Ginger Miso Soba Soup Recipe - Fork Knife Swoon (2024)

A simple, healthy, and nourishing recipe for ginger miso soba soup with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, noodles, and lots of fresh vegetables. Hearty and packed with flavor from garlic, sesame, ginger, and miso paste, this easy soup is sure to become a fall and winter favorite! Gluten free and vegan friendly.

Ginger Miso Soba Soup Recipe - Fork Knife Swoon (1)

A cozy ginger miso soba soup

This has been a week made up entirely of Mondays. After the holiday deluge of over-eating, over-drinking, under-exercising and just generally not being the kindest to my body, this first week of January has been about recovery and hitting the reset button, and I know I’m not alone. We’re all in the midst of some sort of holiday detox, whether that means big kale salads and green smoothies, or simply paring back a bit from all the excesses of the season.

It’s still very much winter here – albeit a coastal winter, gentler than those of you in the midwest and east coast are currently experiencing – but still cold. The northern light is lower and even bluer than I imagined it could be when we first moved here over the summer. I can’t feign much interest in juice cleanses, but I do like the idea of a clean start. In the calm that follows – or rather begins – a new year.

I’m craving big bowls of healthy, healing… green. It’s the time of year for big, hearty bowls of grains and roasted vegetables, and certainly less sugar, but most of all: soups – flavorful, healing broths packed with goodness to warm you up from the inside out.

Ginger Miso Soba Soup Recipe - Fork Knife Swoon (2)

Why you’ll love this miso soba soup

When it comes to soup, I like lots of texture, particularly that lovely contrast between a warm, nourishing broth, and lots of fresh, raw veggies piled on top, that so often pops up in Asian-inspired recipes. I’ve been imagining a hearty miso soup for a while now, stocked with warming garlic and ginger, swirls of buckwheat soba noodles, chunks of tofu and a heaping of veggies.

The vegetables – in this case handfuls of chopped scallions, sh*take mushrooms, lacinato kale leaves and radish sprouts – cook a bit when added to the soup, but maintain their freshness and a bit of crunch. Not particularly authentic, but nonetheless soul-satisfying.

The flavorful, ginger-y miso broth can easily be made in advance, and warmed up when chilly days beg for a restorative soup filled with fresh veggies (whatever you happen to have on hand at the moment). Happy cooking!!

Ginger Miso Soba Soup Recipe - Fork Knife Swoon (3)

And be sure to try these other cozy soup recipes next:

  • Ginger noodle soup with Swiss chard
  • Simple weeknight chicken ramen
  • Butternut squash noodle soup
  • Lemony kale and white bean soup

If you make this miso soba soup, be sure to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #forkknifeswoon and leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it! ★★★★★ Star ratings are especially helpful because they help others find my recipes too. xo, Laura

Print

Ginger Miso Soba Soup Recipe - Fork Knife Swoon (4)

Ginger Miso Soba Soup

★★★★★4.7 from 10 reviews

  • Author: Laura Bolton
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 2 Servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner, Savory
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Asian-inspired
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

A simple, healthy, and nourishing recipe for ginger miso soba soup with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, noodles, and lots of fresh vegetables. Hearty and packed with flavor from garlic, sesame, ginger, and miso paste, this easy soup is sure to become a fall and winter favorite! Gluten free and vegan friendly.

Ingredients

Scale

Ginger Miso Broth

  • 2 tsp vegetable or sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely-minced
  • 2 tsp fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced (or use crushed ginger paste)
  • 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari ¹
  • 4 cups (32 oz) rich chicken or vegetable broth ²
  • 2 Tbsp miso paste (I use Miso Master or Westbrae Natural Mellow Red Miso)
  • kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

For the Ginger Miso Soba Soup

  • 4 oz soba noodles¹
  • 1/2 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, roughly-chopped
  • 1 cup (packed) kale leaves, roughly-chopped ³
  • 7 oz firm or extra-firm tofu, cubed
  • 1/2 cup scallions, chopped
  • small handful of radish sprouts, pea shoots, bean sprouts, etc.
  • sesame seeds and/or chili flakes, for serving

Instructions

Make the ginger miso broth

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, and cook for a few minutes until softened.
  2. Add the soy sauce, and stir to combine. Cook for another minute.
  3. Add the stock, cover and bring to a boil. Remove the lid, and let simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes.
  4. Ladle a half cup or so of the broth into a small bowl. Stir in the miso and whisk until dissolved. Pour the miso broth into the pot and cook for a minute or two to heat through (but don’t let come to a boil).

Assemble the miso soba soup

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the soba noodles according to package directions, about 3 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, add the mushrooms and kale to the simmering soup broth and cook for a minute or two to soften. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Miso is naturally salty and full of umami flavor, so you may not need to add any additional salt.
  3. Divide the soba noodles and tofu between two large bowls. Pour the miso broth over the top and sprinkle with the scallions, sprouts, sesame seeds and chile flakes (if using). Serve warm. Enjoy!!

Notes

¹ For gluten-free noodle soup: Be sure to use gluten-free tamari and gluten-free ramen, rice noodles, or 100% buckwheat soba noodles.

