Low-sodium dark miso soup recipe, specifically tailored to use nori sheets (sushi seaweed) alongside the dried shiitake mushrooms to create a deeply flavorful broth.
Since nori dissolves if boiled too long, we will use it two ways: first, to steep a delicate sea flavor into the broth, and second, as a fresh, crispy garnish at the very end.
Low-Sodium Dark Miso Soup (with Nori)
Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Servings: 2
Ingredients
• 4 cups water
• 2 sheets of nori (divided)
• 2-3 dried shiitake mushrooms (essential for the umami base)
• 1 to 1.5 tablespoons dark miso paste
• 1/2 cup silken or firm tofu, cubed
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Build the umami broth base: Tear 1 sheet of nori into large pieces and place it into a medium pot with 4 cups of water and the dried shiitake mushrooms. Let them soak cold for 10 minutes.
2. Simmer the broth: Turn the heat to medium and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer on low for about 10 minutes so the mushrooms completely rehydrate and soften, and the nori infuses the water.
3. Strain and slice: Pour the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl to catch the spent, soggy nori pieces and mushrooms. Pour the clean broth back into the pot. Take the softened shiitake mushrooms, slice them up thinly, and toss them back into the broth. (Discard the boiled nori pieces).
4. Warm the tofu: Add your cubed tofu to the pot and let it warm through on low heat for 2 minutes. Turn the heat off completely.
5. Dissolve the dark miso: Ladle 1/2 cup of the hot broth into a small bowl. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of the dark miso paste until completely smooth with no lumps. Pour it back into the pot and stir. Taste the broth—if you need a little more body, add an extra half-tablespoon of miso.
6. Garnish and serve: Pour the soup into bowls. Take your second sheet of nori, cut or tear it into thin, bite-sized strips, and scatter them over the top along with the fresh green onions. Serve immediately while the toasted nori strips on top are still slightly crisp!