MSG Free 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 of fragrant broth at the center of the table, everyone cooking their own bites, the whole thing relaxed and communal. The broth here gets its depth from kombu, fresh ginger, and quality bone broth, building a clean, savory base without any flavor enhancers or additives that can sneak into store-bought versions. That matters a lot when you're trying to avoid processed glutamates, because traditional soy-based dipping sauces are usually a hard no. This recipe swaps in coconut aminos blended with fresh lemon juice, orange juice, and apple cider vinegar for a bright, tangy sauce that genuinely holds its own. Paper-thin ribeye swished through the simmering broth for barely thirty seconds comes out silky and tender, while napa cabbage, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, zucchini, and watercress round out the pot with color and texture. Every component is whole and recognizable, so you know exactly what's going into the meal. It's the kind of dinner that slows everyone down in the best possible way.
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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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