How do you cook with a Donabe?
- Don't heat up without food or liquid inside.
- Avoid rapid temperature change.
- When using, make sure the bottom surface is dry.
- When the pot is still hot, don't pour or soak in cold water.
- The best cooking heat is medium heat or lower.
- Once it's boiling, reduce heat to low to keep cooking.
What can you cook in a donabe?
Traditionally, donabes are used to cook everything from soup to rice. To get comfortable, I made a handful of recipes in each donabe: scallop and butter rice with chives, a tofu stew, a noodle soup, a whole steamed fish, and even a steamed chicken recipe that yielded some of the most tender, juiciest bites of chicken I’ve ever cooked.
Can you cook rice in a donabe?
Part of what makes a donabe an ideal vessel to cook rice in is its heat retention, breathability, and the slow build of heat in the chamber, per Takei Moore. “ [A donabe] provides a gradual then steady heating once it reaches its highest point,” she says. Moe’s recipe for donabe white rice is simple.
What is a donabe in Japanese cooking?
Every Japanese household has at least one donabe in its kitchen, and it's an important part of group meals, since a portable burner turns it into an instant hot pot. Using a donabe results in a one-pot meal. For busy Japanese people, it's an easy way to cook complete, nutritious meals quickly.
What are some tips for using a donabe?
If there aren't any instructions come with it, below are some basic tips to follow. Before using a newly-bought donabe, fill the pot with water about three-quarters full and add about a cup of leftover steamed rice or about 1/4 cup of rice. Then, simmer rice porridge on low heat for about 30 to 60 minutes.
Can you put a donabe on the stove?
A donabe is a thick Japanese clay pot, which is used to cook a hot pot. It can be cooked on stove top.
How do you use a donabe on an electric stove?
The donabe can be used in both the oven, on an open flame or ELECTRIC stove top. The unglazed outside must be COMPLETELY DRY before placing it on a burner or water in the porous clay will expand and crack the dish. Like all dishes, it should never be left empty on any type of heat.
How does a donabe work?
“I already knew how rice cooked in a donabe could taste wonderful, but this was just so striking.” The pot seemed almost magical to her, though she knew exactly how it worked — unglazed clay, which is porous, takes time to build up heat, and the donabe's thick walls distribute that heat gently, then cools down slowly.
Why you need a donabe?
All donabes can be used to make tasty one-pot meals. Japanese hot-pot is a great idea, of course. But you can also make tagines and French stews, too, and some donabes let you steam vegetables as you cook. There's even a donabe that specialises in smoking meat and vegetables.
How do you season a donabe?
How to season Iga DonabeMake sure the outer bottom of the donabe is dry before starting the process.Pour the water to about 70% of the donabe, and add cooked rice. ... Cover the donabe with lid and cook the rice over low to medium-low heat. ... Turn off the heat and let it cool down for about 1 hour.More items...
Is a donabe a Dutch oven?
But hold up, what's a donabe? It's a traditional Japanese cooking pot that's as gorgeous as it is functional. Made from special clay, the donabe's thick walls retain and diffuse heat evenly, allowing for delicate cooking. Think of it as Japan's elegant version of the Dutch oven.
Do you need to season donabe?
Because Iga-style donabe is made of porous clay, without seasoning the donabe, it might cause leaking or cracking. Therefore, we suggest that you season the donabe by making the porridge in it. It might sound like an extra step, but it's just a simple procedure in order for your donabe to last for many, many years.
Can I bake bread in a donabe?
Very very carefully open the lid (it's HOT!) and put the bread in the preheated Donabe, replace the lid and slip it back into the oven. 21. Turn the heat down to 480°F and bake the bread for 30 minutes with lid.
How do you clean the bottom of a donabe?
To clean the donabe, use mild dish soap with lukewarm water. Once cleaned, make sure to dry the bottom of the pot by placing the bottom part upside down to avoid the possible mildew to grow on the pot when it's stored. Also make sure that the bottom is dry before you set your donabe over heat.
What does cooking in clay do?
The clay generally takes longer to fully heat than a metal pot, but once it does, it retains that heat and allows for steady, gentle cooking. And clay has the unique advantage of being a porous material.
What is a heat diffuser for electric stove?
A heat diffuser is designed to evenly distribute heat across the bottom of a pan on the stove. A heat diffuser is a stovetop utensil which ensures that heat is evenly distributed across the bottom of a pan.
How do you clean the bottom of a donabe?
To clean the donabe, use mild dish soap with lukewarm water. Once cleaned, make sure to dry the bottom of the pot by placing the bottom part upside down to avoid the possible mildew to grow on the pot when it's stored. Also make sure that the bottom is dry before you set your donabe over heat.
What is a donabe steamer?
The donabe is designed to allow fat and oil to drain through the steam tray during cooking keeping food extra lean. Not only is is the donabie a great cooking tool but also makes a great table-top presentation. The “Mushi Nabe” can work as a portable “fridge” with the effect of the heat of vaporization.
What is Donabe?
Made of special clay, donabe is a century-old cooking utensil in Japan. In the modern days, these unique clay pots are most commonly used for hot pot dishes such as Shabu Shabu, but they are essentially a highly versatile tool for everyday cooking.
Why We Should Cook Rice in Donabe?
The taste and texture of the rice are everything, but here are other things to consider.
What Type of Donabe We Should Buy?
There are regular donabe that we use for hot pot dishes and soups or sometimes main dishes. You can use them for cooking rice, but in Japan, there are donabe specifically designed just for cooking rice. This type of donabe often has double lids, and that’s what you want to get if you wish to cook the dreamiest, fluffiest rice.
How to Season Donabe Before the First Use
I’ve shared a detailed step-by-step guide on how to care for your donabe. It’s incredibly useful to read through, so your precious earthenware pot can last you for a lifetime.
How to Cook Rice in Donabe
The cooking process is the same just as how you would cook rice in a pot over the stovetop.
How to Cook Rice in Donabe
A simple, step-by-step tutorial on How to Cook Rice in a Donabe, a Japanese earthenware pot, on the stove. Perfect rice every time!
More Recipes Using Donabe
I'm Nami, a Japanese home cook based in San Francisco. Have fun exploring the 800+ classic & modern Japanese recipes I share with step-by-step photos and How-To YouTube videos.
