🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Miso Soup Substitute - Make Miso Soup Without Miso Paste

Learn how to make miso soup without miso paste. Get complete recipes, ingredient substitutions, and tips for authentic-tasting miso soup alternatives.

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Quick Answer

To make miso soup without miso paste, use dashi broth + soy sauce + a touch of sugar. For 4 servings: 4 cups dashi, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, plus tofu, seaweed, and scallions.

Best Substitutes

Dashi + Soy Sauce + Sugar

4 cups dashi + 2 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tsp sugar for 4 servings

Classic miso soup base using dashi broth with soy sauce and sugar for umami and sweetness

Best for:

miso soupclear soupslight broths

Best substitute for miso soup. Add tofu, seaweed, and scallions for authentic flavor.

Vegetable Broth + Soy Sauce + Nutritional Yeast

4 cups vegetable broth + 2 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp nutritional yeast for 4 servings

Vegetarian miso soup alternative with umami depth from nutritional yeast

Best for:

vegetarian miso soupvegan soupslight broths

Good vegetarian option. Nutritional yeast adds umami depth similar to miso.

Chicken Broth + Soy Sauce + Fish Sauce

4 cups chicken broth + 1 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tsp fish sauce for 4 servings

Rich miso soup alternative using chicken broth with umami enhancers

Best for:

hearty miso souprich brothscomfort soups

More flavorful option. Fish sauce adds umami depth similar to miso.

Kombu Dashi + Soy Sauce + Mirin

4 cups kombu dashi + 2 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp mirin for 4 servings

Traditional Japanese-style soup using kombu seaweed dashi

Best for:

authentic Japanese souplight brothstraditional soups

Most authentic option. Kombu dashi provides natural umami flavor.

Cooking Tips

  • 💡Start with a good dashi broth base - this is the foundation of miso soup
  • 💡Add soy sauce gradually and taste as you go - it's easier to add more than to fix oversalted soup
  • 💡A touch of sugar helps balance the saltiness and mimics miso's natural sweetness
  • 💡Add tofu, wakame seaweed, and scallions for authentic miso soup ingredients
  • 💡Don't boil the soup after adding soy sauce - it can make it bitter
  • 💡For vegetarian miso soup, use vegetable broth and nutritional yeast for umami
  • 💡For a richer flavor, add a small amount of fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make miso soup without miso paste?

Use dashi broth + soy sauce + sugar (4 cups dashi + 2 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tsp sugar for 4 servings). Add tofu, seaweed, and scallions for authentic miso soup ingredients.

What's the best substitute for miso in miso soup?

The best substitute is a combination of soy sauce and sugar in dashi broth. This provides the umami and slight sweetness that miso paste contributes to the soup.

Can I use vegetable broth instead of dashi?

Yes, you can use vegetable broth, but add nutritional yeast for umami depth. For best results, make a simple kombu dashi by soaking kombu seaweed in water.

What ingredients should I add to make it taste like miso soup?

Add tofu (silken or firm), wakame seaweed, scallions, and optionally mushrooms. These are the traditional miso soup ingredients that will make it taste authentic.

Can I make miso soup with just soy sauce?

Soy sauce alone will make it too salty and one-dimensional. Combine it with dashi broth and a touch of sugar for the best flavor balance.

Is there a vegan miso soup substitute?

Yes, use vegetable broth + soy sauce + nutritional yeast + sugar. Add tofu, seaweed, and scallions for a complete vegan miso soup experience.

Summary

Learn how to make miso soup without miso paste. Get complete recipes, ingredient substitutions, and tips for authentic-tasting miso soup alternatives.