² For vegan ginger noodle soup: simply use a great vegetable stock for the broth. Homemade stock is always best in a simple soup like this.

³ Feel free to swap out the kale for your favorite winter green(s), such as spinach, bok choy, or broccoli rabe.

Tip: While fresh will give you the very best flavor, I love the convenience of keeping jars of fresh minced garlic and crushed ginger in the refrigerator.

Keywords: ginger miso soba soup, soba soup, mushrooms, kale, easy, healthy

Ginger Miso Soba Soup Recipe - Fork Knife Swoon (2024)

FAQs

Is miso soup just miso paste and water? ›

Miso soup is deceptively simple. It contains just a handful of ingredients: fermented bean paste (a.k.a. miso), vegetables, and hot water or stock. Heck, you don't even have to use tofu (although if you do, make sure it's the right kind; more on that in a moment).

How to elevate miso soup? ›

Miso Soup Serving Suggestions

If I want to make the soup even heartier, I add extra veggies. Japanese turnips, shiitake mushrooms, radishes, carrots, kabocha squash, and greens like spinach or bok choy all work well here. Add them to the dashi and simmer until tender before stirring in the miso slurry.

How to make miso soup without killing the probiotics? ›

Don't Kill the Probiotic!

It is super simple to make and consists of only two ingredients (although you can add more if you like) and the only thing you need to remember is to not heat the water above 115 degrees. The lower temperature will preserve all the probiotics and keep them from being destroyed by high heat.

Which miso paste is best for miso soup? ›

According to Kim, “White miso is the best option for home cooks, and it'll be a great gateway to try the other types of miso out there.” Because white miso is generally only fermented for three months and made with a higher rice content, it boasts a mild, sweet flavor that is perfect for soups, sauces, dressings, and ...

Can you eat too much miso? ›

You may want to eat miso in moderation by adding it sparingly in your day-to-day cooking, especially if you are watching your sodium intake or are at risk for heart disease, such as high blood pressure.

What temperature kills miso bacteria? ›

Boiling miso can harm the probiotic bacteria. At temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit these delicate bacteria are destroyed. We recommend adding miso paste to soups just prior to serving.

Why do I feel bloated after miso soup? ›

Miso soup is a go-to healthy appetizer to order when you're out at a sushi restaurant, and while it's true that it barely has any calories, most miso soups are loaded with sodium, which makes your body hold onto water. When your body takes in more sodium than it's used to, you'll puff up a bit for about a day.

Is miso broth anti inflammatory? ›

Miso possesses anticancer, antihypertensive, antiobese, and anti‐inflammatory properties, as well as the ability to eliminate gastrointestinal diseases.

Why does miso soup make my stomach feel better? ›

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.

Does miso soup heal your gut? ›

Miso soup contains prebiotics and probiotics, which may contribute to improved gut health. Miso soup contains the prebiotic A. oryzae.

Can I live off of miso soup? ›

As mentioned above, miso paste calories are just 56 calories for 28 grams. However, if a miso soup diet to you means consuming nothing but this soup all day for a couple of days, then this is not a good idea.

How many times a day do Japanese eat miso soup? ›

Miso soup is usually present in most Japanese meals throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Why is miso so expensive? ›

“Traditionally, rice miso is more expensive than barley miso, because the grain is more expensive,” explains Chung. Accordingly, wealthier merchants could afford to purchase more expensive miso made with rice, whereas farmers and townsfolk often ate miso made with millet, barley, or other common grains.

What is the secret ingredient in miso paste? ›

The secret ingredient: Aspergillus oryzae, a grain-loving fungus that under the microscope looks like a delicate flower on stem. Fermented with soybeans, grain, and, salt, it becomes miso paste, a staple of Japanese cuisine.

How long does miso paste last once opened? ›

Miso is a “preservative food,” that can be kept for a long period of time due to its salt content. If kept in your refrigerator, miso itself does not go bad. In terms of the quality of the taste, miso should remain relatively consistent for up to one year.

Is miso paste the same as miso soup? ›

Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup that starts with a dashi stock and is flavored with miso paste. Dashi is an umami-rich stock made from dried seaweed and dried fish. Miso paste, meanwhile, is a paste made from soybeans, salt, and koji rice. The brothy soup usually contains tofu and green onions.

Is miso soup made from miso paste? ›

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

Can I just mix miso paste with water? ›

In a saucepan on the stove or in a mug in the microwave, heat water just before boiling. Stir the white miso paste into hot water until it dissolves completely. Enjoy with a spoon or sip straight from the cup!

Is miso broth the same as miso paste? ›

Traditionally in Japan, miso soup is made by adding miso paste to dashi stock. Dashi is made from kelp called Konbu and Katsuobushi, dried fish flakes. There is powdered dashi you can add water to make a quick Dashi. If buying miso paste and making dashi or powdered dashi is too much, there is so-called Miso Broth.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arline Emard IV

Last Updated:

Views: 5992

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arline Emard IV

Birthday: 1996-07-10

Address: 8912 Hintz Shore, West Louie, AZ 69363-0747

Phone: +13454700762376

Job: Administration Technician

Hobby: Paintball, Horseback riding, Cycling, Running, Macrame, Playing musical instruments, Soapmaking

Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.