Bento Box Soup

A nourishing Japanese-inspired soup featuring soba noodles, tofu, and vegetables in a savory miso-based broth enhanced with green tea and kombu. This healthy and comforting soup combines traditional Asian ingredients for a balanced meal.

6 servings
35 min

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces soba noodles
  • 4 cups organic vegetable or chicken broth, homemade or store-bought
  • ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil or hot pepper sesame oil
  • 1 strip kombu
  • 3 bags green tea bags
  • 1 whole carrot
  • ½ cup shiitake mushrooms
  • 4 ounces firm tofu
  • 2 tablespoons tamari
  • ¼ cup white miso
  • 2 whole scallions
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • cups baby spinach

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Fill a soup pot halfway with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add a pinch of salt and the soba noodles and decrease the heat to medium. Cook, stirring gently on occasion, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse well under cold water to remove the starch. Immediately transfer to a bowl, drizzle with 1/4 teaspoon of the sesame oil and toss gently to coat.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Put the broth in the same pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to low, add the kombu and tea bags, and simmer for 4 minutes. Remove the kombu and tea bags with a slotted spoon. Add the carrot, mushrooms, tofu, tamari, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.

    15 min

  3. 3.

    Put 1/4 cup of the hot broth in a small bowl, add the miso, and stir with a fork until the miso is dissolved. Stir the mixture back into the broth, then stir in the scallions, lemon juice, and remaining sesame oil.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Distribute the soba noodles and spinach among six bowls and ladle in the soup.

    5 min