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Shiitake Dashi
4.6 from 66 votes

Shiitake Dashi

Shiitake Dashi is a concentrated broth made by soaking dried shiitake mushrooms in cold water to extract their deep umami flavor. This method rehydrates the mushrooms while creating a flavorful stock used in various Japanese dishes. The recipe offers options for making a strong, concentrated dashi or a diluted version depending on water amount and steeping time. The slow soaking releases the mushrooms' fragrance and taste, yielding a versatile mushroom stock.

Prep Time
5 mins
Additional Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 1 batch
Calories: 1 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

For Rehydrating the Dried Shiitake and Collecting the Dashi
  • 3 dried shiitake mushrooms (5–10 g each; found in Japanese and Asian grocery stores)
  • ½–⅔ cup water (enough to cover the mushrooms)
For a Diluted Dashi
  • 3 dried shiitake mushrooms (5–10 g each)
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

Before You Start...
    Cup of Yum
  1. In Japan, we collect shiitake dashi as a by-product of reconstituting dried shiitake mushrooms for recipes. We soak them only in just enough water to cover, so the resulting stock has a very strong and concentrated flavor. In this recipe, I‘ll show you two ways to rehydrate dried shiitake for either a typical stock or a diluted stock. Ideally, you want to start your dashi ahead of time and let it steep for a few hours or preferably overnight. Alternatively, I‘ll also show you a quick method that takes only 15 minutes of steeping time.
★ To Rehydrate the Dried Shiitake and Collect the Dashi ★
  1. Gather all the ingredients. Check the dried shiitake mushrooms to see if there is any dust or dirt trapped in the gills. If there is, use a pastry brush to clean it. Do not wash it under water.
  2. Place 3 dried shiitake mushrooms in a mason jar or airtight container and add ½–⅔ cup water (cold) to cover the mushrooms. Place a heavy object on top of the mushrooms to keep them submerged so they fully rehydrated. If you have time, let them soak in the refrigerator for a few hours or preferably overnight. If you are in a hurry, soak them in ½–⅔ cup warm water (body temperature) for 15 minutes or until softened.
  3. When the shiitake mushrooms are tender, squeeze to drain, reserving the liquid.
  4. Use the rehydrated shiitake mushrooms in the recipe of your choice. You can use them as you would fresh shiitake mushrooms. Simply remove and discard the tough stems with a knife.
  5. To collect the shiitake dashi, run the soaking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve to catch any dirt or debris. This concentrated Shiitake Dashi is now ready to use for adding to a sauce, steaming, seasoning, and so on.
To Store
  1. You can store the dashi in the refrigerator for 2–3 days or in the freezer for 1 month.
★ To Make a Diluted Shiitake Dashi ★
  1. Gather all the ingredients. Check if there is any dust or dirt trapped in the gills of the mushrooms. If there is, use a pastry brush to clean. Do not wash it under water.
  2. Soak 3 dried shiitake mushrooms in 2 cups water. Place a heavy object on top of the mushrooms to keep them submerged so they fully rehydrated. If you have time, let them soak in the refrigerator for a few hours or preferably overnight. If you’re in a hurry, soak them in 2 cups warm water for 15 minutes or until softened.
  3. After soaking for several hours...
  4. When the shiitake mushrooms are tender, squeeze to drain, reserving the liquid.
  5. Use the rehydrated shiitake mushrooms in the recipe of your choice. You can use them as you would fresh shiitake mushrooms. Simply remove and discard the tough stems with a knife.
  6. To collect the shiitake dashi, run the soaking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve. Your diluted Shiitake Dashi is now ready to use.
To Store
  1. You can store the dashi in the refrigerator for 2–3 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

Notes

  • For stronger flavor, soak dried shiitake mushrooms slowly in cold water overnight to extract umami.
  • Clean any dirt from mushrooms with a pastry brush before soaking; avoid rinsing to maintain flavor.
  • Adjust soaking time depending on whether you want a concentrated stock or a lighter broth.

Nutrition Information

Serving 2cups Calories 1kcal (0%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Protein 1g (2%) Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 5mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 66mg (7%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1 batch

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1

% Daily Value*

Serving 2cups
Calories 1kcal 0%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Protein 1g 2%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 5mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 66mg 7%
Iron 1mg 6%

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