Grow Your Shabu Shabu Garden

By Ashleigh Smith

What is a Shabu Shabu Garden, and what goes in it? Well first off it is a garden that provides a mix of ingredients ideal for a hot pot meal. A hot pot is an oriental cooking method where a pot of broth cooks in the middle of the table. This one pot meal is also known by several other names including nabemono, sukiyaki, or torinabe. Once your broth is ready, a series of ingredients may be cooked per the desires of each individual around the table or together as a group.

The most popular meat included is beef, but pork, chicken, octopus, crab, and others may be used as well. As for the vegetables, add whatever you like or think would be good. If you are new to hot pots or you want to try this dish the traditional way we recommend using some of the following:

• Dwarf Grey Sugar Snow Pea
• Ishikura Japanese Bunching Onion
• Maruba Santoh Chinese Cabbage
• Kyoto Red Carrot
• Tokinashi Daikon
• Orai All Season Spinach Hybrid
• Shungiku Chrysanthemum Green

You can purchase these varieties individually or as our Chef's Specialty Seed Assortment - Shabu Shabu Garden.
This unique dish originated in China, but it has become a favorite across many Asian cuisines both for taste and the fun social interactions it encourages. For your next family get together try this one pot meal filled with your favorite vegetables.