add potatoes and cook 10 minutes.
• Add dashi, sugar, sake, mirin. Boil 5 minutes. Remove foam on the surface with a spoon.
• Make a foil cover, and push the foil down right on top of the ingredients (foil should go to the edges inside the pan). Simmer 10 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked but not mushy.
• Add soy sauce to your taste (more soy sauce reduces the sugary flavor). Serve with rice, and miso soup for a delicious meal.

NIKUJAGA (JAPANESE-STYLE MEAT AND POTATOES)

Steps:

• Put the snow peas in a small saucepan with enough water to cover; bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the beef in the oil until browned. Add the potatoes; cook and stir until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir the dashi soup, soy sauce, sake, and sugar into the mixture; simmer for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and scatter the chopped onion over the mixture; allow to simmer until the liquid is nearly completely evaporated, about 15 minutes more. Top the mixture with the snow peas to serve.

JAPANESE-STYLE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, sear meat until nicely browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Transfer chunks to a medium-size casserole.
• Add stock to the skillet, and cook over high heat, stirring and scraping until all the solids are integrated into the liquid. Pour into the casserole with soy sauce, mirin, ginger and a couple of grindings of pepper. Peel lemon, and add peel to the mixture. Juice lemon.
• Cover, and cook on top of stove (or in a 350-degree oven), maintaining a steady simmer. Stir after 30 minutes. Then check meat every 15 minutes.
• When meat is nearly tender, about 45 minutes, stir in squash and continue to cook until squash is tender but not mushy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add salt if necessary, then stir in lemon juice. Serve.

IZAKAYA SAKURA SAUTEED SMELT AND MARINATED SWEET ONION

Steps:

• Finely slice a sweet onion. In a bowl, mix olive oil, rice vinegar and the onion slices.
• Lightly season the smelt with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over the smelt.
• In a large frying pan, grease a skillet with vegetable oil and sauté smelt on both sides for about 3-4 minutes each.
• Serve the sautéed smelt with marinated onion on the side. Mix the onion with daikon sprouts for color.

NIKU JAGA (JAPANESE BEEF STEW IN THE CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Put all into crock pot and cook on low 10-12 hours or on high 4-6 hours.
• Stir before serving.