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Kabocha Miso Soup

Hearty and flavorful, this Kabocha Miso Soup is filled with sweet kabocha, umami-rich mushrooms, and nutty sesame seeds. It's plant-based, easy to make, and incredibly delicious!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 105 kcal
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
  • 1 lb kabocha squash (½ kabocha with seeds)
  • 4 cups water (If you‘re not using dashi-included miso, please use Awase Dashi or Vegan Dashi instead of water)
  • 3.5 oz shimeji mushrooms (1 pack)
  • 4 Tbsp miso (I used Hikari Miso® Dashi-Included Miso (read the blog post); please adjust the amount of miso according to your taste)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Gather all the ingredients.
  2. In an ungreased frying pan, heat 3 Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds on medium heat until toasty and fragrant. Shake the pan frequently so the sesame seeds don’t get burnt.
  3. Transfer to the Japanese mortar and pestle (suribachi and surikogi). Grind until 90% of the sesame seeds are crushed and keep 10% uncrushed.
  4. Discard the seeds from 1 lb kabocha squash and cut into slices ½ inches (1.3 cm) thick. Be careful as kabocha is quite tough to cut.
  5. Cut the slices into a small chunk, roughly 1-inch pieces. Transfer the kabocha into a medium pot.
  6. Add 4 cups water (or dashi, if you are not using dashi-included miso) and bring the water to boil over medium heat. Cover the lid leaving a small gap to prevent from boiling over.
  7. Once boiling, skim the foam and scum on the surface using a fine-mesh skimmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat and cook kabocha for 15 minutes, or until tender. Do not overcook as kabocha will break into pieces.
  8. You can check the kabocha’s doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the kabocha. Check frequently to prevent it from overcooking.
  9. When kabocha is ready, remove the bottom of 3.5 oz shimeji mushrooms and add to the soup. Cook for 1–2 minutes until tender.
  10. Turn off the heat and add 3 Tbsp miso first. Taste before adding another 1 Tbsp miso. You may not need to add more if it‘s flavorful enough to your taste.
  11. Add the ground sesame seeds and mix well. Serve the miso soup in individual bowls and enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Calories 105kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 453mg (19%) Potassium 525mg (15%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1561IU (31%) Vitamin C 14mg (16%) Calcium 131mg (13%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 105

% Daily Value*

Calories 105kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 453mg 19%
Potassium 525mg 11%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1561IU 31%
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Calcium 131mg 13%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.