Vegetarian Niku Jaga With Konjac Food

NIKU JYAGA (JAPANESE BEEF AND POTATO STEW)

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut each into 4 to 6 pieces, so they are relatively uniform in size. Bevel the edges of each piece with a vegetable peeler. Soak in cold water for about 10 minutes to remove some starch.
• Cut carrots in rangiri: Hold the knife at a diagonal, and rotate carrot quarter turns to cut irregular, multifaceted chunks. Cut each onion into 6 to 8 wedges, about 3/4 inch wide. Cut beef into 2-inch pieces.
• Prepare a drop-lid for a 3- or 4-quart heavy-bottomed pot: Cut a circle of parchment paper about 1 inch smaller than the diameter of the pot, and cut a 1/2-inch hole in its center.
• Drain and rinse potatoes. Add to pot with carrots, onions and 1 1/2 cups water (it will not fully cover the vegetables). Tuck kombu (if using) into the water. Bring to a boil, then discard kombu. Add soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar. Add beef, stirring to distribute.
• Place parchment lid directly on top of vegetables and liquid, and simmer - don't boil - stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until potatoes are very tender. Turn off heat, discard parchment, and rest for at least 30 minutes (overnight is even better) to allow the potatoes to soak up the seasoning. Reheat, and serve with white rice, or a frosty beer.

VEGETARIAN NIKU JAGA WITH KONJAC

Steps:

• Rub konjac in salt to soften and rinse it. Cut into cubes.
• Dip tofu in hot water to get rid of excess oil. Cut into cubes also.
• Cut carrots into chunks and potatoes into quarters.
• Dump all ingredients, including seasoning and water into rice cooker and cook under "rice" setting.
• Mine didn't stop cooking, so I turned it off after the potatoes and carrots were very soft and tender, about 30 minutes.

NIKU JAGA (JAPANESE BEEF STEW IN THE CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Put all into crock pot and cook on low 10-12 hours or on high 4-6 hours.
• Stir before serving.