Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (2024)

  • Popular, Quick and healthy, Recipes, Savory dishes, Soups, Sushi, Vegan, Vegetarian
  • 22, December 2015
  • 9 Comments

Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (1)

Today I have a healthy, vegan miso soup recipe for you, which you can either enjoy as a standalone main course or (if you omit the noodles) serve as a starter if you’re throwing a Sushi Party. This classic recipe from the Japanese cuisine really shouldn’t be missing on such a Sushi-loving blog.

Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (2)

Miso paste

Miso paste* is the Japanese equivalent to our good old vegetable broth and is basically made up of fermented soy beans and salt. One of the many benefits of fermented products is that they are more or less non-perishable. I store my miso paste in a glass jar in the fridge but you can also keep it in your cabinet.

There are three different kinds of miso paste, light, dark and red. I like to use the red miso paste for my soup yet you should just try out which one of the three you like the most.

When buying miso paste you should pay attention to the ingredients if you’re on a glutenfree or vegan / vegetarian diet, since some of them may contain fish or gluten. Basically keep your fingers away from miso paste that has more ingredients than you have fingers on both hands.

Tofu

For miso soup you’ll need fresh, firm tofu. If you mistakenly take silken tofu, don’t use it for the soup as it’s too soft and make a chocolate mousse instead.

My personal favourite tofu is from the organic brand Taifun (you should get your hands on their tofu in Germany and maybe in some other European countries). I just love the taste, the other tofu from the supermarket just can’t keep up with it.

Wakame (Dried seaweed)

A miso soup wouldn’t be a miso soup if the seaweed was missing. So make sure to always have some dried seaweed*, or wakame, at home. Dried seaweed is very yielding and only a teaspoon should be enough for a bowl as it soaks in water and wells a lot.

Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (3)

Udon Noodles

Udon is a Japanese sort of pasta, and much thicker than usual noodles (meant for soups). Udon noodles are also used for Ramen*. You can shop them at Asian supermarkets and they are very affordable. They are usually sold in small plastic packs or you might find them in the freezer section

Shiitake mushrooms (fresh or dried)

If you get your hands on fresh shiitake mushroom – Yay! Good for you! If not, give dried mushrooms a try. You can get dried mushrooms at Asian supermarkets (or online*). Before using them they have to be soaked in hot water for at least 20 minutes. Afterwards you can handle them like fresh mushrooms, slice and fry them. Note that the texture of dried mushrooms will be a lot more gooey than that off fresh ones – not everyone’s cup of tea (I love them).

Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (4)

And what’s after the Miso Soup?

If you’re like me, you’re probably of the opinion that a soup is not a ‘proper’ main course since it’s basically just liquid. My stomach usually demands something more ‘substantial’ before it even consideres sending some signals to my brain that tell me I’m full. But rest assured, there are enough solid components in this miso soup, protein-rich tofu, shiitake and udon noodles, that’ll leave you full and happy after devouring it.

Yet, you can have this beautiful soup as a starter as well, e.g. if you’re planning to have Sushi with friends. In this case I’d recommend to keep it simple and omit everything but the broth, a little tofu and some spring onions to keep the soup light. You don’t want to be full after your starter, right?

Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (5)

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Miso Soup for Beginners

Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (6)

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A quick and healthy recipe for a vegan miso soup bowl with miso paste

Author: Sabrina Dietz / Purple Avocado

Typ: Soup, Starter

Cuisine: Vegan, Vegetarian, Japanese

Portionen / Serves: 2-4 servings (either as a main or starter)

Zutaten / Ingredients

FOR THE MISO BROTH

SOUP INGREDIENTS

TO TASTE

  • fried onions
  • chili sauce
  • herbs (coriander, parsley)

Zubereitung / Instructions

  1. Soak the dried shiitake for at least 20 minutes in hot water and cut them into stripes afterwards. If you're using fresh shiitake mushrooms remove dirt with a brush or soft towel.
  2. Dice the tofu. Wash and slice the spring onions.
  3. Peel and mince the onion and sauté them in a pot with some oil.
  4. Add the shiitake and fry them for another 5 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, bringt 1 liter of water to a boil (e.g. in a water kettle).
  6. Add ca. 5 tablespoons of miso paste to the mushrooms and onions and stir everything together. Now deglaze everything with the boiling water and stir until the miso paste has completely dissolved (which should happen relatively quickly).
  7. Add the tofu, spring onions and seaweed to the soup and - if necessary - some more miso paste to taste.
  8. Once the seaweed is welled and soft you can add the udon noodles and let it simmer until they are ready. As the noodles are pre-boiled they are done within minutes.
  9. Serve in bowls and garnish with fried onions, chili sauce and herbs to taste.

