Ryouri o tsukurimashou! Miso Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms

(For more information on where these recipes came from and more Japanese cooking vocabulary, check out my previous posts for Yellowtail Teriyaki, Cashew Chicken, Roast Chinjao, Tonkatsu, and Sweet Potatoes!)

The last recipe featured a dish you could make with ingredients found in any American grocery store, but this one would probably require a trip to a Japanese grocery store or other specialty Asian market. But it might be worth it to make your own homemade, nutritious miso soup! The Nintendo DS game this was translated from had a few varieties of miso soup, but this seemed like one of the most classic. Enjoy!

豆腐となめこのもそ汁 – Miso Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

English Japanese
120 g momen tofu (coarse-grained tofu) (4.23 oz) 木綿どうふ 120g
100 g nameko mushrooms (3.53 oz) なめこ 100g
1 bunch scallions 細ねぎ 1本
4 cups dashi-jiru (bonito and kelp stock, sold in pouches in Japanese food stores) だし汁 4カップ
2 and 2/3 Tbsp shinshu miso (yellow miso paste) 信州みそ 大さじ2と2/3

Preparation:

Mince the scallions finely, then set aside. Drain the tofu, then cut into 1.5 cm cubes.

Boil some water in a small saucepan, then add the nameko mushrooms. Allow them to steam for only a short time (the Japanese recipe says “until moistened with steam”), then quickly drain the water in a collander. Divide the mushrooms among four soup bowls and set aside.

In a large pot, add 4 cups dashi-jiru and the cubed tofu, then turn on the heat and boil until the tofu cubes begin to float and bob on the surface. Add the shinshu miso, then lower the heat to a simmer. Add the scallions, then remove from heat.

Pour the dashi and tofu soup over the mushrooms in each bowl, then serve.

Vocabulary:

Japanese Romaji Meaning
なめこ nameko Japanese nameko mushrooms. Can be found in specialty Asian grocery stores.
細ねぎ hosonegi Scallions (literally “thin onions”). I’ve also seen this translated as “thin leeks.” The images on the recipe show mostly the green parts being used.
もそ汁 miso-shiru Miso soup
だし汁 dashi-jiru Concentrated kelp and bonito stock that can be bought as a powder, or as a paste in a pouch in Japanese grocery stores. The recipe is referring to 4 cups of the broth made from this mix.
信州みそ shinshu miso Shinshu miso paste, also known as yellow miso paste. It is light brown in color and salty, and is usually sold in small plastic tubs.
ふっとうする futtou suru To boil
沸く waku To boil; grow hot
さっと satto Suddenly; quickly
湯通しする yudooshi suru To moisten with steam
浮く uku To float; rise to the surface

Japanese Grocery Stores in New York

How can you make Japanese or other Asian recipes without the right ingredients? Large US grocery chains often have an “international” aisle, but the pickings are usually slim. But there are many small Japanese grocery stores in Manhattan and the other boroughs, as well as several online resources available for those who don’t feel like traveling to a brick-and-mortar store. Many Chinese or Korean markets also have a lot of common Japanese ingredients for cheaper prices, so it’s probably best to go to a Japan-specific store when you’re looking for a more obscure ingredient. Blue markers are Japan-centric stores, and red markers are for primarily Chinese or Korean groceries. Just zoom on the map for more details!


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Online grocery stores:

Japan Super
California-based grocery that ships to the contiguous 48 states. A sample order gave me a flat shipping rate of $15 to Manhattan.

eFoodDepot
Lots of different products here with a $4.99 flat shipping rate and free shipping with an order over $75.

Asian Food Grocer
California-based store that ships by FedEx (not a flat rate).

Koa Mart
California-based Korean grocery that also has a fair amount of Japanese foods. Ships by UPS or USPS (not a flat rate).

I have never ordered from any of these online stores, but I have seen Japan Super recommended quite a few times on forums and blogs. The NYC Google map is far from exhaustive, so please let me know if you have any other stores to recommend (especially ones outside of Manhattan)!