Donabe Japanese Hot Pot, Small, Cat Design

This donabe “hot pot” is made in Japan. Donabe are earthenware vessels used to make “nabemono”, a warming one-pot meal popular during the winter. Traditionally, a portable stove is placed in the center of the table and the pot is filled with broth and ingredients. There are many different variations of nabemono. Broths can be as simple as water flavored with a little bit of dried kelp, to stronger tastes made with chicken stock or miso. Ingredients often include seafood, poultry, pork, vegetables, tofu and udon. Nabemono is meant to be eaten as a communal meal, where diners sit around the table and pick items directly from the pot.