Miso Soup (2024)

FAQs

What is miso soup made of? ›

What is Miso Soup? Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup made primarily of miso paste, dashi (broth), and additional ingredients such as vegetables, seaweed, and tofu.

Miso soup contains several beneficial vitamins, minerals, and components that may improve your gut and heart health and may lower your risk of cancer. If you are on a low-salt diet, read the label on packaged miso soup to choose one that's low in sodium. What the heck is miso? Miso is a fermented soybean paste.

Miso paste is a traditional Japanese seasoning made from fermented soybeans, along with additional ingredients like rice or barley. It has a thick, paste-like consistency and boasts a unique umami flavor that adds depth and richness to recipes.

Miso soup is low calorie, low fat, and high in nutrient content, so it is safe to eat daily. However, it does have a high salt content. So, those on blood thinning medication or who have heart problems (including high blood pressure and heart disease) may want to limit their consumption of miso soup.

What Does Miso Taste Like? Miso is the ultimate reference point for the flavor sensation known as umami. The paste and the soup have a deep savory flavor, with toasty, funky, salty-sweet richness. This umami flavor forms the base of a lot of everyday Japanese cooking.

Miso soup also tends to be relatively low in calories, but you can ingest the protein contained in miso and the dietary fiber and vitamins contained in various ingredients together with the broth.

Soy sauce is the most common substitute for miso paste. Miso is thick and creamy, whereas soy sauce is thin like water, but if texture isn't a factor, they are both made of soy and chock full of salty and savory notes.

The Japanese superfood dates back centuries, when the thick, funky paste was used to help preserve fresh fish. Made by fermenting soybeans with salt, water and koji, miso varies in flavor depending on the ingredients and the fermentation time, but it's typically deliciously salty and earthy.

In the Miso Soup - Ryu Murakami (Translated by Ralph McCarthy) ⚠️Content Warning: This psychothriller/horror is not for the faint-hearted. If you enjoyed watching movies like Hannibal Lecter, Silence of the Lambs, and American Psycho, then this book might entertain you.

Miso contains amino acids that can help boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that helpsmake you sleepy. Bananas: An excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which can help relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin.

Is miso soup good for bowels? ›

Improves digestion: Because miso is high in probiotics, it helps the body maintain healthy bacteria levels. This bacteria contributes to digestive health, reducing gas, diarrhea, bloating and constipation.

The consumption of miso has also been reported to exert health effects, such as fat suppression [9], anti-inflammation [10] and stroke prevention [11].

Miso soup and its origins

It became a 'daily meal' for the samurais during the Kamakura period (1185–1333), and, during the age of Japanese civil wars. The recipe for its 'instant paste' was developed for military commanders to eat — which made miso soup an easily-preparable and accessible meal.

Another brown seaweed used in Miso soup

In Japan, we make the stock for the miso soup using kombu (kelp), which is another type of brown seaweed. By using two types of brown seaweed, it helps to prevent high blood pressure even more!

Miso soup isn't vegan because it is often made with a dashi-based broth, which is fish based. What is vegan miso soup broth made from? This vegan broth is a vegan dashi broth that is made with dried shiitake mushrooms, leeks, carrots, onions for sweetness, and scallions to add a nice aroma.

Understanding the White Stuff in Miso Soup

Well, the white stuff in miso soup is actually tofu. Tofu is a popular ingredient in Japanese cooking and is made from soybeans. It has a soft, creamy texture and a mild flavor, making it a versatile addition to various dishes, including miso soup.