Day 362: Sukiyaki

This is our traditional New Year's Eve meal.  My hubby's family has been making this on New Year's for over 30 years.  A family friend lived in Japan for several years and learned to make it while he was there, so I can actually vouch for the authenticity of this one.  Since most of our family was in town for the week we decided to celebrate early.  It also meant I got to share the recipe with all of you.  It is a mixture of thinly sliced beef and vegetables simmered in soy sauce.

Sukiyaki
12"or 14" deep dutch oven
Sauce

2 cups soy sauce
4-6 cups water
1 1/2 -2 cups sugar
Pepper

Combine the sauce ingredients and adjust to taste.  You don't want it too strong or sweet.

Vegetables

Rice sticks or bean threads, soaked in water until softened (In a pinch you can use ramen noodles without the seasoning packet)
Bean sprouts
Bamboo shoots
Mushrooms, sliced
Chinese cabbage (Napa cabbage), torn
Green onions, sliced into strips lengthwise
Yellow onions, quartered
Tofu, cubed
4 lb. sirloin tip roast, sliced thin.

Heat some oil in a deep dutch oven over a full spread of coals. Add roast and cook in batches. Place vegetables and noodles in the dutch oven (It should be really full). Cover with sauce. Move about 1/4 of the coals from the bottom to the top and simmer until everything is tender. Serve with rice.

The Finished Product

The Review

Since this has been a tradition in our family forever, you can guess how good it is.  It is one of my favorite meals, bar none.  The only draw back to this meal is that it is expensive and time consuming.  But for a once a year celebration I can't complain.  The onions are my favorite part so I always make a ton of them.  Grade A.