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Miso Soup with Greens, Probiotics and Protein

By Ethan Boldt

April 19, 2024

Most of us are unfamiliar with miso soup. A traditional Japanese dish, it’s made using a miso broth made from a softened paste. Along with the paste, other miso soup ingredients may include mushrooms, veggies, leafy greens and seaweed.

Because it’s both delicious and very good for you and your gut — including full of probiotics — it’s time to put it in your cooking rotation. Don’t worry, it’s a pretty easy recipe to follow and only requires a couple of ingredients you may not be familiar with.

This miso soup also features more protein than the standard type, as we use Bone Broth Protein in the recipe (you can substitute chicken or vegetable both) for extra gut and joint benefits.

In addition, miso soup is relatively low calorie and is loaded with nutrients, as you will see below. Let’s get started.

What Is Miso?

What helps makes this miso soup recipe so nutritious is properly prepared miso, made from soybeans. Because the beans are fermented, miso is a rich source of probiotic bacteria and loaded with probiotic benefits. And making the best miso soup recipe from scratch means you can avoid the additives and excess sodium that too often are included in restaurant versions.

Miso is a salty paste made from fermented beans that has been a staple ingredient in the Japanese diet for thousands of years. It can also be made using certain grains, such as fermented barley, rice or oats, mixed with salt and a bacteria called koji — which results in a range of miso tastes, colors and uses. It is one of the best condiments to keep on hand, as it’s versatile in recipes (such as with salmon) and packed with some noteworthy health benefits.

So where do you get miso? There are plenty of options for where to buy miso paste, and it’s typically available in the produce section of supermarkets, near other condiments, such as salad dressings. If you’re having trouble finding it at your local grocery store, you can also try searching in specialty Asian markets or health food stores.

Two of the most common types are red and white miso. White miso paste is made from soybeans that have been fermented with a higher percentage of rice. This results in a lighter color and gives the final product a slightly sweeter taste.

Red miso, on the other hand, is made from soybeans that have been fermented for longer periods of time, typically with barley or other grains. It tends to have a deep, rich and salty flavor, plus a darker color that ranges from red to brown.

Nutrition Facts

Miso soup makes for a great starter or accompanying a heartier dish at lunchtime. One serving of this recipe is only 173 calories, with 24 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fat and 17 grams of protein.

Each serving is very high in vitamin K (181% Daily Value*), vitamin A (78% DV), copper (53% DV), manganese (36% DV) and B vitamins.

This miso soup recipe is loaded with nutrients because all eight ingredients are considered very good for you.

After the miso, you also have coconut aminos. A healthier substitute for soy sauce, coconut aminos contain 17 naturally occurring amino acids, have almost a perfectly level pH balance, yield a low glycemic index of only 35 and are high B vitamins.

Onions and garlic are allium vegetables and contain high levels of organosulfur compounds which help support healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Ginger is high in antioxidants and supports a healthy response to inflammation.

For miso soup, typically shiitake, oyster or maitake mushrooms are used. Shiitakes are unique for a plant because they contain all eight essential amino acids, along with a type of essential fatty acid called linoleic acid. Linoleic acid helps one manage a healthy weight and build muscle.

Collard greens are a great vitamin K and vitamin A food, plus these leafy greens are rich in sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates, which support detoxification.

Lastly, Bone Broth Protein is a nourishing, concentrated bone broth that is three as potent** as homemade broth and makes it easy to get healthy gut, joint and inflammation support.

*Daily Value: Percentages are based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day.

**Based on protein content

How to Make Miso Soup

Begin by heating the broth and mixing in the Bone Broth Protein (pure flavor). Meanwhile, prep the vegetables, including chopping the onion, mushrooms and collard greens. Mince the garlic and grate the garlic, or use garlic paste.

Once the broth is simmering, toss in these vegetables along with the coconut aminos. Cook for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the miso with a some hot water until it’s thoroughly combined.

Remove the broth and vegetable mixture from heat. Add in the miso and stir to combine. Pour into two bowls and serve.

Other Healthy, Soup Recipes

• Thai coconut chicken soup

• Creamy broccoli soup

• French onion soup

• Acorn squash soup

• Meatball soup

• Bone broth chicken noodle soup