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Miso Soup Recipe

Easy Homemade Miso Soup Recipe

Learn how to make authentic miso soup at home in just 20 minutes! This traditional Japanese soup features a savory kombu dashi broth, creamy silken tofu, tender wakame seaweed, and fresh green onions. Perfect as a starter, side dish, or light meal.
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Wakame Soaking Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 89

Ingredients
  

Dashi Base
  • 1 piece kombu seaweed 3-inch piece
  • 4 cups water
Soup Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons dried wakame seaweed
  • 1/4 cup white miso paste shiro miso preferred
  • 1/3 cup green onions chopped
  • 6 ounces silken tofu cubed
  • tamari soy sauce to taste

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Small Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Ladle
  • Fine-mesh strainer

Method
 

  1. Gently rinse the kombu piece under cold water to remove surface salt. Place it in a medium saucepan with 4 cups of water.
  2. Heat the kombu and water over low heat for exactly 10 minutes at a gentle simmer. Important: Do not let it boil, as this will make the dashi taste bitter.
  3. While the dashi simmers, place the dried wakame in a small bowl and cover with warm water. Let it soak for 5 minutes to rehydrate completely.
  4. Remove and discard the kombu from the pot after 10 minutes. Keep the dashi warm over low heat.
  5. Create a miso slurry by ladling about 1/2 cup of hot dashi into a small bowl. Add the miso paste and whisk until completely smooth and lump-free.
  6. Stir the smooth miso mixture back into the remaining dashi in the pot.
  7. Drain the wakame thoroughly and add it to the soup along with the cubed silken tofu and chopped green onions.
  8. Simmer the soup over very low heat for 1-2 minutes just to warm through. Do not boil to preserve the miso's beneficial probiotics.
  9. Taste and season with tamari soy sauce as needed. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

Storage: Fresh miso soup is best served immediately but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently over low heat without boiling.
Miso Paste: White miso (shiro miso) has a milder, sweeter flavor perfect for beginners. You can substitute with red miso for a stronger, saltier taste.
Make it Heartier: Add cooked soba noodles, steamed rice, or extra vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, spinach, or corn to make this a complete meal.
Health Tip: Never boil the soup once miso is added, as high heat destroys the beneficial probiotics in fermented miso paste.