Mille-Feuille Nabe

Mille-feuille nabe is an incredibly easy Japanese hotpot that intricately layers Napa cabbage with thin slices of pork belly and is simmered in a savory dashi broth.

Course Soup

Cuisine Japanese

Keyword cabbage soup, Japanese hot pot, mille feuille nabe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 979kcal

Author Megan

Equipment

Ingredients

1 head Napa cabbage quartered and cleaned
1 ½ lb pork belly thinly sliced or beef
1 pack Shimeji mushrooms ends removed and cleaned
3 slices ginger peeled and thinly sliced from a 1-inch knob

Broth

4 cups dashi broth see below
2 tablespoons sake cooking sake
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon salt

Dipping Sauce

1 stalk green onion
Ponzu Sauce
Shichimi Togarashi for heat

Instructions

Create the broth. In a mixing bowl, combine the dashi, sake, mirin, soy sauce, and salt, and mix until combined.
Prep the cabbage. Cut the napa cabbage lengthwise into quarters. Carefully wash between the leaves.
Add the pork belly. Layer the pork belly between each of the leaves. Then slice the bottom core, and slice each wedge into 4 even pieces about 2 1/2 inches long. Try to keep the layers of cabbage stacked.
Prepare the pot with the cabbage. Pack the pot with each piece, working from the outer edges towards the center. Use the bottom thicker pieces for the outer edge of the pot to hold its shape. The cut side should be facing up so you can see all the layers. Be sure to tightly pack the pot.
Finish the pot. Place the shimeji mushrooms in the center. Place the thinly sliced ginger pieces between the layers. Pour the soup broth over the cabbage.
Cook. Heat the pot, covered, over medium-high heat until it boils. Once it reaches a boil, skim the scum off the surface. Then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pork belly is cooked through and the cabbage is tender.

Notes

If using dashi powder, use 1 teaspoon of dashi powder per 1 cup of boiling water.

See the What I Learned Testing This Recipe section for more guidance.

Nutrition