MUSHROOM MISO SOUP

Mushroom Miso Soup image

Provided by David Tanis

Time 1h

Yield 2 large servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

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1 piece of kombu, about 6 inches square
3 large dried shiitake mushrooms, crumbled
3 teaspoons light soy sauce
2 teaspoons mirin
2 tablespoons sake
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt to taste
3 ounces fresh shiitake mushroom caps, thinly sliced, about 2 cups
3 ounces King oyster mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon grated garlic
1 teaspoon grated ginger
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons white or red miso
6 ounces silken tofu, at room temperature
Enoki mushroom tips
2 tablespoons slivered scallions
4 shiso leaves, slivered
Sunflower sprouts
2 tablespoons slivered toasted nori
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Toasted sesame seeds

Steps:

Make the dashi: Put kombu, dried shiitakes, soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar in a large soup pot. Add 6 cups cold water. Place over medium heat, allow the liquid to barely reach a boil, then reduce heat to low and let cook at a very slow simmer for about 30 minutes. Skim foam as necessary. Let cool to room temperature. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and add salt to taste. (Dashi may be prepared up to 2 days in advance.)
Put the sliced mushrooms in a bowl and drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce. Add garlic and ginger and season with salt and pepper. Toss and let marinate for 10 minutes.
Put dashi in a large soup pot over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Add mushroom mixture and cook gently for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are just tender.
Remove 1/2 cup hot broth from pot and place in a small bowl. Stir in miso to dilute, then return miso-broth mixture to the pot. Taste and adjust seasoning. Once the miso has been added, do not let the soup boil.
To serve, cut the tofu in half and place a 3-ounce chunk in each of two large bowls. Ladle 2 cups of hot soup over the tofu. Sprinkle with enoki mushroom tips, scallions, shiso, sunflower sprouts, nori, red pepper and toasted sesame seeds as desired.