Miso is a fermented soybean paste used in lots of Japanese cooking and is a really versatile addition to any dish. I recently saw that Chrissy Teigen posted a spicy miso carbonara recipe that sounded super interesting, and something I definitely want to try, but it also inspired me to see what I could do with miso.
As part of trying to be plant-based, Linda bought a few containers of miso from the grocery store a while ago and we’ve been excited to start experimenting with it. One of my favorite things ever is the miso soup you get from Japanese restaurants before your meal, and so obviously I wanted to see if I could make it at home. I looked at a bunch of different recipes and combined them into one!
A few of the ingredients are a little out-of-the-ordinary but they were super easy to find in the Asian aisle at my trusty neighborhood Wegman’s.
Ingredients:
-2 teaspoons of dashi* powder (or one packet, as mine came)
-can substitute for mushroom broth if you can’t find any
-4 cups water
-3 tablespoons white or yellow miso
-one sheet of nori (seaweed)**
-scallions
-tofu (optional)
*Dashi is a stock broth made with fish flakes, but my Wegman’s sold a package of dashi powder that had individual packets inside, which made it super easy to make this stock base. You can also use mushroom broth for a similar umami flavor, but it definitely won’t be the same. It’s a good vegan option though!
**Nori usually comes packaged as sheets and is used for making sushi rolls. Miso soup usually uses a different type of seaweed but nori is easier to find in grocery stores and it tasted just fine to me!
Instructions:
Combine dashi powder and water in a pot and bring to a boil, stirring so that it dissolves completely. Once it’s boiling, lower to a simmer and add the miso paste and whisk until dissolved. Stir in nori, scallions, and tofu (if desired).
All done! How easy is that?! I also added cooked brown rice noodles to make it a little more filling and it was DELICIOUS. It tasted just like a restaurant and I ate the whole thing in one sitting. Oops.
But not only is miso soup delicious, it also has some great health benefits! Since miso is a fermented product, it’s great for gut health and works almost like a probiotic. It has also been shown to reduce the risks of certain cancers, even though it has a rather high salt content (which when found in other foods actually led to a higher chance of some cancers). It contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, and is packed with other vitamins and nutrients too! From now on I will definitely be trying to add more miso to my diet and I’ll keep you updated on new recipes I try!
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