Sunday, January 16, 2011

Miso Soup

Miso is a bean paste made from fermented and aged soybeans mixed with another grain such as rice or barley. Red and barley miso have a strong flavour. Yellow and white miso a more delicate flavour. Miso soup is a warm and hearty soup, great for a winter meal.
This miso came in a glass jar but often it comes in plastic tubs. Find it in the healthfood store or at Trader Joe's.

I added a thinly sliced carrot, reconstituted shiitake mushrooms and green onions to my soup. You cook the veggies in broth or water then take some of the warm water and mix it with miso in a separate bowl. You never want to add the miso directly to the soup pot as the boiling water kills the miso benefits.

I also cooked some udon noodles in a separate pot and added them to my soup bowl. When the veggies are tender I removed the pot from the stove and added the miso mixed with water. Then I poured the soup broth and veggies over the noodles. You can use any variety of veggies such as cabbage, onion, bits of brussel sprout. Seaweed is traditional. Tofu also. Whatever you have on hand.

Any soup can become miso soup by adding the miso mixed with water to it after you remove the soup pot from the stove. In Japan this soup is eaten for breakfast as well as other meals. Sometimes when I am not feeling well I just mix some miso paste and warm water and drink the soup that way sans veggies.

A great film to watch is Tampopo, a humerous Japanese film centered on the art of noodlemaking.



Healthnote: I canceled my CT scan for now. Want to do more consulting as to whether it is really necessary for me to swallow barium.

10 comments:

Lynn Cohen said...

I don't like Miso soup taste, but am sure many will benefit from your directions here. It looks good in the picture, I am just not fond of it's taste.

Hope the health issure gets settled soon. Are you still experiencing symptoms?

sixty-five said...

Yum! That's something I never think of making. I am inspired!

Umā said...

I adore South River Miso, which is only about a 15 minute drive from us. We always have at least a couple of different varieties in the fridge. The Dandelion Leek is especially amazing!

Robin said...

Suki, your Miso soup looks delicious! I buy the TJ version..and love to add scallions and other veggies (though NOT brussel sprouts - ha-ha!) The video was funny...

As for your catscan, I always believe that if you feel the time isn't right to have it, then you shouldn't. Most important is that you are feeling better....

Talk soon!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Anonymous said...

Oh, that movie made me miss Japan soooo much, especially the part about being able to stop on any street and get a bowl of noodles like that for next to nothing. Slurp, slurp! I love miso soup and find it so very comforting. I had some on Friday!

I'm glad you are being a good partner in the doctor-patient relationship.

layers said...

I grew up in Hawaii with my Japanese family and we truly believe that miso is very very healthy for you.

Mim said...

The one thing I loved about Japan was those noodle places. Yum

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Gosh Suki, stop with the food already. I am getting hungry. Ahh excuse me while I go have lunch.
Take care.

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, yummy!!

kj said...

what's better in all the world than sharing soup with friends?

(okay, perhaps i may be slightly exagerating; perhaps there are a few earth-moving experiences that top this)

:)