Tonjiru

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the vegetables first so the soup cooks quickly: scrub the burdock and slice it into very thin half-moons, then rinse briefly in water to reduce discoloration and bitterness. Peel the carrot and daikon and cut them into thin half-moons. Slice the spring onion. Pat the tofu dry and cut into 2 cm cubes. If the pork slices are large, cut them into bite-size pieces.

2. 2

   Heat the sesame oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the pork and stir-fry for about 1 minute until the color just starts to change; do not brown it hard, which can make the broth taste heavy.

3. 3

   Add the burdock, carrot, and daikon to the pot and stir for 1 to 2 minutes so they are lightly coated with the oil and pork juices. This brief sauté deepens the flavor without adding much fat.

4. 4

   Pour in the dashi stock and bring to a gentle boil. Skim off any foam, then lower to a steady simmer and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until the daikon and burdock are tender when pierced but not falling apart.

5. 5

   Add the tofu and simmer gently for 2 minutes to heat through. Keep the soup below a hard boil so the tofu stays intact and the broth remains clear.

6. 6

   Turn the heat to low. Ladle a little hot broth into a small bowl, dissolve the miso in it, then stir the miso mixture back into the pot. Do not boil after adding miso, or its aroma will dull and the soup can taste harsh.

7. 7

   Add the spring onion, taste, and serve immediately in warm bowls. The soup should be savory and lightly sweet from the root vegetables, with tender pork and a gentle miso richness.

Nutrition per serving

Notes

• •For a lower-fat version, pork loin is a better choice than pork belly, which is more traditional but much richer.
• •Slice the root vegetables thinly and evenly so they become tender within the 30-minute time limit.
• •If your dashi is already salted, start with the listed miso amount and adjust only after tasting.
• •A small pinch of shichimi togarashi at the table is excellent if you like gentle heat.

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