Japanese Beef And Vegetable Stew Recipes

NIKUJAGA (JAPANESE BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan.
• Add the beef and brown on all sides.
• Add the onion, squash and carrot and saute for 5 minutes.
• Add the dashi, soy, sugar, sake and mirin, cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender.

JAPANESE BEEF AND VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Wrap beef tenderloin in plastic wrap and freeze until firm but not frozen solid, about 45 minutes. Discard plastic wrap, then slice beef across the grain with a sharp knife into very thin slices (less than 1/8 inch thick). Arrange slices in 1 layer on a plate and chill, covered, until ready to use.
• Cover noodles with cold water by 2 inches in a large bowl and let stand until softened, at least 15 minutes, then drain in a colander and transfer to a bowl.
• Quarter cabbage lengthwise and reserve three quarters for another use. Cook remaining cabbage wedge (including core) in a large pot of boiling unsalted water, covered, 3 minutes, then drain in colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Squeeze out any excess liquid with your hands, then pat dry. Transfer cabbage to a cutting board and cut out and discard core, keeping cabbage wedge intact. Cut cabbage crosswise into 2-inch pieces, keeping leaves stacked, and transfer to a plate, blotting any excess liquid.
• Cut tofu into 8 (1/2-inch-thick) slices and pat dry between several layers of paper towels.
• Trim spongy root ends from enoki mushrooms.
• Stir together water, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved.
• Cook beef suet in skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until skillet bottom is coated well with fat, about 3 minutes, then discard solids with a slotted spoon. Add negi and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add soy sauce mixture, then arrange noodles evenly on top. Arrange cabbage, tofu, and shiitake mushrooms on top of noodles. Divide enoki into small clusters and tuck in and around vegetables, leaving cap ends protruding. Arrange greens evenly on top and bring liquid just to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and gently simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Remove from heat and arrange raw beef slices in 1 layer on top of greens (some slices will overlap), then cover again. Let stand off heat until meat is cooked rare to medium-rare, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Serve sukiyaki in shallow bowls. If desired, beat eggs (1 per guest) in separate small bowls to serve as a dipping sauce.

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.

BEEF AND VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Remove any bits of fat from the meat. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Saute the meat in the oil for 10 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Remove meat and set aside.
• Add the onion and tomato paste to the pot and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until onion is tender, stirring often. Return the meat to the skillet along with the beef broth, combining with the onion and tomato paste mixture. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is tender.
• Add the carrots, potatoes, rosemary, thyme, bay leaf and crushed red pepper flakes and simmer, covered, for another 45 minutes. (Note: It may be necessary to add some water if the stew seems too thick.)
• Finally, add the mushrooms and the peas and allow stew to heat through, about another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf and rosemary sprig before serving.

JAPANESE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Prepare beef:
• Pat beef dry. Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot until hot but not smoking and brown beef on all sides. Add dashi, sake, and white parts of scallions and simmer, covered, skimming froth and turning beef occasionally, until meat is very tender, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. (Check periodically and add a few tablespoons water if beef becomes less than half submerged.) Add sugar and simmer, covered, 15 minutes longer (more liquid may evaporate at this point, but that's fine).
• Prepare vegetables while beef is simmering:
• Peel potatoes, halving and trimming into ovals if large, and steam, covered, over boiling water until barely tender, about 10 minutes.
• Cut carrots crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Trim slices with a paring knife to create rounded edges and save trimmings for pickled Napa cabbage.
• Steam carrots, covered, over boiling water until barely tender, about 7 minutes.
• Finish stew:
• Add carrots and potatoes to beef and simmer, tossing occasionally, 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add soy sauce and bring to a boil. Discard white parts of scallions. Serve stew in small bowls sprinkled with scallion greens.