Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Miso soup

Few weeks ago, my husband saw his friend buying Miso paste (a fermented soybean paste originating in Japan). Since we are here in Japan, we have never tried miso soup, so he asked me if I want to try. My answer was NO, NO, NO!!!
But after searching about the health benefits of Miso paste, I changed my mind. This is what I have found:
  • Because Miso is fermented with a B12-synthesizing bacteria, miso has been commonly recommended as a B12 source for vegans.
  • Miso is quite high in sodium (1 ounce contains 52% of the recommended daily value for sodium), but a little miso goes a long way towards providing your daily needs for the trace minerals zinc, manganese, and copper.
  • A single tablespoon of miso contains 2 grams of protein for just 25 calories. An impressive nutrient profile for a flavoring agent!
  • Miso's Minerals Support Immune Function, Energy Production, Bones and Blood Vessels
  • Protection Against Breast Cancer
After knowing all these benefits, no way I can say no to Miso.

The Miso I am using is called 純正こうじみそ (jyunsei-kouji-miso). This one is Halal, it contains only soybean, rice, and salt. As you see, no preservatives or additives which means more healthy (BTW, I am trying to avoid eating products that contain long term harmful additives).

Miso soup is very easy to make, just take a cup of warm water and add 1 table spoon of miso paste, then you can add the mixture to a vegetable soup, to noodles, or just drink it as it is.
For more information about Miso, see the following website: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=114#healthbenefits

A Few Quick Serving Ideas: (from the previous website)

  • Miso soup is quick and easy to prepare. Heat miso paste and water over low-medium heat. Eat as is or add in some traditional fixings including shiitake mushrooms, tofu, scallions, burdock, carrots, and daikon radish.
  • Miso-tahini sandwiches are one of our favorites. To make your own, just spread miso on a piece of bread and then top with tahini. Enjoy as is or add sliced avocado.
  • Use miso as an ingredient in marinades for meat, fish, poultry or game.
  • Carry dried miso soup packets with you and enjoy them as a pick-me-up coffee substitute.
  • Combine a little miso with olive oil, flax seed oil, ginger and garlic to make an Asian-inspired dressing that can be used on salads or cold grain dishes.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

So Hafidha, the next step will be Natto then :) !

Hafida said...

no way Fadoua!

Anonymous said...

Natto is healthy, too :).
I like it mixed with "okura" above Japanese rice. So delicious!!

Anonymous said...

Really? I will try to buy some inshalla. Btw, what is okura?

Anonymous said...

I found what is Okura, in english it is called Okra.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A9
I rarely buy it, but inshalah I will try it with natto ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I enjoy reading your blog.
I'm learning to make Japanese food.
But, I'm having trouble looking for Dashi and Miso paste which are halal. When I went to the supermarket,.. all of the Miso contains alcohol.

So upset, cant find it.. :(

Maybe you could post pictures or brand names of those products?

Anonymous said...

Salaams and arigato!
I studied japanese when I was at school and drank plently of Miso soup on Japanese excursions - Not realising they may not be halal! I havent had any since then, but now will try to find one which is halal.
It must be a huge lifestlye change living in Japan. Lucky Jap food is quite tasty!

Yasmin said...

Hi, the organic miso i saw in market normally don't contain alcohol and i've verified with one company (Miyasaka) and the representative replied saying that there is no alcohol added in their organic miso. But then he pointed out that alcohol is somehow produced during the fermaentation. So is this still halal?

Anonymous said...

Assalamu Alaikom
You said "FERMENTED".. is fermented food halal?

I live in Canada and I've tired miso soup and loved it not knowing it has fermented ingredients.. same goes for soy sauce ( some kinds of it).. what do you think from a religious point of view?

Thank you......

Hafida said...

Salam

Fermented food is halal, this is what know. The alcohol produced during the fermentation process is in really small quantity.

If you are not sure about it please ask in your mosque.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

According to my information any fermentation that produce alcohol is haram even if the among of alcohol is too small
and considering soy sauce I found a link that says it is haram because it contains al alcohol
http://www.albalagh.net/halal/col3.shtml
any way any one knows about what is halal and haram in Japanese food please email me . because I came to japan a month ago to have master in robotics and really I am having hard time with the food in fact the only think I eating is rice because it seems to me as the only halal thing in japan

Hafida said...

