Misoshiru 
(Japanese miso soup)

Bowl of miso soup
Image by Jeremy Keith

Misoshiru is a basic part of the typical Japanese breakfast. This nourishing soup is eaten alone or with eggs, rice, fish and pickles. A simple version of the soup, lightly garnished with tofu and scallions, is most popular for the morning meal. But misoshiru can also be part of a larger midday or evening meal, often with added garnishes.

Misoshiru

Course: Soups and Stews, BreakfastCuisine: Japan
Servings

4

servings

Misoshiru is a basic part of the typical Japanese breakfast. This nourishing soup is eaten alone or with eggs, rice, fish and pickles.

Ingredients

  • Soup
  • Dashi stock — 4 cups

  • Miso (see variations) — 1/4 cup

  • Garnishes
  • Scallions, sliced into thin rounds — 1 to 2

  • Soft tofu, cut into small cubes — 1/4 pound

  • Wakame (dried seaweed), soaked in warm water and shredded — 2 tablespoons

Directions

  • Bring the dashi to a simmer over medium heat.
  • Using the back of a spoon, rub the miso though a fine sieve into the simmering dashi. Bring soup back to a low simmer.
  • Place a small amount of garnish in each individual’s bowl. Remove soup from heat, pour into bowls and serve immediately.

Miso Soup Notes and Variations

  • Types of miso: Use whatever type of miso you like. White (shiro) miso is popular in the wintertime; red (aka) miso is more common in the summer.
  • Other additions: Other garnishes can be cooked in the simmering dashi before you add the miso for a more substantial soup — shredded daikon; asparagus spears; shredded crabmeat; cubed winter melon; bite-sized pieces of beef, chicken or pork.

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