Sukiyaki is a quick dinner amid holiday hustle and bustle
Looking for a quick meal at this busy time of year? Try this sukiyaki (Japanese beef and soy sauce).
In Japan, sukiyaki is a one-dish meal made right at the table. It’s a great dinner for when you’re in a hurry. The cooking can be done in 5 minutes.
Prepare all the ingredients in advance by boiling the noodles and cutting and arranging the remaining ingredients on a platter in order of use. Then bring the colorful plate to the table and cook. An electric frying pan or wok works well here. You can enjoy the aromas as the food cooks.
Or, if you prefer, simply prepare the dish in the kitchen and serve on individual plates. Remove from the pan and serve immediately for the freshest taste.
Helpful hints:
A quick way to slice green onions is to snip them with a scissors.
Sake can be substituted for the dry sherry. Either one can be bought in small splits. Or add 2 more tablespoons soy sauce instead of the alcohol.
Shopping list:
To buy: ½ pound sirloin, flank or skirt steak, 1 small package shiitake mushrooms, 1 bag (10 ounces) washed, ready-to-eat spinach, 1 small bunch green onions, 1 small package Chinese noodles or angel hair pasta, 1 small bottle sesame oil, 1 small bottle low-sodium soy sauce and 1 small bottle dry sherry.
Staples: Fat-free, low-salt chicken broth, sugar, onion and black peppercorns
Tribune Content Agency
Place a large saucepan filled with water on to boil. Mix chicken broth, soy sauce and sherry together in a small bowl and set aside. Boil noodles 2 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain and divide between two dinner plates.
Remove visible fat from steak and cut into thin strips, about 2 inches long and ¼ to ½ inch wide.
At the table, heat sesame oil in an electric wok or frying pan or over a portable burner. Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Add steak and toss in pan about 30 seconds. Remove to a plate. Add onion and cook 3 minutes. Add half the chicken broth mixture and stir. Add mushrooms and cook 30 seconds. Add spinach, green onions and remaining sauce and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Return steak to skillet and toss with other ingredients. Season with pepper to taste. Remove from pan and serve over noodles. Spoon all the sauce from the pan over the top.
Per serving: 672 calories, 69.4g carbohydrates, 51.4g protein, 21.1g fat (6.4g saturated), 108mg cholesterol, 733mg sodium, 7.3g fiber. Calories from fat 28%.