Ishikari Jiru (Hokkaido Salmon Miso Soup)

If you want to enjoy miso soup with salmon, Ishikari Jiru is the perfect choice. The flavors of salmon and vegetables blend with miso, offering a distinctive taste different from regular miso soup.

Jump to:

• What is Ishikari Jiru?
• Ingredients to be used
• How to remove the smell of salmon
• Ingredients
• Step-by-step instructions
• Tips on how to make
• Recipe Card

What is Ishikari Jiru?

Ishikari Jiru is a soup dish made by simmering salmon fillets with vegetables in kombu dashi and dissolving miso in it. Ishikari refers to the Ishikari region in Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, and Jiru means soup.

As the name suggests, it was originally enjoyed in the Ishikari region, which is famous for its salmon fishing. However, due to its ability to provide a delicious and easy way to consume the protein from salmon and the nutrients from vegetables, it became popular throughout Japan. Today, it has also become a familiar dish in school lunches.

While it is a soup, it is an excellent dish that offers a balanced meal with vitamins, dietary fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.

Ingredients to be used

Ishikari Jiru originally hails from the Ishikari region in Hokkaido, so it is customary to use vegetables that are readily available in Hokkaido. Carrots, potatoes, cabbage, naganegi (Japanese leeks), onions, daikon radish, and corn are commonly used.

In addition to these vegetables, ingredients such as mushrooms, tofu, aburaage (deep-fried tofu), and konjac are sometimes added. Since it boasts a rich flavor of salmon and miso, it is usually enjoyed with an abundance of ingredients compared to typical miso soup.

The flavors of the salmon and vegetables themselves are sufficient to create a delicious soup, but it can also be enhanced with butter or sansho (Japanese pepper) as toppings. Feel free to try these options for a different flavor according to your preference.

How to remove the smell of salmon

To enhance the flavor of ishikari jiru, you should prepare the salmon to remove its smell. In Japan, the following preparation methods are commonly used:

• Sprinkle sake over the salmon fillets and let them sit for about 5 minutes (recommended).
• Evenly sprinkle approximately 2% of the salmon's weight in salt on both sides of the salmon, then refrigerate it for a few hours to draw out excess moisture. After that, pat the salmon dry thoroughly.
• Make a cross-shaped incision on the salmon and blanch it briefly for 5-10 seconds, then immediately cool it in ice water.

In this recipe, I've shared the easiest and quickest method of "Sprinkling sake over the salmon fillets." However, if you still have concerns about the salmon's smell, you can try combining it with other methods for better results.

Ingredients

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Step-by-step instructions

🕒 Total 55 mins

Step 1
Put water and kombu in a pot and let it sit for at least 30 minutes until the kombu softens.

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Step 2
Heat the pot over very low heat for about 10 minutes (for 2 servings). When small bubbles appear on the surface of the liquid, remove the kombu. Kombu dashi is ready.

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Step 3
Sprinkle sake over the salmon fillets and let them sit for about 5 minutes.

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Step 4
Remove the scales from the salmon and cut the salmon fillets into bite-sized pieces. Cut the potato into bite-sized pieces, and slice the carrot, naganegi, and cabbage into bite-sized pieces.

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Step 5

Bring the kombu dashi in the pot to a boil, then add the bite-sized pieces of salmon, carrot, and potato. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes until they become tender, occasionally skimming off any scum.

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Step 6
Put the sliced naganegi, cabbage, and sake in the pot and bring it to a brief boil. Turn off the heat, then dissolve the miso into the dashi using a ladle and chopsticks.

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Step 7
Serve in individual bowls and top with butter, if desired.

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To Store

You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Tips on how to make

• Salmon fillets should be prepared to remove its smell. In this recipe, I’m using sake to reduce the smell of salmon, but you can also employ another method to get rid of it.

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