As usual, I'm arriving late to the party; the Hot Pot party to be more specific. Many people know the fun and ease of using a hot pot. There is a very long tradition of families using a hot pot for meals, more recently, people hold hot pot parties. I've recently purchased a hot pot for one-person meals and have found it to be a great way to make easy, interesting, and healthier meals for myself.
Hot pot is traditional Asian communal dining tradition as well as a modern dining experience with friends and family. What I've learned is that a pot of simmering water or broth is placed in the middle of the table. A variety of fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood are placed around the table. The family members add their chosen items to add to the simmering pot with the small pieces of meat and seafood simmer for a longer time than small bits of vegetables.
Why I purchased a hot pot
- Portable - to cook ramen noodles and broth in settings other than my stove top
- Meal variety - I get in a meal rut with a lot of macaroni and spaghetti. I crave something different
- Health reasons - a desire to consume more bone broth and leafy greens
- I am able to make my own bone broth. If I continue to do so, I'll have my own broth rather than store-bought
- Quick and easy meals
- Hot meals at work that aren't ordering out or leftovers
- Increasing fresh vegetable in my diet - vegetables that I hope to continue to grow; kale, bok choy, cabbage, and more
I chose the 1.7 quart Dezin hot pot for it's size, positive reviews, and stainless steel liner (as opposed to non-stick coating). It also has off, low, high, and warm settings. I wanted something portable and easy-to-clean for the days I take it to work. I replace the water that is called for with two cups of broth that comes to a boil very quickly. The meal is as easy as adding ramen noodles, vegetables, hard boiled eggs and stirring occasionally. The seasoning packet is added after the three minutes and when the heat is turned off. Personally, I only add a fraction of the packet (approximately half) because it tastes too salty if I add the whole packet. Besides, with vegetables and broth, the packet isn't as necessary for flavoring.
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| My Dezin Hot Pot |
I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. In my personal journey, I am looking for a way to make small and slow changes to healthier eating. I am learning that bone broth, dark leafy greens, and vegetables are a much better choice for my health than the large amount of carbs I tend to consume.
Related Links:
This is an extremely descriptive article and video that shows how delicious and fresh hot pot cooking can be. I encourage you to take a peek for a better description than I am able to give. Hot Pot 101: A Chef's Guide to Hosting a Hot Pot Party at Home.
A variety of Hot Pot brands and sizes are available on Amazon. Start your search here. Some styles come with a steamer and some come with their own countertop, electric burner.
intro image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 - artist Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan
