What is Miso Soup

Miso soup (味噌汁, miso shiru) is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which is mixed softened miso paste. Although the suspension of miso paste into dashi is the only characteristic that actually defines miso soup, many other ingredients are added depending on regional and seasonal recipes, and personal preference.

Further definition is as follows: Miso is soy bean paste, which is an essential condiment in Japanese cooking. Miso is made by fermenting soy beans with salt and koji. Koji are fermented grains such as rice, barley, and soy beans. It takes about 10 months to a year for miso to be ready for use.

About Dashi

Dashi (出汁, だし) is a class of soup and cooking stocks considered fundamental to Japanese cooking. Shizuo Tsuji (1980) wrote that "many substitutes for dashi are possible, but without dashi, dishes are merely a la japonaise and lack the authentic flavor." Dashi forms the base for miso soups, clear broth soups, Japanese noodle broths, and many Japanese simmering liquids.

The most common form of dashi is a simple broth or stock made by boiling kombu (edible kelp) and kezurikatsuo (shavings of katsuobushi) and then straining the resultant liquid. Fresh dashi made from dried kelp and katsuobushi is rare today, even in Japan.^[1] Most people use granulated or liquid instant substitutes.

Other kinds of dashi stock are made by soaking kelp, shiitake, or niboshi in water for many hours or heating them in water nearly to boiling and straining the resultant broth. Kelp stock or kombu dashi is made by soaking kelp, or sea tangle, in water. Shiitake dashi stock is made by soaking dried shiitake mushrooms in water. Niboshi dashi stock is made by soaking small dried sardines (after pinching off their heads and entrails to prevent bitterness) in water.

In 1908, the unusual and strong flavor of kelp dashi was identified by Kikunae Ikeda as umami, the "fifth flavor", attributed to unique taste receptors responding to glutamic acid.

The most common form of dashi is a simple broth or stock made by boiling kombu (edible kelp) and kezurikatsuo (shavings of katsuobushi) and then straining the resultant liquid. Fresh dashi made from dried kelp and katsuobushi is rare today, even in Japan.^[1] Most people use granulated or liquid instant substitutes.

Other kinds of dashi stock are made by soaking kelp, shiitake, or niboshi in water for many hours or heating them in water nearly to boiling and straining the resultant broth. Kelp stock or kombu dashi is made by soaking kelp, or sea tangle, in water. Shiitake dashi stock is made by soaking dried shiitake mushrooms in water. Niboshi dashi stock is made by soaking small dried sardines (after pinching off their heads and entrails to prevent bitterness) in water.

In 1908, the unusual and strong flavor of kelp dashi was identified by Kikunae Ikeda as umami, the "fifth flavor", attributed to unique taste receptors responding to glutamic acid.

Prevent Breast Cancer with Miso Soup

Yet another reason to follow the healthy diet of the Okinawans (who boast one of the longest lifespans on planet Earth).

Miso soup is also one of the Japanese staple diet. Read below for the health benefits of the humble miso soup that we can find so easily in any Japanese restaurant.

By Takeshi Yokokawa

June 18, 2003 (Wed)

A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare research group announced on June 18 that miso soup inhibits the development of cancer cells. Three bowls of miso soup a day reduce the possibility of breast cancer by half, reported the researchers.

The group conducted a 10-year study of volunteers aged 40 to 59 years from Iwate, Akita, Nagano and Okinawa prefectures to observe the relationship between soybean product consumption and breast cancer. Miso is made from soybeans, which include isoflavone. The researchers discovered that a high intake of isoflavone yields favorable results in the prevention of breast cancer and that as a result, there is a correlation between the amount of miso soup intake and the incidence of breast cancer. Compared with consuming one bowl of miso soup or less a day, two bowls provide a 26 percent reduction and three bowls a 40 percent reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer.

The groups said that consuming an excessive amount of miso soup, however, can introduce too much salt into the body, causing high blood pressure and stomach cancer. They highlighted the benefits of not relying strictly on miso soup but also eating other soybean products.

Once breast cancer is detected, female hormones help cancer cells multiply rapidly. Isoflavone has the same structure as cancer cells, and female hormones can send isoflavone through the body quickly as well. Isoflavone is believed to hinder the development of cancer cells.