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Miso soup
味噌汁 (miso shiru): kombu-shiitake broth with miso, silken tofu, wakame and spring onion
Miso soup (味噌汁) is drunk every day in homes all over Japan, at breakfast as well as dinner, beside a bowl of rice. The base is dashi; this vegan version uses kombu and dried shiitake instead of bonito, which gives it a deep, rounded flavour. Silken tofu and wakame seaweed are the classic fillings. It takes ten minutes; just remember not to boil the miso. Chef's tip: add the miso at the very end and never let it boil. Boiling kills the miso's fresh, fermented aroma; Japanese cooks say the soup should only 'smile', with the surface barely trembling.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the dashi
For the soup
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 3 ¼ cups water, ⅓ oz kombu (dried kelp) and 2 dried shiitake mushrooms in a pan and soak for as long as you can: 30 minutes gives the best flavour, but even 5 minutes works. For quick weekday soup, soak overnight in the fridge.
Step 2: Heat slowly over a medium-low heat. Lift out the kombu when small bubbles cling to it and the water is about to boil; left in boiling water, kombu turns slimy and bitter. then simmer the shiitake for 3 minutes and lift them out too (slice them back in if you like).
5 minStep 3: Soak 2 tsp dried wakame seaweed in a small bowl of cold water for 5 minutes, until it swells. Drain.
Step 4: Add 5 ½ oz silken tofu and the wakame to the dashi and warm through for 1 minute over a low heat.
1 minStep 5: Put 3 tbsp white or mixed miso in a ladle or small sieve, dip it into the pan and stir with chopsticks until it dissolves. Taste and add a little more miso if you like. From now on, keep the soup below boiling, or the miso loses its aroma.
Step 6: Ladle into bowls and scatter with 2 spring onions. Serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does miso soup take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of dried shiitake mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
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