Feeling a little run down lately? Meet your new favorite comfort food, miso! It’s taken the food world by storm. While a fermented soybean paste may not sound like something you’d associate with comfort and taste, consider this: miso has been a staple of the Japanese diet throughout history and for good reason.

Miso is:

• A nutritional powerhouse containing enzymes, protein, fiber and most of all, flavor.
• Available as red, white, yellow and others, but all are very similar.
• A fermented product thought to help provide additional good bacteria to the body.
• Salty in flavor with a unique “umami”, a pleasant savory taste that’s hard to describe.
• Popular in sauces, salad dressings and soups.

While recipes abound for miso soup, it’s really not all that complicated. Start by adding a couple of tablespoons to your favorite heated broth (called a dashi in Japan). Adjust the taste by adding more miso or diluting with additional broth. Be creative and make it your own — just don’t boil the broth after adding miso, as high temperatures cause it to lose some of its beneficial qualities. Consider tossing in a few of the add-ins below and simmer in the broth before adding the miso:

• Fresh green onion
• Cooked tofu
• Potato
• Soba noodles
• Mushrooms

So the next time you feel like you need a little extra TLC, try substituting miso soup for that chicken noodle soup and experience the comforting taste that other cultures have known about for centuries. It’s good for the soul!

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