Miso Soup

Japanese food · comfort food · easy to make · umami

What is miso soup?. Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup made by mixing miso (a salty paste from fermented soybeans) into dashi, which is a flavorful broth made from fish and seaweed. It's so beloved in Japan that it's eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Part of a perfect meal. In Japan, miso soup is almost always served together with rice and side dishes in what's called an ichijū-sansai meal, meaning 'one soup, three dishes.' This combination has been the traditional way Japanese families eat for hundreds of years.

Ingredients change with seasons. While miso and dashi are always in the soup, cooks add different toppings depending on what's fresh and available. Common additions include wakame seaweed, tofu cubes, green onions, fried tofu pouches, or mushrooms.

Deep, savory flavor. Miso soup tastes salty and deeply savory because miso is packed with umami, a special savory taste that makes your mouth water. It's comforting, warming, and simple to make at home.

One of two main soup types. Along with suimono (a clear soup), miso soup is one of the two basic soup types in Japanese cooking, and it's the most common soup served with rice in everyday meals.