How to Make Authentic Japanese Miso Soup from Scratch

miso paste

🥗Healthier: white miso

💰Cheaper: soybean paste

White miso is lower in sodium, while soybean paste can be more budget-friendly.

tofu

🥗Healthier: silken tofu

💰Cheaper: firm tofu

Silken tofu is lower in calories, while firm tofu is often less expensive.

Add 5-10 g dried kelp (kombu) and 1 liter cold water to a large pot and soak for at least 30 minutes (up to 24hrs covered in the fridge).

Once rehydrated, place the pot on the stove and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Be careful not to let it boil. When small bubbles start to appear (90-95℃ (194-203°F)), remove the kombu. Discard it or save it for another recipe.

Continue to heat until boiling, then turn off the burner and add 100 ml cold water. Drop 2 handfuls bonito flakes (katsuobushi) into the pot and steep for 3-5 minutes without stirring.

Line a sieve with kitchen paper and place it over a large heatproof bowl. Pour the dashi through the sieve, the kitchen paper will catch the small pieces of katsuobushi, leaving you with a clear broth.

Thinly slice 30 g fried tofu pouch (aburaage), 30 g Japanese leek (naganegi) and 30 g fresh shiitake mushroom. Cut 150 g tofu into cubes.

Pour the dashi into a pot and heat on medium. Once it's almost boiling, add the ingredients that take longer to cook (aburaage, leek, shiitake) and simmer for a few minutes until cooked to your liking.

Turn off the heat and stir in ¼ tsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu).

Scoop 4 tbsp yellow miso paste (awase) onto a mesh spoon or ladle. Dip the miso paste into the dashi and whisk it in the spoon to loosen it up. Keep whisking, gradually allowing more dashi to seep into the mesh spoon/ladle each time until the miso paste has dissolved into the mixture.

Add 150 g tofu (cubed) to the hot miso soup and stir gently. Allow to warm on residual heat for 2-3 minutes.

Divide the miso soup into bowls and garnish with finely chopped green onions. Serve and enjoy!

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens