Basic Miso Soup

I think just about everyone loves a steaming hot cup of miso soup! With a soothing and mild flavor, miso soup is light and "brothy", not the type of soup that is a meal on its own, so serve as an appetizer. Miso soup is a quick, easy and light soup and is a staple of Japanese cuisine. This basic recipe is a simple version of the classic miso soup you'll find served in Japanese restaurants. Try this Vegetable miso soup recipe for a heartier soup.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 1/3 cup miso
  
• 3 green onions (scallions), chopped
• 1 tbsp shredded nori or wakama seaweed
• 1/2 block firm silken tofo, cut into 1 inch cubes
• dash soy sauce (optional)
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil (optional)

Preparation:

Bring water to a slow simmer and add seaweed. Allow to simmer at least 5-6 minutes. The longer you simmer the seaweed, the less of a salty fishy flavor it will have.

Reduce heat to very low and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir until miso is well dissolved. Its best not to boil the miso, as this will ruin some of it's healthy properties as well as change the flavor of the soup. Makes 4 servings.