In a shallow earthenware bowl, the vibrant green Fava beans pop against the rich, glossy simmered soy-based broth. Melt-in-mouth meat and glistening Shitake mushrooms complete the earthy spectacle. Finished with a sprinkle of fresh green onions and a side of pickled radish for color contrast.

Nikujaga-inspired Slow Cooker Fava Beans

Name: Nikujaga-inspired Slow Cooker Fava Beans
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 375 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 1 cup Fava Beans cleaned and shelled; 1/2 pound Beef Stew Meat cubed; 4 Shitake Mushrooms fresh or dried; 2 Spring Onions finely chopped; 2 small Potatoes cubed; 1 Carrots sliced; 1 tablespoon Sake; 1 tablespoon Mirin; 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce; 1 teaspoon Sugar; Dash Salt; 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil

A heartening, Instagrammable balance of taste and simplicity.

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 360 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Slow Cooking

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily recipe · May 17, 2024

A little about this dish

We're combining the subtle elegance of Japanese cuisine with the comfort of slow-cooking in this unique dish. The star of the show is seasonally fresh Fava beans, alongside other Japanese staples for a wholesome and hearty slow-cooked delight.

Ingredients (for 2)

Fava beans — 1 cup — cleaned and shelled
Beef stew meat — 1/2 pound — cubed
Shitake mushrooms — 4 — fresh or dried
Spring onions — 2 — finely chopped
Potatoes — 2 small — cubed
Carrots — 1 — sliced
Sake — 1 tablespoon
Mirin — 1 tablespoon
Soy sauce — 2 tablespoons
Sugar — 1 teaspoon
Salt — Dash
Vegetable oil — 1 tablespoon

Preparation

Step 1 — 🥩🍄🍳

Heat oil in a pan and brown the beef on all sides. Soak the shitake mushrooms if they are dried or just slice them if they are fresh.
Step 2 — 🥘🥕🍄

Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker along with shelled fava beans, cubed potatoes, sliced carrots, and mushrooms.
Step 3 — 🍶🥣🧂

In a separate bowl, mix together the sake, mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and a pinch of salt.
Step 4 — 🥣🍲⏲️

Pour the prepared sauce over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Set to cook on low heat for 6 hours, stirring occasionally for even flavor distribution.
Step 5 — 🍛🌱🍽️

Serve your dish hot, garnished with freshly chopped spring onions on top.

A final fox tip

Japanese soy sauce intensifies the umami in this dish while the Mirin balances it with a sweet note. While traditionally this Japanese classic uses potatoes, substituting Fava beans adds an exciting twist. Bring your kids in on the fun by letting them help with cleaning and shelling the Fava beans.