Mizutaki (Chicken Hot Pot) 水炊き

Mizutaki is a Japanese Chicken Hot Pot with chicken, assorted vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu simmered in a light kombu dashi broth. Dip the freshly cooked ingredients in the savory and citrusy ponzu sauce. It’s one of the best wintery foods to enjoy!

What is Mizutaki?

Mizu (水) means water in Japanese and taki means simmering. As the name suggests, mizutaki is a Japanese hot pot dish where the ingredients, mainly chicken, are cooked in water or simple kombu dashi without any seasoning.

Like other hot pot dishes, mizutaki is typically cooked communally at the table on a portable butane burner. It’s a treat on a wintery day when you enjoy good food and conversations with family and friends over a warm hot pot meal.

Mizutaki vs. Shabu Shabu: What’s the Difference?

At first glance, mizutaki may remind you of the most popular shabu shabu. Both hot pots are quite similar, but here are the main differences:

Shabu Shabu

• The base of the soup broth is kombu dashi.
• Thinly sliced beef or pork is cooked in the broth along with other ingredients.

Mizutaki

• The base of the soup broth is either water or kombu dashi.
• Chicken is cooked for a long time to make the soup broth prior to the meal.
• Minimal ingredients are used so they won’t overpower the rich, savory chicken soup.

A Regional Hot Pot from Kyushu and Kansai (Osaka)

Mizutaki originated mainly in the Kyushu and Kansai (Osaka) regions, but each region has its own version with different cooking methods.

Fukuoka/Kyushu-Style

• Originally, water was used to cook the chicken. For a richer flavor, chicken bones were cooked in the water hours ahead to make the stock/broth. Due to this long cooking time, Kyushu-style mizutaki is known for its cloudy white chicken soup (白濁スープ).
• Uses bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and chicken meatballs.
• Other common ingredients include green cabbage (less moisture than napa cabbage), shungiku (chrysanthemum greens), long green onion (negi), tofu, and shiitake mushrooms.
• Dip in ponzu and yuzu kosho.
• Noodles are added to the soup at the end of the meal.

Osaka/Kansai-Style

• Kombu dashi (water and dried kelp) is used for the broth.
• Chicken is used, but you can find pork as the main protein.
• Other ingredients include napa cabbage, shungiku (chrysanthemum greens), mizuna, spinach, long green onion (negi), tofu, aburaage (deep-fried tofu pouch), shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, daikon radish, carrot, and vermicelli (malony glass noodles). They vary slightly from home to home.
• Dip in ponzu, momiji oroshi (grated daikon with chili pepper), and green onion.
• Rice or noodles are added to the soup at the end of the meal.

How About the Rest of Japan?

Kansai-style mizutaki is eaten throughout Japan these days, and Kyushu-style is specifically called Hakata mizutaki (博多水炊き).

How to Make Mizutaki

As my mother spent most of her childhood in Osaka (her parents are from Nara prefecture), she cooked Kansai-style mizutaki when I was growing up.

In order to make a rich, savory, and flavorful soup for the hot pot, I add bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to the kombu dashi to simmer for 30 minutes. I also add boneless, skinless chicken thighs so it’s easier for my children to eat.

Here’s the quick breakdown on how to make mizutaki; see the recipe card below for the full instructions:

1. Make cold brew kombu dashi.
2. Pre-boil the chicken to remove impurities.
3. Cook the chicken in kombu dashi to make a flavorful broth.
4. Cook the vegetables and other ingredients in the broth.

Can I Use an Electric Hot Pot?

While I prefer using a donabe to make mizutaki, you can also use an electric hot pot to make this dish. I own the highly reviewed Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet, which you can get for $159 at Amazon. I use it as both a hot pot and skillet and it’s great for serving a big group. That’s why it earned my top pick in my roundup of electric hot pots!

Sake Pairing: Sho Chiku Bai Shirakabegura Kimoto Junmai

We normally drink sake chilled but for this hearty chicken hot pot, we paired it with warmed Sho Chiku Bai Shirakabegura Kimoto Junmai sake. We have previously enjoyed the sake with macaroni gratin, and it was just as delightful with a hot pot!

Shirakabegura Kimoto Junmai is unique as it’s made with kimoto, a traditional process for creating sake yeast starter. Kimoto is more complex than other methods but results in a superior product. This is one of our favorite sakes as it has great texture and flavor, and goes well with most Japanese foods.

