Shabu-shabu is one of those communal, swish-it-yourself hot pot experiences that feels both effortless and a little special — the kind of meal that slows everyone down and makes dinner feel like an event. A deeply savory bone broth is steeped with kombu, fresh ginger, and scallion until fragrant, creating a clean, mineral-rich base that does most of the heavy lifting. Paper-thin ribeye or sirloin gets swished through the simmering pot for barely thirty seconds, coming out silky and tender every single time. Napa cabbage, carrots, zucchini, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, and a handful of watercress or bok choy round out the spread with color and texture. The real star of the dipping sauce is coconut aminos — it delivers that deep, slightly sweet umami punch you want without any soy, making it a smart swap that works beautifully here. Because you're building everything from scratch with whole, straightforward ingredients, there's no guesswork about what's hiding in a store-bought sauce or broth. Set it all up in the middle of the table and let everyone cook at their own pace — this one is as fun to make as it is to eat.
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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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