How to Make Miso Soup
Miso soup is a very healthy option that you can have in your lunch and dinner. This is a Japanese food that is prepared from Miso paste which is made from soy. This Miso paste is added to dried seaweed and fish (dashi) and made into a refreshing hot soup. Making Miso soup from scratch is very easy as you do not require many ingredients. You can for a change try making this Japanese dish at home. The following instructions will help you in making this soup from scratch.
Making Miso Soup with Tofu
There are many variations to Miso soup recipes. We shall begin with adding tofu to the soup. This is a very easy-to-make recipe that you can try at home.
Ingredients
- 3 cups dashi soup stock
- 3 - 4 tablespoons Miso paste
- 1 block tofu
- cup chopped green onion
You need to take a non-stick pan add the dashi soup stock. On a medium flame, bring the soup stock to a boil. Then, cut the tofu into small cubes. Add these small cubes to the boiling soup. Allow tofu to simmer for a few minutes on low heat. Take about 1 cup of soup stock from the pan and dissolve the Miso paste in it. Once mixed, you need to add the Miso paste and soup stock to the soup. Continue stirring the soup and remove from heat. Now add the chopped green onions to the soup.
Tip: Never boil the soup after you add the Miso paste to it.
Preparing Miso Soup with Noodles
This is a scrumptious Japanese Miso soup recipe with noodles. You can enjoy a bowl of hot Miso soup on a cold winter night.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces dried soba noodles
- 2 - 4 tablespoons Miso paste
- 2 - 3 ounces firm tofu chopped into inch cubes
- Handful of watercress or spinach, well washed and stems trimmed
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- Handful of cilantro
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
Before we begin preparing our soup, we need to cook the soba noodles in salted water. Once cooked, drain out the water and place the noodles under running cold water. Now, add 4 cups water to a medium sauce pain and bring it to a boil. Reduce the flame and allow the water to simmer. Then remove from heat. In a small bowl add a little bit of hot water and add the Miso paste. Mix it well and pour this water back into the pot. You can taste the water and add more Miso paste as required. You can now add the tofu cubes and remove the soup from the heat. Allow it to stand for a few minutes. Meanwhile, split the noodles into two bowls. Pour the Miso soup and tofu over the noodles. Add the watercress, green onions, cilantro, and red pepper flakes to each bowl. Serve hot and enjoy your soup.
There are many health benefits. It is said that 3 to 4 servings of Miso soup contain antioxidants, vitamin E as well as fatty acids. It is very good to strengthen the immune system and protect one from infections. The seaweed added to the soup helps in lowering blood pressure as well as cholesterol. It is also believed to contain isoflavones that help in preventing breast cancer. You too can try making this soup from scratch. It is very difficult to find Miso paste, until and unless you find it in an Asian market or organic food stores. Wakame seaweed is available in Asian grocery markets and all you need is just 3 to 4 seaweeds per serving. If you are lucky enough to find the soup ingredients in your locality, you too can try making Miso soup at home.
