Nikujaga Recipes

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 (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, 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.

NIKUJAGA (JAPANESE BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot/dutch oven and saute the meat on high heat until it changes color. Add vegetables, ginger and mushrooms in the pot and saute together for a minute or two.
• Pour in the dashi and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium and skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface.
• Add sake, sugar, mirin, soy sauce, and curry powder and cover. Simmer until vegetables are softened, stirring occasionally (about 20-30 minutes). Serve with green onions in top.