Why not try Kinoko Jiru, a Japanese mushroom soup rich in umami? This soup allows you to enjoy a variety of mushrooms combined with dashi broth, offering a complex flavor and texture.
Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, add bonito flakes, and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and strain the mixture through a sieve lined with paper towels or a cloth (such as cheesecloth). Alternatively, if you don't mind having some fine bonito flakes remaining, you can simply use a fine-mesh strainer. Bonito dashi is now ready.
Remove the stems from shiitake mushrooms and thinly slice the caps. Trim off the base of enoki and shimeji mushrooms and separate them into smaller or individual pieces. Thinly slice green onion.
Place aburaage in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over it to remove excess oil. Remove it from the bowl and once it has cooled enough to handle, drain off the water. Cut it in half lengthwise and slice it into thin strips.
Return the dashi to the pot and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add all the mushrooms, the aburaage, and sake, and simmer them over low heat for 3 minutes. Then, turn off the heat, add salt and soy sauce, and let the flavors blend.
Serve in each bowl and top with the green onions.
Notes
You can also use different types of mushrooms, or increase or decrease the number of varieties.
If you already have bonito dashi or another type of dashi, start from step 3. In this case, use 1 ⅔ cups (400ml) of your dashi for 2 servings.
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.