Ingredients

  • 5 cps. filtered or spring water
  • 2 cps. sliced vegetables: leeks, carrots, dried shiitake mushrooms, kale (any veggies you like)
  • 1/2 tsp. wakame flakes
  • 1/2 cp. tofu cut into cubes
  • 4 tsp. miso paste
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger
  • parsley or scallions for garnish

 

Directions

  1. Cover 2 dried shiitake mushrooms with water for about 30 minutes.
  2. Rehydrate wakame flakes in room temperature water for 3-4 minutes.
  3. Slice shiitake, discarding stems (they are not edible).
  4. Cut the tofu into small cubes.
  5. Bring water to a boil and add vegetables.   
  6. Cover and simmer 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender. Then add the ginger.
  7. Put the miso in a cup and stir in some of the hot soup stock to thin the miso. Add to the soup and simmer gently (do not boil) for 3 more minutes.
  8. Stir in scallions and parsley and turn off heat.

 

NOTE

  • Many popular cookbooks and websites feature miso soup with up to 10x the amount of miso that is recommended for good health. The general rule is 1/2 to one tsp. miso per cup of liquid in soup. This very healing food will work against you if you use too much.
  • Miso is a salty food and if you use the right amount it should not taste salty. Best not to add salt or bouillon to miso soup. 
  • Restaurant miso soup is usually too salty.

 

Benefits and therapeutic properties of Miso

  • Contains amino acid patterns similar to meat with a trace of B12, minerals (including calcium, iron) and is high in protein. 
  • Helps protect the body against radiation and heavy metal poisoning.
  • Reduces the risk of coronary heart disease; protects cells from free radicals and aging. 
  • The lactobacillus fermentation increases the quantity, availability, digestibility and assimilability of nutrients.
  • Effective in reducing chronic pain. 
  • Breaks down and discharges cholesterol,
  • Neutralizes the effects of smoking and environmental pollution. 
  • Alkalizes the blood and strengthens blood quality.
  • Studies show that those who regularly eat miso suffer significantly less from cancer and heart disease. 
  • Increases resistance to disease and promotes longevity.

 

Benefits and therapeutic properties of Wakame and other Seaweed

  • Seaweeds are sea plants that contain 10-20x the minerals of land plants and an abundance of vitamins and other elements necessary for metabolism.  
  • Remove radioactive and toxic metal wastes from the body 
  • Soften hardened areas and masses in the body
  • Detoxifies, transforms phlegm; lymphatic cleanser
  • Removes residues of radiation in the body
  • Lowers cholesterol and fat in the blood
  • Beneficial effect on the thyroid. Improves metabolism
  • Useful in the treatment of nodules, lumps, swollen lymph glands, edema, chronic coughs with phlegm, skin diseases and tumors.  
  • Useful in the treatment of cancer and fibroids

 

  • My favorite brand of miso is South River. Can be purchased from their website and at some health food stores. Miso Master and Westbrae are also good brans.
  • High quality seaweed can be purchased online at Natural Import Company and at Eden Foods online.

 

To learn more about miso and seaweed and their benefits, read my blog post  Salt – Friend or Foe