Essalamu alaykum Tarek

Whether food containing alcohol produced by fermentation is halal or haram depends on the scholar you are following.

For example, vinegar contains alcohol due to fermentation and there are Hadiths showing that the Prophet(PBUH) used vinegar in his food. So here it is clear that vinegar is Halal

In Japan, some miso contains alcohol, mirin or wine added to the miso as an ingredient, so here it is haram.

I understand your situation, many muslims here had difficult times when it comes to food. If you try to cook by yourself you will find that you can eat many things. you can buy meat from mosques or online halal shop and buy vegetables. I know that you do not have enough time, but if you cook in the evening a large quantity, you can take an Obento with you the next day. For example, cooking eggs, pasta and preparing a vegetable salad does not take a long time. You can buy also frozen vegetables to make the salad, you just open the bag and boil it.

What is difficult for a muslim in Japan is to find halal ready food.

I hope it will be more easy for you. If you have any other questions let us know.

Anonymous said...

hi,
I'm agata..
next month I plan to go to japan..
I'm a moslem too..
so I want to know about japan halal foods, and places that I can visit.
Can you explain to me please..:D
so, please send me an email..
agatha_facebook2@hotmail.com

thanks before!!!:D

Unknown said...

If you three are living in Japan then get out and explore it, eat drink as the locals do. If you dont assimilate yourselves fully into the country in which you are living then you are fully short-comming your experiences. Dont be afraid to try something new due to some obscure ramblings in the quoran about what you can or can not eat. Japan has very high standards in all types of food, they dont not import eggs, beef or pork I believe. AND, if you have not tried saki yet, or a local beer then shame shame shame on you. There is a lot more available to you besides miso soup! ...sigh

Unknown said...

And some of those that have posted are worried about using soy sauce, because it is fermented? And may contain trace elements of alchohol?
I highly doubt that Mohammed or Allah would find it disturbing if you wanted to use a little soy sauce on your white rice.

Unknown said...

ALMOST EVERYTHING in Japan is either fermented or contains vinegar or meat. If any of those procedures or preperations disturb you, FORGET about traveling or living in Japan

Unknown said...

hello... i was just wondering if the miso paste contains ethyl alcohol..then its haram right??

eman90 said...

Hi I am from Malaysia. I am a Muslim too. We also have, in this case, two traditional food which fermentation involved in the making of these two foods. They are called 'tapai' = fermented glutinous. It is fermented for three days after the glutinous rice is cooked and yeast is added. Then, we have 'tempoyak' = fermented durian. It is made from durian flesh and salt. After that, the mixture is fermented for certain time.From my knowledge, I believe that 'tapai', 'tempoyak' , and miso are prepared from similar method. And up until now, I have not heard any Muslim scholars in Malaysia doubt about our traditional food. So, I consider that they are halal. However, it is better for us to ask them for confirmation.

Anonymous said...

Shut the hell up, Paul. Stop projecting your white man culture here. Just because we don't follow what Westerners do doesn't make us less of a culture and religion. Stop judging us by your standards. We don't drink alcohol so quit hassling everyone for abstaining. "sigh"

Dredd said...

You are reacting to an 5 years old post. I don't think Paul stills read this blog. But what's amazing here is how this famous 2010 World Cup Oracle Octopus could continue to write messages on the Internet one month after his death.

Anonymous said...

This site reminds of those Jewish kosher certification sites, where people worry about dietary restrictions.

But I understand how one's religious /spiritual safety may prevent one from having a good time.

So i commend these people for clearing stuff out before travelling.

Unknown said...

The only vinegar that contains alcohol is balsamic venigar, but the apple cider vinegar and the regular vinegar do not contain alcohol .In the process of fermentation all the alcohol transforms to acetic acid exept in balsamic venigar which needs years for the transformation .

Anonymous said...

My daughter read the ingredients of some miss soup I made her, and asked about the alcohol ingredient.. the trace levels of alcohol burn off because of the boiling water. That is how it is designed to work. So the preparation of the soup should render it free of residual alcohol content, based on my reading of the process. Just thought I would share..