Soup stock

plane for chip off dried bonito
plane for chip off dried bonito

When Yasuko-san was very young, as she wake up, it was always filled with the frgrance of soup stock made from dried bonito. In Yasuko-san's parents' home, somebody chip off dried bonito for make a soup stock before meal. Now we reraly meet such scene, becauce we usually buy dried bonito flakes.

Kombu and Dried bonito

Kombu and Dried bonito
Kombu and Dried bonito

Since Kombu was brought to Toyama from Hokaido by Kitamae-sen in the Edo era (1603 - 1867), it is absolutely necessary to Toyama's cuisine. Graceful taste of Kombu is a must for making soup stock.

  1. Put kombu and 4 cups water in the pot for 30 minutes.
  2. Put (1) on the fire.
  3. Just before the pot is boiling take kombu quietly.
  4. Stop to heat, and put slice dried bonito.
  5. After most of dried bonito go down, strain off it by cotton. This is the first soup stock.
  6. Put kombu and dried bonito that made the first soup stock and 4 cups water in the pot, and heat it.
  7. Boil for 3 minutes, and strain off it by cotton. This is the second soup stock.

kombu made the second soup stock use for simmered with soybean or bamboo shoots.

Small dried fish [ Niboshi ]

soup stock of small dried fish
soup stock of small dried fish

Small dried fish, niboshi, is dried Japanese anchovy. Take away head and guts. Put it (3 or 5 per person) in jar and pour fully water. Put the cap and leave for 12 hours. Put niboshi and water in pan and heat. As soon as water comes to boil, take away niboshi. If it is no time, put niboshi in pan and pour water and heat. As soon as water comes to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Dried shiitake mushroom [Hoshi shiitake]

Dried shiitake mushroom makes good soup stock and is often used insoupp based dishes. Wash ligthtly. Put it in pan and pour just enough water and heat. As soon as water comes to boil, turn off heat and leave for 30 minutes.

Packet or Instant soup stock

If you have no time, use packet or instant soup stock. There are powder of dried bonito, kombu, niboshi and dried Shiitake mushroom in the packet. Put the packet in pan and pour water and heat. As soon as water comes to boil, turn off heat.