Japanese Spicy Hot Pot Base (Akakara nabe inspired)

• servings: 2 servings
• total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 tbsp Chuuka Fu Dashi (can substitute chicken bouillon)

5 tbsp soy sauce

5 tbsp cooking sake

1 1/2 tbsp mirin

1/2 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp gochujang

1 tbsp tobanjan

2 cloves crushed garlic

3 tbsp honey

2 tbsp ground sesame seeds (can substitute whole)

2 cups water

Directions

Mix all the ingredients except for water until everything is dissolved

Add to pot along with the water and simmer

Add in the ingredients that take longer to cook (ex: daikon, chicken, mushrooms, vegetable stems) and simmer until mostly cooked through (5-10 mins)

Add in the rest of your ingredients and cover until cooked through. These should be things that cook fast (sliced meats, tofu, leafy vegetables); usually only takes 3-5 minutes until ready.

Note: You can adjust the spiciness level by changing the amount of gochujang/tobanjan!

Ingredient suggestions: napa cabbage, shungiku, mushrooms, green onions, daikon, sliced pork/beef, dumplings, tofu. For leafy vegetables like napa cabbage/shungiku, separate the stems from the leafy parts and cook the stems first.