6 tablespoons miso paste (any kind)

4 cups water or Dashi (see recipe on page 4)

½ cup (4 ounces) tofu, cut into ¼-inch cubes

1 scallion, sliced diagonally into ½-inch-long pieces

Bring the water (or dashi) almost to a boil in a saucepan; do not let it boil. Add the miso paste and tofu pieces. Garnish with slices of scallion.

* Prep time: 5 minutes; cooking time: 5 minutes

Yields 4

cups Miso is a paste that is mainly made up of fermented soybeans and salt. All varieties of miso can be used in making miso soup.