JAPANESE MISO SOUP RECIPE: WHITE MISO SOUP WITH CARROTS & BEANSPROUT

White miso paste is a nice introduction into the world of miso if you don't eat miso regularly. This miso paste has a mild taste compared to darker coloured ones. Once you've managed to source miso paste and have it in your fridge it takes little time to make miso soup. It's traditionally served with a main meal however depending on what you put in the soup it could be served as a light lunch or main meal!

I buy Japanese miso paste in my local Asian market, however you can also buy it in health stores. I haven't seen it in supermarkets in Ireland yet but I think they sell it in supermarkets around the world including the UK, America, Australia etc.

Serves 4
Prep time 10 mins
Cooking time 15 mins

Ingredients:

1 litre homemade dashi stock or 1 litre water and 1 tbsp dashi granules

200g carrots (peeled and cut into julienne strips)

100g beansprouts

2-3 tbsp white miso paste

Sesame seeds (optional to garnish) 

Spring onion (optional to garnish)

Instructions: 

1. If you're using homemade dashi then click here to see how to make homemade dashi. Once the homemade dashi is ready put it in a medium sized saucepan and bring to the boil. 
2. If you're using dashi granules then put 1 litre of cold water into a medium sized saucepan and bring to the boil. Then add 1 tbsp of dashi granules to the water and stir.
3. Once the dashi is boiling add the carrots. 
4. When the carrots are nearly cooked add the beansprouts and continue to boil for one minute (I like the vegetables to be crunchy rather than overcooked).
5. Before adding the miso paste lower the heat allowing the dashi to simmer only. 
6. Dilute the miso paste in a cup of dashi taken from the saucepan. Then, add to the saucepan and gently mix all the ingredients.
7. Garnish with spring onion and sesame seeds if you can. 

How to eat:
Japanese people drink soup directly from the bowl and then use chopsticks to eat vegetables in the miso soup. 

Tips:  
Once you add the miso paste never boil the miso soup only allow to simmer.

Why not: 
Add pork to this recipe.