Osaka Style Sushi Recipes

Steps:

• Cooking at the table: Put the empty sukiyaki pan or large cast-iron skillet over the heat source (or use an electric skillet) at the table. Start to melt suet in the pan over medium heat, using long chopsticks (or a fondue fork) to move it around so the entire pan bottom is well greased. The fat should smoke slightly. Quickly sprinkle about 3 tablespoons of sugar over the bottom and continue moving the fat in the pan (it should not be entirely melted yet.) The sugar will caramelize, turning brown and sticky. At this point, add about 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup sake. There will be some sputtering (but this helps entertain guests). Add sake, stir; add dark soy sauce, stir. Begin the cooking by laying a few slices of beef into the pan. The beef should take about 1 minute to cook. Add more beef, switch to vegetables-including shirataki, tofu and fu-then alternate back to beef. Each diner should put into the pan whatever he or she likes. Add water (or half water/half sake) to the pan occasionally, as the sauce is reduced. The ingredients should not swim in the sauce; the liquid should just keep the pan bottom covered.
• Set each place with an individual dipping bowl into which an egg has been broken. This alone is the dipping sauce. (If you serve a whole egg at each place, which is attractive, provide a saucer or some vessel for the empty shells.) Each diner mixes the egg with chopsticks or fork. As with the other nabemono, long-handled fondue forks are best for anyone who is a little shy about using chopsticks, but dinner forks will do in a pinch.
• Before eating, dip cooked meat and vegetables into the egg; the thin coating of egg "cooks" on as soon as it is in contact with the hot food. There is no other garnish or relish. To end the meal, serve hot cooked rice, mild pickles, and Japanese tea as a final course. Serve hot sake or cold beer up to rice course.
• Suggested Sake: Rich Sake
• *Have your butcher cut well-marbled sirloin beef into very thin slices. .
• **Buy grilled bean curd (yakidofu) or use any type of bean surd (tofu) available. .

Steps:

• Combine the rice, cream sauce and gorgonzola in a large bowl until the rice is coated and creamy. Form 1 heaping tablespoon of rice into a small sushi-like cylinder. Repeat to make 12 pieces. Place a small dollop of the butter on each cylinder and top with a piece of asparagus, pressing gently into the rice. Refrigerate the rice cylinders until set, about 10 minutes.
• Wrap a slice of steak around each rice piece and season with salt and pepper. Serve with additional sauce for dipping.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until tender, about 1 minute. Add the heavy cream and simmer until reduced by half. Whisk in the gorgonzola until it melts. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Brush the steak lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Grill the steak, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare, turning once. Remove from the heat and cover with foil. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
• Meanwhile, combine the sugar, paprika and onion powder in a small bowl. Reserve 4 teaspoons and store the rest in an airtight container. (Seasoning will keep in the pantry for up to 6 months.) Mix the stick of softened butter with 3 teaspoons of the seasoning in a small bowl; cover and refrigerate.
• Toss the asparagus with the remaining 1 teaspoon barbecue seasoning mix and 1 tablespoon olive oil; add salt and pepper to taste. Cook the asparagus in a grill pan over medium heat until tender, turning once, about 6 minutes total. Reserve 4 stalks for the sushi.
• Reserve a quarter of the steak for the sushi; cut the rest into -inch-thick slices. Top with the gorgonzola cream sauce, reserving about 1/2 cup for sushi, and serve with the asparagus and some barbecue butter.