Shabu Shabu Japanese Shabu Recipe

Published Dec 04, 2020 Updated Aug 25, 2024

Shabu

There are many types of hot pot in Asia, each with unique flavors and ingredients. In Japan, we have shabu shabu, where thin meat slices are quickly cooked in a tasty broth and nabe, a mix of meats and vegetables. In China and Southeast Asia, we have Chinese hot pot, known for its different broths and dipping sauces. What is shabu shabu? It’s a type of Japanese hot pot with thinly sliced meat (mostly beef) and assorted vegetables. The words shabu shabu meaning “swish swish,” which describes the light swishing sound of the meat in the simmering broth. Sometimes, seafood such as crab legs can be added to the ingredients.

Shabu Shabu Recipe

Originated from China, Japanese shabu shabu is slightly different with the ingredients used, sauces and condiments. Beef is the most common meat but pork is sometimes used. The meat is always thinly sliced. As a result, fatty and marbled beef such as wagyu (Japanese beef) or American wagyu is the best, for example: Kobe beef or Miyazaki beef. Shabu is an easy and fun way to eat a variety of ingredients, all cooked in the rolling boil hot soup. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.

How To Make Shabu Shabu

It’s very easy to make this delicacy at home. Most of the work is preparation of the soup, sauces and ingredients. First, prepare the broth. Traditionally, the broth is made of water, kombu seaweed and Japanese cooking sake. However, in many shabu shabu restaurants, only water is used. I prefer the soup base because it adds so much flavors. Next, prepare and cut the ingredients such as napa cabbage, carrot, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, tofu and scallions (or Tokyo negi). For beef, you can buy the sliced beef from Japanese stores, which usually comes in a tray. Ponzu sauce and sesame sauce are two favorite dipping sauces for shabu. Both are available in bottles at Japanese stores or Asian stores. The final step is to place all the ingredients on the dining table, with the hot pot set on top of a portable butane burner in the middle.

Cooking And Eating Tips

For results that rival the best restaurants, please follow my tips below:

Please make sure that the broth comes to a boil before you start cooking. Pick up a slice of beef with your chopsticks and quickly dip the beef into the hot boiling broth. You might dip or swish it quickly for about 2-3 times. DO NOT overcook the beef. The beef should be soft, tender and just cooked through. Dip the beef into the Ponzu or sesame sauce and enjoy immediately.

What To Serve With Shabu Shabu

Serve this dish with steamed rice or ramen noodles. For a healthy Japanese meal, I recommend the following recipes. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.