Negimaki Recipes

NEGIMAKI - JAPANESE BEEF AND SCALLION ROLLS

Steps:

• Prepare scallions: Blanch scallions in a pot ofboiling salted water 45 seconds, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Transfer scallions to paper towels to drain and pat dry.
• Prepare beef: Cut flank steak with the grain holding a large knife at a 30-degree angle to cutting board into 12 (1/8-inch-thick) slices (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide).
• Arrange slices 1 inch apart on a very lightly oiled sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap, then cover with another very lightly oiled sheet of parchment or plastic wrap (oiled side down) and pound slices with flat side of meat pounder until about 1/16 inch thick.
• Assemble rolls: Arrange 3 beef slices side by side on a fresh sheet of plastic wrap, overlapping slices slightly to form a 6-inch square with short ends of slices nearest you.
• Sprinkle square lightly with a pinch of salt, then lay 3 scallions (with some white parts at both ends) across slices at end closest to you and tightly roll up meat around scallions to form a log, using plastic wrap as an aid.
• Tie log with kitchen string at ends and where meat slices overlap. Make 3 more negimaki rolls in same manner.
• Marinate rolls: Stir together sake, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved.
• Put rolls in a small baking dish and pour marinade over them, turning to coat. Marinate, loosely covered with plastic wrap, turning occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Cook rolls: Heat a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. While skillet is heating, lift rolls out of marinade, letting excess drip off, and pat dry. (Save marinade.)
• Add oil to skillet, swirling to coat bottom, then cook rolls, turning with tongs, until well browned on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer rolls to cutting board.
• Add marinade to skillet and boil until slightly syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
• Cut off and discard strings, then cut each roll crosswise into 6 slices. Pour sauce into a shallow serving dish and arrange negimaki in sauce.

BEEF NEGIMAKI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, blanch lighter scallion ends for 1 minute, then add darker green scallion ends and blanch for 1 minute longer. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool, then drain and transfer scallions to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess water.
• In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar, stirring to dissolve most of the sugar.
• Working on a cutting board, cut flank steak against the grain into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip in half for 8 equal square pieces of meat. Keeping your knife parallel to the cutting board, butterfly each square by horizontally slicing against the grain through the middle. (Leave it attached on one side; do not cut all the way through.) Carefully open it like a book. Each of the 8 pieces should be about 3 inches wide.
• Using a meat mallet and working with one piece of meat at a time, cover each with plastic wrap and pound until 1/16-inch thick, creating rectangles that are about 5-by-6 inches. Transfer meat to the soy sauce marinade, turn to coat and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Heat grill to medium-high and grease the grates (Alternatively, grease a grill pan or griddle to use on the stovetop). Remove steak from marinade and transfer to a work surface. Transfer marinade to a small saucepan over medium-low and simmer until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, divide scallions among the 8 pieces of steak, arranging on one side along the shorter edge (scallions should be parallel to the grain). Tightly roll meat around the scallions and secure in two places with toothpicks where meat overlaps, threading the toothpicks parallel to the roll but not through the scallions in the center.
• Grill the negimaki, turning occasionally, until nicely charred and cooked through, reducing heat to medium halfway through, about 12 minutes. (If using a grill pan, heat on stovetop over medium-high and reduce heat to medium halfway through.)
• Once negimaki are cooked, lightly brush them with some of the reduced glaze, then transfer to a cutting board. Remove toothpicks, cut negimaki into bite-size pieces and arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle with the remaining glaze, and serve warm.

BEEF NEGIMAKI

Steps:

• Cut each spring onion in half lengthwise, then cut each length in half into 2 pieces, about 4 inches long. Set aside.
• Trim ends of asparagus spears so that just 4 inches of the floret end remains. Set aside.
• Lay out beef slices on a work surface, like tall rectangles. Place a green and a white portion of onion and 1 piece of asparagus across the bottom of the beef rectangles. Roll each portion tightly into a cylinder; secure each portion with 1 or 2 toothpicks.
• Brush each roll with teriyaki sauce.
• Preheat the grill, grill pan or broiler. Grill or broil for 3 minutes. Turn over and baste each portion again with teriyaki sauce. Cook for another 3 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

