Shiitake Umami Soup

I make this soup all of the time. I love to have this going alongside whatever other dishes I am making and I just add whatever veggies I have leftover from other recipes. It is so nourishing and good for you with all the veggies, greens, and ginger. To me, the broth captures that umami flavor that is so satisfying. I think the wine brings out the shiitake flavor somehow. The shiitakes are a must, but you can play around with the veggies and add whatever sounds good to you. Broccoli, green pepper, cauliflower, shallots, etc. - go for it!

Shiitake Umami Soup

Ingredients:

4 cups water
6 dried shiitake mushroom caps
2 inch strip kombu
2 tbsp wine (I used a cooking wine)
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp agave nectar

1/2 small onion, diced small
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 stalk celery, diced (I like to include the celery leaves for more flavor and less waste)
2 cups fresh greens (collards, mustard, radish, whatever you have)
1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced

Directions:

Combine the water, shiitakes, kombu, wine, soy sauce, and agave in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes to soften the mushrooms and the kombu. Use a slotted spoon to remove the shiitakes and kombu from the broth and put them on a cutting board.

Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the broth, and let that cook while you prep the carrots and celery. Add those and then tear up the fresh greens and add them to the pan. Also, slice the reserved mushrooms, mince the kombu, and add those as well. Finally add the minced ginger and let it cook for one more minute. Taste for the tenderness of the vegetables, adjust the seasonings and serve.

For 4 servings. Nutritional information from caloriecount.about.com

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 409 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  66 Calories from Fat  2

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  0.2g 0%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  720mg 30%

Potassium  298mg 9%

Total Carbohydrates  13.9g 5%

Dietary Fiber  2.8g 11%

Sugars  4.9g

Protein  2.3g

Vitamin A 117% • Vitamin C 22% Calcium 8% • Iron 7%

Nutrition Grade A

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet