Ivory and Black Crackle 8-1/2-Inch Donabe Japanese Hot Pot, Serves 2 People

Beautiful, sturdy, and perfectly sized.
Donabes are great when you're in the mood for soup but don't have the time to make a traditional Western broth simmered for hours. Because of the pot's small size and unique shape, including the steam-cycling lid, all you really need is a pile of veggies, a bit of meat, and maybe 30 minutes or so and you'll be rewarded with a very tasty and rich broth and perfectly simmered ingredients.

As far as size goes, this 8 1/2 inch pot is large enough to hold enough ingredients to make two large bowls of simmered food, and if eaten with rice/noodles and the broth drunk, that's a suitable serving for two people. Of course, you can also eat all the ingredients and then simmer a round two in the same broth, in which case, it could be a very filling meal for two people! When cooking for one, I find this donabe to be a go-to as well because it's a convenient size for a couple big bowls of soup or braised food that is just right if I'm heavy on the veg/broth and lighter on the...

Fantastic!
I ordered this for my husband, because he loves to cook Asian soups and cuisine. Don't be fooled; it looks pretty small, but it can hold a pot of soup that can feed four people happily. We'll cook soup and bring it to the table, still piping and bubbling, and let everyone eat communally from the pot. It's pretty enough to be a centerpiece, but still functions as a durable pot.

The first one actually came without ANY bubble packaging and the lid was broken clear through the middle. I was so frustrated at their lack of sense (especially for a clay pot), and complained and returned the pot. They re-sent it with ONE bubble packet, but the pot was in tact.

We've been using it ever since (maybe a year and a half ago?). The pot has a few stains on the inside and the bottom, but it just gives the pot character. I would recommend this pot to anyone who wants to get into Asian cooking

Beautiful pottery and shape
The bottom is a bit small - I expected that it would be more wide, but I got used to it, and I think it's true to the original Japanese nabe design. Love the glazed crackled finish of the cover. Great cooking pot.

Click to Editorial Reviews