Tonjiru, Miso Soup with Pork and Veggies
Tonjiru, Cozy Comfort Soup Recipe for Warming Winter Nights
As the chilly winter winds blow, my mind often drifts back to the memories of local winter events from my childhood. One particular dish that stands out was Tonjiru, also called Butajiru, a soul-warming miso soup with pork an assortment of vegetables. This classic comfort dish has a special place in my heart, bringing back the nostalgia of outdoor gatherings and steaming bowls of umami-packed delight.
RECIPE
Servings: 4-5
Time: 40 min
Ingredients:
5-6 oz thin-sliced pork
2 dried shiitake mushrooms
1/8 piece daikon
1 small carrot
1/4 piece burdock root
1/3 piece konjac
1 pack dashi powder
1 cup water for soaking shiitake
1 cup water
2 tbsp miso
1 tbsp sake
small amount of vegetable oil
chopped scallion for garnish
Instructions:
Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in one cup of water for 15-20 minutes until they rehydrate and become plump.
Chop the carrot, burdock root, daikon, and cut the pork into bite-sized pieces. If using a square type konjac, cut it into small pieces as well. (I used bite-sized ball shaped konjac)
Once the shiitake is rehydrated, slice them and set aside.
In a pot, heat a small amount of vegetable oil. Add the pork and sake, and stir-fry until the pork is cooked through.
Incorporate the sliced shiitake, carrot, burdock root, daikon, and konjac into the pot. Continue stirring to ensure even cooking.
Pour in the shiitake broth, add one cup of water, and add the dashi pack, or mix in the dashi powder if you are using the powder type. Allow the vegetables to cook for 10-15 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add the miso to the pot. Gently stir to dissolve the miso.
Garnish with chopped scallions, and serve.
Tonjiru soup seen in the Netflix show, “Midnight Diner”
“Midnight Diner”, based on the Japanese manga "Shinya Shokudo" by Yaro Abe, is known for its episodic format, with each episode focusing on a different dish and its connection to the characters' lives. The show is set in a small diner that opens from midnight to dawn, and the chef, known as the Master, serves as a confidant to his customers, listening to their stories. And Tonjiru Teishoku (meal set) is being featured in the opening scene as the owner chef making a pot of the heart-warming Tonjiru.