After the sake is warmed and poured in the cup, the aroma really shines through compared to when it’s served cold. The sake smells fragrant and bold, like a flower in full bloom. Warming the sake enhances the complex flavor and adds layers to an already incredible drink.

At the first sip, the sake feels velvety and creamy. The flavors in the mouth are fruity, earthy tones, with a smooth finish. The liquid immediately clears the palate and you can taste the delicate characteristics and umami of the sake. What’s great is that the sake doesn’t overpower the food; instead, it accentuates it.

When the warm liquid goes down the throat, it feels like sitting next to a space heater in a cold room and warms you up immediately. We loved the pairing and hope you’ll enjoy Shirakabegura Kimoto Junmai sake with your next hot pot gathering.

Pro Tip: How to Heat Sake

Warm sake is especially delicious on a cold night with a hot pot. Luckily, warming sake is straightforward. Here is how to do it:

Step 1

Fill sake in a tokkuri (sake server) until 1 inch from the top while boiling water in a pot or kettle. I do not recommend warming sake in the microwave.

Step 2

Pour boiled water in a bowl or container, we use an insulated container (aka kid’s large lunch jar) so the temperature doesn’t drop too fast.

Step 3

Insert the tokkuri in the container and measure the temperature. It’s important to use boiled water and not warm water because the alcohol content will escape if heated for too long.

Step 4

After 2–3 minutes, the sake should be around 104ºF. Warm sake can be enjoyed anywhere from 105ºF (40ºC) to 130ºF (55ºC) and it’ll actually taste different at 110, 120, and 130 degrees F. Taste test and see what temperature is your personal preference.

Note: The boiling point of alcohol is much lower than water at 173ºF (78ºC) so heating sake above 131ºF (55ºC) is not recommended.

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

• Kombu (Dried Kelp) – Kombu is the MOST IMPORTANT ingredient that defines the authentic and sophisticated Japanese flavor. If you’re new to Japanese cooking, I recommend learning more about kombu and using it for this hot pot. Soup broth made with kombu kelp is subtle yet filled with umami. It has a taste that you can’t quite describe!
• Chicken – Chicken thighs have more flavor that helps to make really good soup stock for the hot pot. Thighs are preferred over chicken breasts, especially if we’re not cooking chicken bones for hours. For vegan/vegetarian, simply skip it and add meat substitutes, tofu, and more vegetables.
• Vegetables – Use what you can get but keep it simple. Use ingredients that do not overpower the delicious chicken soup. Cabbage, leeks, bok choy, etc. are great.
• Mushrooms – Feel free to use any kind of mushrooms including enoki mushrooms, button mushrooms, and cremini mushrooms.
• Tofu – You can skip or use aburaage (deep-fried tofu pouch).

Enjoy Mizutaki with Ponzu Dipping Sauce

Once all the ingredients are simmered in broth and cooked through, you can pick them up from the hot pot and dip in the tangy sauce called ponzu (ポン酢) made with citrus and soy sauce. You can add garnish and condiments to the ponzu like chopped scallions, yuzu kosho, and shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice).

If you can’t find ponzu in your local Japanese or Asian grocery store, you can make this ponzu sauce at home. I make and keep this versatile sauce all the time in my refrigerator. Even though I can get a bottle of ponzu at a Japanese grocery store, homemade ponzu sauce is really easy to make and delicious.

Unlike other hot pot that contains seasonings, chicken-based soup broth won’t become salty after simmering for a long time, and it only tastes better! With simple ingredients and a little bit of preparation, you will have a steamy, soul-comforting chicken hot pot to enjoy!

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Mizutaki (Japanese Chicken Hot Pot)

4.80 from 20 votes

Mizutaki is a Japanese Chicken Hot Pot in which chicken, assorted vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu are cooked in a light kombu dashi broth. Dip the freshly cooked ingredients in the savory and citrusy ponzu sauce. It‘s one of the best wintery foods to enjoy!