Anmerkungen / Notes

*affiliate links. I'm giving you those link so that you know, what you're looking for. You can get all those ingredients in Asian supermarkets as well as (organic) supermarkets.

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*This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made via those links won’t cost you a penny more, yet recompensate me with a little commission. Consequently, if you like one of the presented products I’ve be ever so grateful if you purchased it via my links as a form of appreciation for the work I put into my posts.
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9 Responses

  1. Miso has to be one of my favourite flavours ever – in both sweet and savoury things. I never have made a miso soup before so thanks for the inspiration Xx

    Reply

    1. You’re welcome <3
      I also love it a lot, however, mostly they are not very good at all you can eat places, so I decided to make it by myself 🙂

      Reply

  2. It looks fantastic your miso soup and I am happy to have come on your blog that I know now, thanks to the fact that you won the overall for DMBLGIT.

    Reply

    1. Hello Rebecka 🙂
      Thank you for your comment. I’m always happy to know from where people get to know my blog <3

      Reply

  3. This miso soup looks delicious! And beautifully photographed too 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you Sarah 🙂 And Happy Easter!

      Reply

  4. This miso soup looks delicious 🙂 I never realized that mushrooms were so healthy until I read this someplace. They are actually very good for you.

    Reply

  5. Absolutely delicious!

    Reply

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Healthy Miso Soup Vegan Recipe (Basics for Beginners) | Purple Avocado (2024)

FAQs

Is miso soup the healthiest soup? ›

Miso soup contains several beneficial vitamins, minerals, and components that may improve your gut and heart health and may lower your risk of cancer. If you are on a low-salt diet, read the label on packaged miso soup to choose one that's low in sodium.

Is miso soup good for cutting weight? ›

Miso soup can be beneficial for weight loss due to its low calorie content and high protein levels.

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.

What is vegan miso broth made of? ›

Dashi (出汁) is broth or soup stock that forms the backbone of many Japanese dishes, including miso soup. There are several different types of dashi, made either of dried kelp, shiitake mushrooms, bonito flakes, or anchovies/sardines.

Is it okay to eat miso soup every day? ›

Miso soup is low calorie, low fat, and high in nutrient content, so it is safe to eat daily. However, it does have a high salt content. So, those on blood thinning medication or who have heart problems (including high blood pressure and heart disease) may want to limit their consumption of miso soup.

Is miso soup a carb or protein? ›

It typically contains tofu, seaweed, green onions, and ginger. In addition to being low-carb, miso is rich in minerals such as sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. It is also high in protein with 8 grams of protein per serving.

Why do I feel better after having miso soup? ›

The fermentation process, necessary to produce miso, promotes levels of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria are thought to help a range of health issues, including digestion and gut health.

Is miso soup a natural laxative? ›

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.

Can I just add miso paste to water? ›

Miso is a fermented food, meaning it contains live, active cultures of bacteria—you know, like the good stuff that's also found in yogurt. Adding it to boiling water will kill the probiotics in the miso, nixing the health benefits it typically offers, like better digestive health.

What is a vegan substitute for miso? ›

Soy Sauce/ Aminos

Soy sauce is the most common substitute for miso paste. Miso is thick and creamy, whereas soy sauce is thin like water, but if texture isn't a factor, they are both made of soy and chock full of salty and savory notes.

What can I use instead of dashi in miso soup? ›

The base of any great miso soup is its liquid component. In lieu of dashi, a homemade vegetable broth can be used. Not only does this serve as a dashi substitute, but it also adds a layer of flavor complexity while keeping the dish plant-based and accessible to those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Why do vegans use miso? ›

Miso has been popular with those on a plant-based diet traditionally as fermented soy holds a number of health benefits including being high in protein, and contains vitamin B12 – something that many vegetarians lack from their plant-based diet.

What is the healthiest soup you can eat? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 26, 2020

Is clear soup or miso soup healthier? ›

Are there any nutritional differences between miso soup and clear soup? Miso soup is known for its probiotic benefits due to the fermentation process of miso paste, while clear soup is often lower in calories and may be higher in protein depending on the ingredients used.

Does miso soup detox your body? ›

Besides detoxifying your body, a bowl of this healing turmeric miso soup helps fight colds, flu, inflammation, sore throats, and gives you a great boost of energy. If you are looking to make a soy-free version of this recipe, consider replacing the tofu with chickpeas, and the soy sauce and miso with chickpea miso.

What is the least healthiest soup? ›

Clam chowder nutrition

And Walsh agrees, “Clam chowder is one of the worst soups a person can eat. It's high in fat, calories and sodium.” There is 180 calories in a cup of clam chowder. The macronutrient breakdown in a cup of clam chowder is 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.

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