Niku Jyaga 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.

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.

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, MORIMOTO-STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large, ovenproof pan, heat a little oil, then sear beef both sides, until nicely browned. Add potatoes, carrots, baby onions, yellow, and red bell peppers and mix well with beef juices. Place pan in oven for 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Remove beef and vegetables from pan. Stem and seed the peppers. Cut the meat and vegetables into bite size pieces and set aside, keeping warm. Deglaze pan with sake. Add soy sauce and mirin. Thicken, if necessary, with cornstarch and water. Cover meat and vegetables with gravy. Sprinkle chive on top and drizzle chili oil on top, to taste.