Print Pin

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 50 minutes mins

Optional Resting Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1.5 lb napa cabbage (roughly ¼ head or 8 leaves)
• ▢ 1 Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) (or use 2 green onions/scallions)
• ▢ ⅔ carrot (3.5 oz, 100 g)
• ▢ 6 stalks mizuna (Japanese mustard green) (3 oz, 85 g; or other leafy greens)
• ▢ 1 medium-firm tofu (momen dofu) (14 oz, 397 g)
• ▢ 1 package maitake mushrooms (3.5 oz, 100 g; or other mushrooms)
• ▢ 1 package shimeji mushrooms (3.5 oz, 100 g; or other mushrooms)
• ▢ 1.3 lb bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (roughly 3 pieces; if you don’t have a butcher knife at home, ask the butcher to cut into smaller pieces; skip for vegan/vegetarian)
• ▢ 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (roughly 2 pieces; skip for vegan/vegetarian)

For the Soup Stock

• ▢ 5 cups water
• ▢ 1 piece kombu (dried kelp) (0.2 oz, 5 g; 3 x 3 inches, 7.6 x 7.6 cm per piece)
• ▢ 2 Tbsp sake (I used Sho Chiku Bai Classic Junmai)
• ▢ 2 slices ginger

For the Dipping Sauce

• ▢ ponzu
• ▢ green onions/scallions (chopped)
• ▢ yuzu kosho (Japanese citrus chili paste) (optional)
• ▢ shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice) (for a spicy taste)

Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Gather all the ingredients.
  

To Make the Kombu Dashi

• In a large donabe (earthenware pot, or any large, shallow pot), add 5 cups water and 1 piece kombu (dried kelp) to make cold brew kombu dashi. Set aside while you prep the chicken.
  

To Prepare the Chicken

• Use a butcher knife, cut 1.3 lb bone-in skin-on chicken thighs into 2-inch, bite-size pieces. You can ask the butcher to cut it into smaller pieces as well.
  
• Cut 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs into smaller bite size pieces (roughly 2 x 2 inches square).
  
• Fill a medium pot with water and add the bone-in, skin-on chicken thigh pieces. Turn on the heat to medium low.
  
• Bring the water to a boil and cook for 1 minute and discard the water. Rinse the chicken, especially around the bone area, under lukewarm water. Don’t use cold water, as the fat will solidify. Once the chicken pieces are rinsed, put them on a plate.
  

To Cook the Chicken

• In the cold brew kombu dashi (including the kombu), add the chicken thigh pieces you just rinsed.
  
• Also add the boneless, skinless chicken thigh pieces, 2 Tbsp sake, and 2 slices ginger.
  
• Bring it to a boil over medium heat.
  
• Once boiling, skim the scum and foam that rise to the surface of the broth. Discard the kombu.
  
• Reduce the heat to medium low and cook covered for 30 minutes. During this time, start preparing other ingredients (vegetables, etc.; see the next section). After 30 minutes, remove and discard the ginger slices. Keep the pot covered. If you’re preparing ahead of time, you can keep it for 1–2 hours at room temperature until you’re ready to serve.
  

To Prepare Hot Pot Ingredients (While Cooking the Chicken)

• Cut 1.5 lb napa cabbage into smaller bites and place them on a large platter.
  
• Cut 1 Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) diagonally into pieces ½ inch thick.
  
• Peel and discard the outer skin of ⅔ carrot. Then, thinly peel the carrot into thin strips.
  
• Cut 6 stalks mizuna (Japanese mustard green) into 2-inch pieces and cut 1 medium-firm tofu (momen dofu) into 9 pieces.
  
• Cut off and discard the bottoms of 1 package maitake mushrooms and 1 package shimeji mushrooms.
  
• Place all the chopped ingredients on a big platter or several plates. When the hot pot broth is ready, you can bring them to the table and have everyone cook together.

To Cook the Mizutaki (at the table)

• From the platter of ingredients, you can add the tough/dense ingredients to the pot first. Add the napa cabbage, mostly the tough white parts. Then add the tofu, mushrooms, and long green onion.
  
• Add the carrot strips in the middle and cover to cook for 10 minutes.
  
• Open the lid and add the leafy vegetables, which will cook for a few minutes until tender and fully cooked.
  
• Add a little ponzu sauce in a small bowl, and if you‘d like, add chopped green onions/scallions, yuzu kosho (Japanese citrus chili paste), and shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice). Dip the cooked ingredients in the ponzu sauce before eating. As you eat the cooked ingredients, continue to add the raw ingredients to the pot and simmer them until fully cooked. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition

Calories: 566 kcal · Carbohydrates: 16 g · Protein: 55 g · Fat: 31 g · Saturated Fat: 7 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 231 mg · Sodium: 254 mg · Potassium: 1282 mg · Fiber: 6 g · Sugar: 6 g · Vitamin A: 5513 IU · Vitamin C: 63 mg · Calcium: 357 mg · Iron: 4 mg

Author: Namiko Hirasawa Chen

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: chicken, hot pot, nabe

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