Gut Friendly Coconut Aminos Shabu-Shabu
Shabu-shabu is one of those meals that feels like a special occasion even on a Tuesday night — a bubbling pot at the table, everyone cooking their own bites, the whole thing warm and communal and deeply satisfying. This version is built around a deeply nourishing bone broth base, steeped with kombu, fresh ginger, and scallion to coax out a clean, mineral-rich flavor that's gentle on digestion without sacrificing any depth. The coconut aminos dipping sauce is the real secret weapon here — bright with fresh lemon and orange juice, a little tangy from apple cider vinegar, and completely free of the soy and additives that make traditional versions a no-go for sensitive systems. Paper-thin ribeye swished through simmering broth for barely thirty seconds stays silky and tender, while napa cabbage, zucchini, carrots, and two kinds of mushrooms round out the pot with fiber and variety. Every ingredient earns its place, and nothing here is working against you. It's the kind of recipe that proves eating for your gut doesn't mean eating boring food — it means being more intentional about what goes in the pot, and this one gets it exactly right.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the broth
- 6 cups bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 2 cups water
- 1 piece kombu (about 4 inches / 10 cm), wiped clean
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces (green tops only for lower fodmap; white parts fine for aip)
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
For the hot pot
- 1 ½ lb beef ribeye or sirloin, sliced paper-thin (about 1/16 inch; ask your butcher or partially freeze and slice yourself)
- ½ small napa cabbage (about 4 cups), cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced on the diagonal, ¼ inch thick
- 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick
- 4 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced
- 4 oz enoki mushrooms, root end trimmed, separated into small clusters
- 1 bunch watercress or baby bok choy, trimmed
For the dipping sauce
- ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
For serving
- 1 scallion, green top only, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the bone broth, water, kombu, sliced ginger, and scallion pieces in a large pot. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and steep for 15 minutes, until the broth is fragrant and lightly savory.
- 2
Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove and discard the kombu, ginger, and scallion pieces. Season the broth with 1 tsp fine sea salt, taste, and adjust. Transfer the pot to a portable burner set at the table, or keep it on the stovetop over low heat — the broth should stay at a gentle simmer throughout the meal.
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