Miso Soup is a traditional Japanese soup that is made from a special stock called Dashi that is mixed with miso paste. Additions are made to the soup based on regional and personal taste preferences. In this recipe we are adding in noodles, mushrooms, and spinach to take it a complete, light meal in and of itself. This recipe uses products from the HemisFares line of products available at your local Kroger store. This product line seeks to bring flavors from around the world to your local grocery store, making it easier than ever to experience amazing world cuisines at home. This specific recipe is made using their red miso paste and Miwa somen noodles. The HemisFares line of products is high end and I’m always impressed with what they have to offer. Every HemisFares product is marked with a number. The red miso paste is No. 57 and the Miwa somen noodles is No. 59. You’ll have to see if you can find them all! I’ve previously featured No. 47 for you in my Olive Oil Pasta. and No. 50 for you in my Parmesan Pesto Roasted Potatoes. For more information on HemisFares you can check out the website HemisFaresFinds.com or facebook.com/Hemisfares.
What is dashi?
Dashi is a seafood based cooking stock that is a culinary basis for Japanese cuisine. It is traditionally made from dried kombu (dried kelp) and katsuobushi (preserved fermented skipjack tuna). You can make your own, but it’s much more common nowadays to use granulated dashi instead. If you can’t find dashi granules in your grocery store, you can always substitute vegetable stock. It won’t have the same amazing flavor, but it certainly works!
When working with miso paste it is important that you don’t boil it. Boiling the miso paste will cause it to lose flavor and you may end up with a gritty texture. You can easily customize this recipe to your own personal taste preferences. For a heartier soup, boil potatoes, carrots, or parsnips in the dashi before adding in the noodles and soft vegetables that don’t require much cooking time. You could also stir in some bean sprouts, leaks, or tofu with the spinach and mushrooms. However you choose to enhance this soup, the dashi miso base will always be a classic of Japanese cuisine. Now you can easily enjoy this restaurant favorite at home!
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