Quick! Talk to me about miso!

[NotQuiteCockney]

It's not an emergency per se, but I'm off to the health food shop in a moment.

DH likes miso soup. I saw what looked like miso stock cubes in Sainsbury's yesterday, but assumed they were rubbish. If I find miso paste at the health food store (I think they have it), do I just need that to make the soup? Or do I need spring onions or something?

And are there better and worse brands of miso paste? I'm not going to the Japanese supermarket, so my options will probably be limited. (Oooh, would Thai or Vietnamese or whatever shops do miso?)

get the stuff that comes in sachets. it will probably be white miso whereas the paste is nearly always brown. It will also have the seaweed and cubes of tofu in it
Get yourself a nice big steak to top it off while you're at it

We use miso paste. You do have to check that it's an msg less brand and, if you're veggie like us, that it doesn't have fish sauce added.

The paste is fine for making soup, just boil up water, add some paste have no idea how much, do a taste test), and add extra things like spring onions, daikon, seaweed and tofu in order of length of cooking time. I use it as stock as well, although in that case I add it nearer the end of cooking that the beginiing and you do have to stir well to ensuure it dissolves.

Miso also comes in different types. Basically the darker the colour the stronger the flavour. We tend to get yellow miso as it's quite mild. Also, look for ones which are a mixture of fermented soya and fermented rice, rather than just one or another. An added bonus is that it's very good for an upset tummy, or if you've been on ABs and have no gut flora left.

I use Clearspring. It comes in little sachets and you can get some with tofu, seaweed...

I buy the stuff in sachets too.

I think it's by a company called Sanchu or Sanchi

I'm not having this stuff, I don't like soup that much, and certainly not broth.

How are you, Suzy?

good thanks NQC, how are you going? Been back home lately? What's the word on the street in Hackney? Actually I just found out my long lost cousin runs a new kids recycling shop in your neck of the woods. Anyway ... about the miso.

It's probably a phase your DH is going through.

Oooh, lots of answers, will ask DH what kind he likes.

Ah, he wants the pale stuff. I'll see what the health food store has, and get some from Ocado, too. Anything but the Gillian McPoo stuff, anyway.

They recycle kids? How does that work?

He's liked it for a while. Nothing wrong with liking miso, surely? He still eats meat and all that, too. (Personally, I could live on duck and pomelos, so I'm in no position to poke fun.)

I think we might skip Canada this year, too far, expensive, stressful, etc etc. Have you been in the UK lately?

Then get the yellow stuff.

Nothing wrong with miso, it's very good for you. As well as the gut flora thing it probably keeps you regular too.

Oooh, does it help with gut flora? A non-dairy thing for that is good.

well funny you should ask, NQC, I'll be back avec Fragrant Boys in May.

Miso is indeed very very good for one.

Oh, I'd better not tell DH that, he won't eat it then. It's made of chocolate and beer, isn't it?

Are you visiting London in May?