鍋物(なべもの) - Nabemono (one-pot dish)

Nabemono is a term for a dish cooked in one-pot right at the table. It is eaten from a large pot boiling over a portable stove that is set on the table. There are various kinds of one-pot dishes including sukiyaki, mizutaki, yosenabe, and shabu-shabu. These dishes are very popular in the winter season because people can get really warm by eating the hot foods straight from the boiling pot. It is not necessary to make elaborate preparations for nabemono dishes. All you have to do is to prepare warishita, a mixture of broth and other seasonings, cut ingredients such as meat, seafood, vegetables, and tofu and then arrange them on a platter.

食卓の上にこんろを置き、鍋をかけて煮ながら食べる料理を総称して鍋物または鍋料理といいます。鍋料理には、すき焼き・水炊き・寄せ鍋・しゃぶしゃぶなどがあります。煮えている鍋から熱い具を直接取って食べるため、体が暖まり、寒い季節には大変好まれます。準備も簡単で、だしを取って割り下(わりした)と呼ばれるつゆを作り、肉・魚・貝・野菜・豆腐などの材料を切って大皿に盛り付けるだけです。

Since there is not any particular rule about the ingredients to be used, you can choose your favorite ingredients. In addition, it is quite easy to adjust the amount to be prepared according to the portions required. For this reason nabemono dishes are suitable for occasions on which many people sit around a table such as family gatherings, parties, and so forth.

材料の組み合わせにこれといった決まりはなく、好みに合わせて選ぶことができます。しかも調理する分量を人数に合わせて調整することが容易にできるため、大人数で食卓を囲むパーティーなどに適しています。