Earthenware Pot for Soups and Stews - 1/2 Person

CLAY POT FOR SOUPS AND STEWS - 1/2 PERSONS

Aromatic soup and stew for table service
With its beautiful curves and texture, the Miso-shiru Nabe is designed for daily preparation of soups and stews. The practical body is perfect for quickly serving soups at the table. Additionally, thanks to its very thick body, the Miso-Shiru Nabe is ideal for slow cooking dishes such as stews, braised meats, or even baked beans. This donabe can be heated without any liquid inside, so you can also sauté, stir-fry, or roast ingredients in it. The gentle and even heat distribution of the Miso-Shiru Nabe allows ingredients to slowly develop umami (savory flavors) without breaking down.

The Miso-Shiru Nabe retains heat and stays warm for a long time.
Its very thick body gives the Miso-Shiru Nabe an incredibly high heat retention capacity. The food inside the donabe continues to cook for a while after the heat is turned off and stays warm for a long time. You can bring the hot Miso-Shiru Nabe to the table, and even after 15 minutes, you can enjoy the soup or stew hot.

Miso-Shiru Nabe means “miso soup pot”
Rice and miso soup form the heart of the traditional Japanese meal. This donabe was named Miso-Shiru Nabe because it is the ideal tool to cook and serve something that warms the heart every day.

Design details for more efficient cooking and easier use
This donabe is designed to be easy to carry and clean. You will also notice that the lid can slide slightly between the edges of the donabe (meaning it is not very tight). This way, you can control the amount of steam you want to let escape by sliding the lid during cooking, if needed. There is also a small notch that allows you to rest a ladle on the edge for serving.

THE TRUE "TERROIR" OF IGA

The Iga region, where this donabe is made, was once the bed of Lake Biwa about 4 million years ago. The clay from this area is naturally very heat-resistant and has been used for open-flame cooking for hundreds of years. This clay contains a large amount of prehistoric fossilized microorganisms that make it porous when fired. The porous body gives the donabe remarkable heat retention ability. The donabe gradually accumulates heat when heated, then cools very slowly once the heat is turned off. This, along with the glazing that promotes far-infrared rays (FIR – the same effect as glowing charcoal that cooks ingredients without direct flame) when heated, allows the donabe to produce gentle and even heat that penetrates to the core of each ingredient. Ingredients are thus cooked evenly and all flavors are preserved inside.

Authentic Iga-yaki pottery from Nagatani-en
Iga-yaki pottery (Iga style) is one of Japan’s most cherished traditional ceramics. It is said to have originated in Iga, Mie Prefecture, at the end of the 7th century. This donabe is made by Nagatani-en, one of the leading producers of authentic Iga-yaki pottery since 1832. At Nagatani-en, each donabe is carefully handmade and takes about two weeks to produce a single donabe. Nagatani-en’s Iga-yaki products are appreciated by both professionals and home cooks in Japan.

All donabe and Iga-yaki products made by Nagatani-en are carefully handmade, so each piece is unique and no two pieces are identical. There are slight variations in color/shade, shape/curve, and patterns between pieces, which is what makes each piece so special. Likewise, under different lighting and angles, the actual color shade may also appear slightly different from the product page photos.

FEATURES

• Ideal for 1 to 2 servings
• Dimensions: 19 cm diameter x 13 cm height (7.5" diameter x 5.1" height) - lid included
• Capacity: 0.8 qt (800 ml)
• Weight: 2 kg (4.4 lbs)
• Material: Clay
• Producer: Nagatani-en
• Origin: Iga, Japan
• Included in the package: Donabe (bowl and lid) and instruction sheet in English.

USAGE AND CARE

• Ideal for use on a gas stove. This donabe is not suitable for electric or induction cooktops.
• This donabe can be heated when empty.
• Oven safe (up to 500℉/250℃). This donabe is not microwave safe.
• Hand wash only.

Your donabe develops character as it ages
As you use your donabe, it develops character, and that is something to be celebrated.

Very fine cracks may appear on the surface (glaze) of the donabe. These are called “kannyu” in Japanese and look like veins. They are cracks that naturally develop on the glaze and do not affect the donabe’s function.
When you start using the donabe, the bottom part begins to change color and black spots (like burn marks) may appear. This is also part of the character development and the donabe can be used safely. However, if the bottom seems to become too black too quickly, the heat used may be too high. In that case, we suggest using the donabe at a lower temperature.