Spicy Pork Sesame Hot Pot

Ingredients

• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon tobanjan (Chinese hot bean paste; optional)
• 2 tablespoons golden sesame paste (can substitute with tahini)
• 1 tablespoon raw brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 14 oz (400 g) thinly-sliced pork butt, cut into bite-size pieces
• 7 – 8 leaves medium napa cabbage, cut into 1/2" (5 cm) pieces
• 2 oz (60 g) gobo (burdock root; optional), thinly-shaved
• 5 oz (150 g) maitake mushrooms, trimmed and pulled apart by hand
• 1 oz (30 g) carrot, cut into 1/4" (6 mm) thick matchsticks
• 7 oz (200 g) medium-firm tofu, drained and sliced into 6 pieces
• 1 cup (240 ml)kombu and bonito dashi or your choice of stock
• 2 oz (60 g) nira (garlic chives), cut into 2" (5 cm) long
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Japanese black vinegar or rice vinegar (optional)
• Sliced dry chili (can substitute with red chili flakes) to serve
• Ground toasted golden sesame seeds or white sesame seeds