When my kids were small, I tried to incorporate vegetables in their favorite dishes and flavors. This simple trick really helps to introduce them to enjoy a variety of food at a young age. I’ve shared a number of kid-friendly recipes, and today we’re going to make another favorite kid-approved recipe – Nikumaki (肉巻き) or meat roll.
What is Nikumaki (Meat Roll)
Nikumaki is often made with thinly sliced beef or pork. The most common cut would be thinly sliced pork belly, pork loin, or beef rib eye. The paper-thin meat cooks really fast, so it’s an ideal cut for pan-searing.
The Filling
The filling for nikumaki is very versatile. You can include in-season vegetables or year-round vegetables you always have in the refrigerator. Here are some of the vegetables that pair well with the meat roll (the most common ones in bold).
Asparagus Bell pepper Cabbage Carrot Eggplant Green beans Gobo (burdock root) Iceburg lettuce Mizuna Okra Potato Shiso leaves Spinach Tomato Zucchini
Non-Veggie Fillings include:
Cheese Boiled egg Mushrooms (enoki, king oyster mushrooms, shimeji, shiitake) Nori
Today I will show you how to make Carrot Beef Rolls.
How to Prepare Carrot Beef Rolls
Carrot is almighty vegetable that works with almost every dish and it’s available year round. With a few Japanese pantry condiments, these delicious rolls can be made in a flash.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Thinly sliced beef (get “Shabu Shabu” beef) or slice your own beef Carrot Potato starch (cornstarch) Soy sauce Mirin
5 Easy Steps
Helpful Tips
Blanching carrots may seem extra work, but this ensures that the carrot inside beef is perfectly cooked. It’s the only way you can focus on searing the beef without overcooking it. Tightly roll up so the fillings won’t fall off. The starch will lock in all the juice from the meat while keeping it moist. Then after the sauce is added, it will help thicken the sauce and absorb it well. Shake the frying pan to coat the meat well with the sauce.
How to Serve Carrot Beef Rolls
This Carrot Beef Rolls recipe makes a fabulous main dish! For a healthy and balanced dinner, you just need to serve it with steamed rice, miso soup, and one or two more side dishes.
Chrysanthemum Greens and Tofu Salad Simmered Kabocha Japanese Pickled Cabbage
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram. Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on May 30, 2011. The images and the blog content were updated in March 2021.
