Miso Soup with Black Cod and Green Onions
This beautiful soup makes a perfect light dinner on a warm summer evening. Serve it in shallow bowls to showcase the caramelized black cod. A cold seaweed or sesame-spinach salad would pair well.
Ingredients
- 1 piece kombu, about 3 inches (7.5 cm)
- 1/2 cup (1⁄2 oz./15 g) bonito flakes
- 2 Tbs. white miso paste
- 5 oz. (155 g) black cod, cut into 2 to 4 pieces
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 green onion, white and tender green parts, thinly sliced
Directions
Put 3 cups (24 fl. oz./750 ml) cold water and the kombu in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then remove and discard the kombu. Turn off the heat, add the bonito flakes, stir gently once and let sit for 5 minutes. Strain the soup through a fine-mesh sieve and return the broth to the saucepan.
Put the miso paste in a small bowl and add 1⁄4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) of the warm broth. Stir until the mixture is very smooth. Add the miso mixture to the saucepan and warm gently, taking care not to let the soup come to a boil.
Place a small frying pan over high heat until it is very hot. Rub the cod with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Sear until just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls, top with one or two pieces of fish, and sprinkle with green onions. Serves 2.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Soup of the Day, by Kate McMillan (Weldon Owen, 2014)