A Deliciously Tasty Japanese Salmon Soup Recipe
Salmon is a staple dish in Japan, and there is no doubt you can find a salmon soup recipe that may be your favorite. It is important to note that there is more than one of these recipes available, and they can vary based on the ingredients available and the personal preferences of the cook preparing the dish. If you are looking for a classic Sanpeijiru or Japanese Salmon Soup recipe that will keep you warm and full of flavor, then keep reading.
Why Use Salmon?
If you are not familiar with Japanese culture, then you may wonder why there is a high use of salmon and other seafood in the area. With Japan being a coastal country in Asia, seafood is plentiful and a large part of the diet. For thousands of years, Salmon has been used as a staple dish throughout the country and that remains true today. Salmon is also full of nutrients and very healthy.
What Are The Health Benefits of Salmon?
There are several different health benefits that salmon offers each time it is prepared and consumed. Below are the most common benefits of this fish and why it should be added to your menu once or twice weekly.
Omega-3
Full of healthy fatty acids, salmon is one of the best proteins available to help you get the omega-3s you need in your body regularly. This maintains healthy cholesterol levels in your body, preventing blood clots from forming and even maintaining healthy arteries in your heart.
Selenium
One of the minerals that your body needs but does not seem to have enough of is selenium. This maintains a healthy thyroid and keeps your bones healthy, especially as you age. Salmon offers this naturally instead of taking it as a supplement.
Maintain Positive Mental and Brain Health
Because of the variety of minerals and vitamins in salmon, you can maintain better brain health and reduce depression in the brain. Having a steady dose of Omega-3s in your system can reduce anxiety, which will cause the onset of depression. You may also find that it is easier to focus throughout the day.
History of Japanese Salmon Soup
While folklore surrounds the different beginnings of Japanese salmon soup recipes, they all seem to go back to fishermen a few hundred years ago looking for ways to feed large numbers of men on ships and using the salmon as the star. What is consistent among all the different stories, however, is the broth base of the soup and fragrant herbs and spices to add essential flavor to the soup.
Ingredients Needed for a Japanese Salmon Soup Recipe
Below is a classic version of a Japanese Salmon Soup Recipe to give you the full flavor of the fish and embody Japanese culture simultaneously.
- 2 or 3 Salmon filets
- Miso flavor broth
- One diced onion
- 1/2 head of shredded cabbage
- 1 cup of diced potatoes
- 1/2 cup of diced carrots
- 1/3 cup of daikon radish
- 1/3 cup of Shiitake mushrooms
- green onions for garnish
- One tablespoon minced garlic or two fresh garlic cloves
- One tablespoon of fresh ginger or minced ginger
If you cannot get fresh salmon for your soup, you can substitute it with frozen or canned salmon. Only used canned salmon that is in water to keep the oil out of your soup. If you have a fish market nearby, you can even enjoy fresh salmon scraps at a cheap price and get the same flavor.
Add as much or as little of the root vegetables to suit your personal preferences. Garlic and ginger should either be fresh or minced, if possible. Powdered spices will work, but the flavor will not be as strong.
Preparing your Japanese Salmon Soup Recipe
Now that you have gathered your ingredients, it is time to make the soup by following the steps below.
- Blanch your fresh salmon
- Begin boiling your salmon
- Prepare your vegetables
- Add vegetables and spices to the soup base
- Simmer until ready
1. Blanch Fresh Salmon
This is only the first step if you use fresh salmon or salmon scraps. You want to blanche it to remove the oil so that it does not overpower the soup. You only need to do this for a few minutes, and then you are ready to drain the salmon and rinse it off.
2. Begin Boiling Your Salmon
Once you have blanched your salmon and removed the excess oil, you need to add it to a large mix of water and miso broth. Do not use all the miso, or it will be too salty. Two cups of miso and two cups of water will make a safe blend, and you can begin cooking the salmon. You want to keep it on a slow boil and cover.
3. Prepare Your Vegetables
While your salmon is boiling down, it is time to cut up your vegetables and get them ready to add to the soup. After they’ve been washed, you will need to dice your onions, carrots and potatoes. Your mushrooms only have to be cut if you prefer them in smaller pieces. Your daikon radish can be cut into thin slices along with the cabbage.
If you are using fresh ginger and garlic, you need to cut them up and get them prepared, as well. These slices will work best for both of these spices.
4. Add Vegetables and Spices
Now that you have your spices and vegetables ready, go ahead and throw in the garlic and ginger in with the salmon first, and give the broth a good mix. Once they have circulated throughout the soup, begin adding in your vegetables one at a time. Toss in a healthy amount of salt and pepper before closing the lid again.
5. Simmer Until Ready
Once you have added your vegetables, you need to give them time to cook down and become tender. You also need to keep an eye on your broth and see if you need to add more miso and water. Do that before your vegetables start cooking down so that it can get that added flavor as well. After 45 minutes to an hour, your Japanese Salmon Soup recipe should be ready to serve.
Moving Forward
This Japanese Salmon Soup recipe is a pretty flexible soup that can be made at any time of the year, and you can add as many vegetables as you like. This soup can easily be doubled to feed larger groups or even cut in half if you are only serving yourself. Either way, it makes for a great soup option when you want something different.
