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Nikujaga Recipe

Nutrition

Cal/Serving: 744
Daily Value: 37%
Servings: 6

Balanced, High-Fiber
Dairy-Free
Fat24g37%
Saturated8g42%
Trans0g0%
Carbs102g34%
Fiber9g36%
Sugars9g0%
Protein22g44%
Cholesterol99mg33%
Sodium1652mg69%
Calcium86mg9%
Magnesium118mg29%
Potassium1229mg35%
Iron6mg32%
Zinc3mg19%
Vitamin A1924IU38%
Vitamin C112mg186%
Thiamin (B1)1mg87%
Riboflavin (B2)1mg35%
Niacin (B3)12mg59%
Vitamin B61mg49%
Folic Acid (B9)266µg67%
Vitamin B121µg9%
Vitamin D0µg0%
Vitamin E1mg7%
Vitamin K7µg8%
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated10g0%
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated3g0%
Have a question about the nutrition data? Let us know.

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More Recipes By Nancy Singleton Hachisu


Nikujaga
Kenji Miura

This is one of those plain country dishes that really needs to be made with the best ingredients you can find. The key to keeping the freshness alive is not to overcook the meat — or potatoes, for that matter. You will be surprised at how the flavors click together to make a quick supper that is light yet warming.

See all stew recipes.

Click here to see Japanese Farm Food at Its Finest.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4-5 small onions, peeled (about 1 pound total)
  • 6 cups water
  • One 5-by-3-inch piece dried konbu*
  • One 2-inch square piece ginger, peeled and sliced crosswise into paper-thin pieces
  • 10-12 medium-sized, creamy-style potatoes (about 2 pounds total), peeled and cut into 2- to 3-inch chunks
  • 3 dried red peppers, such as japones or árbol
  • Two 9-ounce packages ito konnyaku or shirataki noodles, drained
  • 1/2 pound thinly sliced pork belly, cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup sake
  • 2/3 cup soy sauce
  • Cooked rice, for serving
  • Shichimi togarashi (7-spice powder) (optional)**

DIRECTIONS

Cut the ends off the onions, then again in half vertically. Set the onions, cut side down, on the chopping board, and slice crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Pour the water into a medium-sized heavy pot or casserole and slip in the onions, konbu, ginger, and potatoes. Break the dried red peppers in half and drop in the pot with the other ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a rolling simmer, and cook until the potatoes are almost done.

In the meantime, snip the rubber band off the ito konnyaku and cut the ball of noodles in half. Drop in a small pot of boiling water and parboil for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander before sliding the noodles in with the simmering potatoes.

Stir the meat into the pot when the potatoes are starting to soften but the centers still have resistance when poked with a thin bamboo skewer. Cook until the meat has almost lost its pink before swirling in the sake and soy sauce. Continue simmering until the potato centers are soft.

Serve in small individual bowls with a bowl of rice on the side. Season with 7-spice powder, if using.

Recipe Details

Adapted from "Japanese Farm Food" by Nancy Singleton Hachisu (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012)

Servings: 6
Cuisine: Japanese
Special Designations: Kid-friendly

Notes and Substitutions:

*Note: Konbu is a type of dried kelp that comes in long packages; buy good-looking, thick, folded sheets.

**Note: Shichimi togarashi is used on nabe (1-pot dishes) or hearty soups. It is readily available at Asian markets. Buy one that is roughly ground and has visible colors (not pulverized into a homogenous powder). Store in the refrigerator and replace every few months.