My mom used to recite a Japanese proverb, ‘味噌汁は不老長寿の薬’ (miso shiru wa furou chouju no kusuri), which literally means “Miso soup is medicine for eternal youth and longevity,” at the dinner table. It was probably her way of making sure we finished every drop of the miso soup she served with the meal. The kotowaza (proverb) was a bold claim, but it really captures the power of miso soup and its importance in Japanese culture. If you wish to discover more, I have this recipe for Natto Miso Soup with Okra, one of the most nutritious soups for you to try!
Natto Miso Soup’s Health Benefits
Natto miso soup, also known as natto-jiru (納豆汁), is a popular style of miso soup featuring chopped natto with one or more types of vegetables. If you’ve only tried natto on its own or with rice, adding natto to miso soup is another delicious way to incorporate fermented soybeans into your diet. In Japan, foods with a slimy texture are known as neba neba (ネバネバ) and are considered nutritious and good for strengthening the body and recovering from fatigue, especially to help prevent summer fatigue. These slimy foods such as okra and natto are high in fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. The slightly bitter tang of natto complements the creamy savoriness of miso soup, and its slimy texture tends to dissipate in the broth. In this recipe, I added okra to give the soup an extra boost of texture, color, and nutritional value—okra is rich in vitamins A and C, folate, as well as antioxidants and minerals like magnesium! If you’re curious, read this study that shines a spotlight on the nutritional importance and health advantages of natto miso soup, especially its effect of aging!
Why You’ll Love This Miso Soup
It’s extremely nourishing, restorative, and good for digestion. Light, soothing, and unexpectedly delicious. Some might find the texture of these unique foods a challenge, but they are indeed considered special by those who appreciate them. Super simple to make! You will need only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare this super healthy soup! “Easiest ever” is not an exaggeration at all.
Ingredients for This Recipe
Substitution Tips and Variations
If you’re vegan/vegetarian, make Vegan Dashi to make this recipe. If okra is not your thing, you can use other ingredients such as shimeji mushrooms, wakame seaweed, or fresh leafy greens.
How to Make Natto Miso Soup with Okra
Recipe Tips
Make dashi using a dashi packet or prepare it from scratch. I always recommend avoiding dashi powder, especially when making miso soup, because the flavor is much weaker. Be careful when you slice the okras with a knife as they can get slimy. Do not let the soup boil after the natto and miso are added. Turn off the heat when it is hot enough and do not simmer for a long time, or else the nattokinase bacteria will perish. (Ground) toated sesame seeds add a nice aroma and texture to the soup, but it’s optional.
How to Store
I highly recommend consuming the miso soup immediately because it will lose its aroma and taste over time. Since this miso soup is so easy to make, it’s best to make it from scratch when you need it. If you happen to have some leftovers, cool the soup to room temperature (no longer than 4 hours), store in an airtight container, and keep for up to 2 days in the refrigerator or 2 weeks in the freezer. When ready to use, reheat in a pot over medium heat, but do not boil.
What to Serve with This Miso Soup
As it takes minutes to prepare, I enjoy making this natto miso soup to go with my leftovers lunch. It is also excellent as part of your dinner, especially in an ichiju sansai (one soup, three dishes) format.
Rice – Steamed Rice, Brown Rice, Takikomi Gohan (Mixed Rice), Fried Rice Main – Butter Shoyu Chicken, Garlic Onion Chicken, Miso Butter Salmon, Salted Salmon Salad & Pickles – Soba Salad, Everyday Japanese Pickles, Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing
Let’s Cook Miso Soup for Miso Day
This recipe is part of my Miso Soup Day (味噌の日) series, where I share a new miso soup on the 30th of every month to encourage readers like you to enjoy the soup as part of your diet. Please check out my collection of miso soup recipes here, and I hope you will always come back to try out different versions of the soup. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
