As soon as each morsel is ready, it is quickly fished out, dipped in a savory sauce, and devoured. If your family and friends are like mine, everyone is talking non-stop with great animation, trying to distract the attention of the others in order to go after the tastiest bits. In a big family, everybody knows that only the fastest survive. There is something primal in the appeal of cooking at the table, of sharing a meal from a communal pot. Nabemono, as the Japanese call hot pot dishes, naturally bring people together and warm them through.
Winter just doesn t stand a chance.
Because the impeccably fresh ingredients are lightly cooked in broth, nabemono are always full of flavor and nutrition with a minimum of fat. Best of all, the dish is literally thrown together, and everyone helps with the cooking. Pure genius particularly for a last-minute dinner party. As with pizza toppings, the flavor possibilities are endless. Generally, though, in my house the evening hot pot special is composed of whatever is in the fridge.