If you say hot pot, most people imagine simply throwing a bit of meat and a few vegetables into some hot soup, sitting around, and waiting for it to be done. While this isn't wrong, it's also not the whole story. Hot pot is enjoyed the world over as a dish to share with family and friends, and no two cultures do it exactly the same way. Hot pot is a common sight in Asia, with each country putting its own little twist on the basic formula. You could try a Taiwanese yin-yang pot, with enough room for two kinds of broth. If you wanted something with a little more flavor and a lot more meat, you could try Japanese sukiyaki, cooking your raw ingredients in its rich soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine mixture. On the streets of Malaysia, you can enjoy lok lok, a type of hot pot where ingredients such as broccoli and quail eggs are served in the form of skewers. And if you aren't watching your waistline, many eateries offer to serve the ingredients deep-fried as well. |
