Kimchi and Miso Noodle Soup

Ingredients for Kimchi and Miso Noodle Soup

• 200g Asian mushrooms (enoki, shimeji, shiitake, oyster)

• 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce, plus a little extra to season and serve

• Juice of 1/2 a lemon

• 2 tablespoons vegan honey or agave nectar

• 200g soba noodles

• 3 tablespoons sesame oil

• Sea salt

• 6 spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped

• A small thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and grated

• 1 teaspoon gochujang paste or red pepper flakes

• 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

• 100-150g cabbage kimchi, drained

• 3 cups (250 g) purple sprouting broccoli, woody ends removed and cut into thumb-length pieces

• 45ml miso paste

• 250g extra-firm tofu

• Sesame seeds

• Squeeze of lemon or lime

• Some coriander or shiso leaves (optional)

First, put your mushrooms into a bowl with the tamari, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of the honey, and put to one side to marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Cook the soba noodles according to packet instructions. Drain and run under cold water, then toss in 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large soup pan over medium to high heat. Once the mushrooms have had their marinating time, drain them but keep the marinade Add the mushrooms to the pan in a single layer with a pinch of salt (you can do this in batches if you need to). Cook until the mushrooms are golden where they meet the pan, then toss and keep cooking until the mushrooms are deeply browned all over—this should take 5 minutes or so. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Fill and boil the kettle. Put the empty pan back over medium heat, add the spring onions and sauté for a few minutes before adding the ginger and gochujang paste. After another minute or so, add the garlic and the drained kimchi. Sizzle until the garlic is starting to brown around the edges. Add 1200ml (1 1/4 liters) of water from the kettle along with the remaining tablespoon of honey and bring to a boil. Now, add the broccoli and simmer for 1 minute, or just until the broccoli becomes bright green.

Remove the soup from the heat. Place the miso in a small bowl and whisk it with a splash of the broth to thin it out. Stir the thinned miso into the soup. Taste your soup; you really need to get the balance right here. If the broth tastes a bit flat, you might need more salt or miso, or a splash of soy sauce.

Just before serving, cut the tofu into little 3/4-inch (2-cm) pieces—you'll have about 240ml —and drizzle it with the reserved marinade from the mushrooms.

To serve, divide the noodles among four bowls and ladle over the soup. Top with to tofu, mushrooms, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Finish with more soy if you like, a squeeze of lemon or lime, and the shiso or coriander leaves if using.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.