Winter Vegetable Miso Soup

This hearty vegetable soup features cabbage and rutabaga, along with an added flavor boost from miso. Miso [mee-soh] is a fermented soybean paste and a common Japanese cooking ingredient. There are many different varieties, but they are typically salty and have a rich flavor.

Ingredients:

3 tbsp. cooking oil

2 medium onions, peeled and finely chopped

4 medium carrots, finely chopped

4 medium potatoes (about 1 lb.), chopped into small cubes

1 large rutabaga (about 1 lb.), peeled and chopped into small cubes

1 small head of green cabbage, roughly chopped

8 cups vegetable broth OR water

3 tbsp. tomato paste

¾ cup miso

3 tbsp. honey

Equipment:

Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Measuring cups and spoons
Cooktop
Large pot with a lid
Medium skillet
Wooden spoon

Ingredients:

3 tbsp. cooking oil

2 medium onions, peeled and finely chopped

4 medium carrots, finely chopped

4 medium potatoes (about 1 lb.), chopped into small cubes

1 large rutabaga (about 1 lb.), peeled and chopped into small cubes

1 small head of green cabbage, roughly chopped

8 cups vegetable broth OR water

3 tbsp. tomato paste

¾ cup miso

3 tbsp. honey

Equipment:

Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Measuring cups and spoons
Cooktop
Large pot with a lid
Medium skillet
Wooden spoon

Directions:

  1. Wash all the fresh ingredients and peel and chop them as noted in the ingredients list.
  2. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Carefully add the onions, listening for the sizzling sound. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until soft.
  3. Carefully add the carrots, potatoes, and rutabaga to the pot. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Pour the vegetable broth into the pot.
  5. Add the tomato paste and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes and rutabaga have softened.
  6. Add the cabbage and cook for another 20 minutes, until the cabbage has become soft and translucent.
  7. To add the miso and honey, remove the pot from the heat. In a small bowl, carefully add 1-2 cups of the hot broth and mix the miso and honey with it to form a paste. Then add mixture back to the pot and stir.

Adapted from in pursuit of more.