Ingredients

  • 6-8 cps. water or vegetable stock
  • 1-2 inch piece of kombu seaweed
  • 4-6 dried donko shiitake mushrooms
  • 2 cps. fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cps. vegetables (brussel sprouts, cauliflower; any that you like)
  • 1 large leek
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp. each of oregano and thyme
  • Toasted sesame oil (or olive oil)
  • 2-3 TB. Tamari or 4 tsp. miso
  • 1/4 cp. mirin (rice cooking wine) – optional
  • Fresh parsley and/or sliced scallions for garnish

 

Directions

  1. Cover Shiitake mushrooms with water; soak about 30 minutes or until soft enough to slice. Slice, discarding stems, and set aside.   
  2. Wash and slice fresh mushrooms. 
  3. Cut leek down center and rinse thoroughly to remove any grit. Slice thin.
  4. Mince the garlic and finely chop parsley and thinly slice scallions.
  5. Heat 2 TB. oil in a soup pot. When hot, add leeks, garlic, oregano and thyme, sautéing 4-5 minutes. 
  6. Add shiitake and fresh mushrooms, stirring constantly over medium high heat. Add the shiitake soaking water (being careful not to use the grit at bottom of soaking water) and water or stock.   
  7. Bring to a boil and add Kombu.  Simmer 10-15 minutes. 
  8. Add 2 cups veggies – include one or more of the following:  brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips and kale. Simmer 5 minutes more until veggies are tender.  
  9. Add tamari or miso and mirin. Simmer gently 5 minutes more.  
  10. Garnish with parsley and/or scallion just before serving.

 

Options

To make a richer soup, use 2 cups unsweetened oat milk or 14 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk and reduce the water accordingly.

**Mirin is a rice cooking wine that imparts a sweet and rich flavor.  Avoid the inexpensive commercial variety of mirin and soy sauce, and purchase at a reputable natural foods store.

The shiitake, garlic and other vegetables in this recipe all strengthen immunity.

Kombu is a tasteless sea vegetable that adds important minerals and makes anything you cook it with more easily digestible.

High quality Donko Dried Shiitake Mushrooms, Tamari, Kombu, and Mirin can be purchased at Natural Import Company online. Eden is also a good brand. Avoid seaweed from China and Hong Kong.

South River is a superior brand of miso and can be purchased at some health food stores and at South River Miso online. Miso Master and Westbrae are also good brands. Miso has many health benefits.

More Soups – including miso soup