Description
Japanese Clear Onion Soup is a light and flavorful broth-based soup made with slowly caramelized onions, aromatic garlic and ginger, and fresh vegetables simmered to develop deep, comforting flavors. This clear soup is served with thinly sliced mushrooms and green onions, offering a delicate umami-rich taste perfect as an appetizer or side dish in Japanese cuisine.
Ingredients
Broth and Vegetables
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups onions, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For Serving
- 1 cup button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- ½ cup green onions, sliced
- Soy sauce (optional, to taste)
- Sriracha (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat a little oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become soft and slightly caramelized, which brings out their natural sweetness and forms the soup’s flavor base.
- Add Aromatics and Vegetables: Stir in the carrots, celery, minced garlic, and ginger. Pour in the sesame oil and vegetable broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste, preparing the soup’s flavorful broth.
- Simmer the Soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Let it cook uncovered for 30 minutes to allow the flavors from all the vegetables and aromatics to fully develop and meld together.
- Strain the Broth: Use a fine-mesh strainer or slotted spoon to remove the cooked vegetables, leaving behind a clear, flavorful broth. Discard the solids or save them for another use like vegetable stock or purees.
- Prepare the Serving Bowls: Place a handful of thinly sliced mushrooms and scallions into each serving bowl, which will soften slightly when the hot broth is added.
- Serve: Pour the hot clear broth over the mushrooms and scallions in the bowls. Add a splash of soy sauce if desired for extra umami depth or a bit of sriracha to add a spicy kick to your soup.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, use homemade vegetable broth if possible.
- Adjust salt and soy sauce quantities depending on your sodium preference.
- You can substitute button mushrooms with shiitake or enoki for a more authentic Japanese touch.
- Save the strained vegetables for adding to stir-fries or blending into a vegetable puree.
- This soup is naturally vegan and gluten-free if gluten-free soy sauce is used.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup, Appetizer, Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
