Nikujaga (Japanese Meat and Potato Stew)

Meat and potatoes simmered with the sweetened flavor of soy sauce. You’ll love the taste and texture of the potatoes, which have soaked in the umami of the other ingredients!

• by Yuko Ihara

Nikujaga is a type of simmered dish in which ingredients are cooked in a seasoned broth until tender. Its name comes from its main ingredients: "niku" (meat) and "jagaimo" (potatoes). The dish is typically made with either beef or pork, which adds richness and depth of flavor, making it hearty and satisfying. In Japan, Nikujaga is a staple home-cooked dish, but it is also a popular menu item at “izakaya” (Japanese-style pubs) and casual eateries. Additionally, it is widely available as a ready-made side dish, making it a convenient and well-loved option for takeout.

In many Japanese simmered dishes, soy sauce is the key ingredient that defines the flavor. The richness and aroma of soy sauce, combined with the sweetness of ingredients like sugar, create a well-balanced and mellow taste that complements both the meat and potatoes. Additionally, as the potatoes absorb the broth, they take on a deep soy sauce color, enhancing their appearance and making the dish look even more appetizing.

Although it’s also possible to simmer in a pot, doing so can cause the ingredients to pile atop each other, preventing the broth from distributing evenly. Additionally, as the ingredients move and collide in the simmering liquid, the potatoes may break apart. Using a fry pan instead ensures that the broth coats everything evenly, reducing the risk of the ingredients falling apart.

Simmered dishes turn out even more flavorful if you allow time for the residual heat to cool off. This is because, while cooling, the stew ingredients can further soak up the broth. Once the simmering is done, remove the fry pan from the stove and give it a chance to cool. If you want to eat it warm, heat the Nikujaga a bit more on the stove following the cooling process.

beef sirloin (thin-sliced) - 200g (7.05 oz.)
potatoes - 5（600g/21.16oz.）
onion - 1 (200g / 7.05 oz.)
carrot - 1（150g/5.29 oz.)

sake (cooking sake) - 2 Tbsp
water - 250ml (8.45 fl. oz.)
mirin - 3 Tbsp
sugar - 1 Tbsp
Kikkoman Soy Sauce - 3 Tbsp
cooking oil - 1 Tbsp

Combine Nikujaga with crunchy, fragrant fresh vegetables in a pita pocket. The spiciness of mustard and aroma of cumin go well with Nikujaga. You can also use other types of bread to make a sandwich.

Serve the Nikujaga with a generous amount of leafy greens for a salad-style dish. Sprinkle with almonds and cheese for a delicious variety of textures and flavors!

Japanese sake is commonly used in cooking “washoku” (Japanese cuisine). It’s useful in eliminating the odors of certain ingredients, as well as enhancing dishes with richer, fuller flavor.

For more information about Sake (Cooking Sake), please see our Glossary page.

Mirin is a type of alcohol produced from mochi rice, and has been used as a seasoning for a long time in Japanese cuisine to sweeten dishes. Not only is it used to sweeten, but it gives dishes a pleasant aroma, and in the case of simmered dishes, helps prevent simmered ingredients from breaking apart.

For more information about Mirin, please see our Glossary page.

You can use steak-cut beef and slice it diagonally into thin pieces (“sogigiri”). If you have a choice, opt for a fattier cut, as it will result in a more tender bite.

You can make Nikujaga in the same way by using meats like chicken, pork or ground meat. When using ground meat, you can cook with it as is, but when using other types of meat, be sure to prepare them for cooking by thin-slicing them.

Having lived in England and the U.S., Yuko Ihara is well-versed in a wide range of culinary genres. As a culinary researcher, she creates dishes for magazines and books, develops corporate menus, and also engages in product development and food consulting. She introduces easy-to-follow tips on how to make delicious food at home, emphasizing the importance of seasonality and healthful eating. When travelling, she loves to search for delicious vegetables and ingredients.

Instagram: @iharayukoo