BEEF NEGIMAKI WITH BROCCOLINI AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat grill. Fold four 18-inch-long pieces of foil in half; unfold and coat inside with cooking spray. Combine hoisin, soy sauce, vinegar and oil in a bowl; coat beef with marinade. Place a handful of scallions and carrots on end of 1 strip of beef (tips should hang over edges of meat); roll up beef to enclose vegetables and secure with a toothpick. Repeat with remaining beef, scallions and carrots. Place 1/4 cup rice in center of 1 half of each piece of foil; top rice with 3 beef rolls each. Surround rice and beef in each packet with 1/4 of Broccolini; season all with salt and pepper. Fold foil to close and crimp 2 sides of each packet, leaving 1 side open; pour 1/4 cup broth into each packet. Crimp third side of packets to seal; place on grill; close lid; cook until packets are fully puffed, 10 minutes. Carefully cut foil to open; serve.

ASPARAGUS NEGIMAKI (JAPANESE BEEF ROLLS)

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan until hot; bring salted water to a boil over medium high heat in a saucepan.
• Blanch asparagus spears for 1 minute; drain and plunge in an ice water bath to stop cooking.
• In a small saucepan combine soy sauce, sugar, mirin (or dry sherry), ginger, and garlic; heat over medium heat until reduced and slightly thickened; set aside to cool.
• Cut green onions in fourths, lengthwise, so you have long strips.
• Slice beef in 1/4 inch slices, then pound to tenderize and thin out.
• Dip beef slice in soy sauce mixture and place on a clean work surface; season with pepper.
• Place an asparagus spear and a piece of green onion on the beef slice and roll up.
• Do the same with the remaining asparagus and beef.
• Grill beef rolls about 2 minutes until slightly charred and medium rare. Turn several times and brush with soy sauce mixture.
• Remove to a serving platter and drizzle generously with soy sauce mixture.

MARVEL'S BEEF AND SCALLION ROLLS (NEGIMAKI)

Steps:

• Place 2 or 3 scallion pieces across a slice of beef and roll up tightly.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add beef rolls, seam-side down, and cook for 1 minute. Roll and cook to brown on all sides, about 5 minutes more.
• Add soy sauce, sugar, sake, and dashi to the skillet and cook, rolling beef to coat, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer beef to a plate and increase heat to reduce liquid, 3 to 5 minutes. Add mirin and return beef rolls to the skillet, rolling until well coated and heated through. Slice rolls in half to serve.

CHICKEN NEGIMAKI

Steps:

• Put soy sauce, mirin, garlic and scallions in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool slightly.
• Prepare charcoal or gas grill; heat should be medium and rack about 4 inches from fire. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Remove scallions from soy mixture with slotted spoon and divide evenly among chicken cutlets: Turn wide side of each cutlet to face you and put 2 or 3 scallions on edge closest to you, with some scallion sticking out of each end. Roll each cutlet up like a jelly roll and secure in two or three places with toothpicks or butcher's twine. Brush chicken rolls with sesame oil.
• Grill chicken, brushing occasionally with remaining soy mixture and turning each piece once or twice, until cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. To check for doneness, cut into a piece with a thin-bladed knife; center should be white or slightly pink. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature with lemon or lime wedges.

BEEF AND ASPARAGUS NEGIMAKI

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan until hot, or prepare oven broiler. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cut off asparagus ends to within 3 1/2 inches from tips; reserve bottoms for another use. Place tips in boiling water; cook until bright green but still crunchy, about 1 minute. Prepare an ice-water bath. Drain asparagus; transfer to an ice-water bath to stop cooking. Drain asparagus again in a colander, and set aside.
• Whisk together soy sauce and sugar until dissolved; set aside. Cut scallions into 3 1/2-inch lengths, julienned lengthwise; set aside.
• Slice tenderloin into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Place one slice between two pieces of plastic; pound lightly to an even thickness. Remove plastic; trim into 2-by-5-inch rectangle. Repeat with remaining beef.
• Dip a piece of beef in soy-sauce mixture, and place on a clean surface. Season with pepper. Place 1 piece of scallion and 2 asparagus tips across 1 end of beef, so vegetables extend over edges; roll. Set aside. Repeat with remaining beef and vegetables.
• Grill or broil negamaki, brushing with sauce and turning, until slightly charred and medium rare, about 2 minutes. Serve.