Miso!

Isn't it funny how some of our favourite foods/dishes/ingredients can so quickly become our favourites as adults, even though we spent our childhood resisting even trying them? Seaweed.... in soup... really? I just got used to in wrapped around rice!

I didn't have a childhood filled with any seafood, let alone algae from the sea! My brother is deadly allergic and the first memory I have of eating any seafood was when I was probably ten and my first sushi experience was my first week of university in Kingston. I slowly began to love it and now my love is in full bloom... mmm :)

Jayanna and Dan introduced me to miso soup a few weeks ago when I was in Victoria... and what can I say... de-lish. What I loved about their miso (and my miso) soup is that it doesn't have too many ingredients in it that it becomes a stew. Miso soup is very alkalizing and healing for the body and to be honest, that is exactly what I feel when I taste this soup (medically or non, this stuff is amazing!).

Miso Soup

2 Cups of water

Some arame or 3 strips of dulse (soak arame in a bowl covered with warm water for 20 minutes and then rinse) (I used arame as it doesn't have as strong a flavour)

1 medium green onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp. sesame seeds

2 tbsp. of brown rice miso paste (or barley miso paste... or a mix!)

NOTE: Be creative! Add whatever you would like in your delicious soup! I added celery and bok choy. You can add mushroom, spinach... or even noodles if you want a heavier soup.

Bring water with arame to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer (a low heat of 2-3 setting at most) for 5 minutes. Add veggies for another 5 minutes and while you are letting this cook, toast on a bare pan the sesame seeds and green onion. Take 2-3 tbsp of the boiled water out of the pot and place in a bowl and mix in the miso and then add the mixed miso back into the pot. Let heat for another 2 minutes and then serve in bowls topping with the sesame seeds and green onions! MMM!

Makes 2 small servings

I made a double recipe (ok... well all the arame fell into the bowl instead of half... so I had to make a double recipe!), which is why my pot is so big!

This recipe is from The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier and he has a few more tips/tricks:

-This is an alkalizing soup, rich in calcium and trace mineral, provides natural-source electrolytes to help restore balance in the body after exercise

-For a more intense flavour, lightly stir-fry the scallion and the ground sesame seeds in 1 tbsp coconut oil

-Black sesame seeds are also a nice variation from the usual white variety

-For added nutrition add 1 tbsp hemp protein

Enjoy!