NEGIMA

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Negima image

Wrapping one food with another is familiar, especially if meat, cheese, or vegetables make up the filling-think of ravioli, stuffed cabbage, or egg rolls. Making meat the wrapping is a nice role reversal, a neat twist that is extraordinary enough to allow a simple preparation to wow a crowd. Such is the case with the Japanese negima, in which beef is wrapped around chives or scallions, then brushed with soy sauce and grilled.

Yield makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 3

8 thin slices beef, chicken, veal, or pork, each about 3 inches wide and 5 to 6 inches long (about 1 1/4 pounds; see Note)
1/4 cup soy sauce
Green parts from about 2 dozen scallions

Steps:

  • Preheat a grill or broiler until quite hot.
  • Put the meat between two layers of wax paper or plastic wrap and pound it gently until about 1/8 inch thick. Brush one side of each piece of meat with a little soy sauce.
  • Cut the scallions into lengths about the same width as the meat and put a small bundle of them at one of the narrow ends of each slice. Roll the long way, securing the roll with a toothpick or two. (You can prepare the rolls in advance up to this point; cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before proceeding.) Brush the exterior of the roll with a little more soy sauce.
  • Grill until brown on all sides, a total of about 6 minutes for chicken, 4 to 5 minutes for veal or pork, 4 minutes or less for beef.
  • Chives also work well as a filling, as do small amounts of lightly cooked chopped spinach or chard; cooked chopped shiitake (or other) mushrooms; julienned and lightly cooked carrots or parboiled asparagus spears.

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