Reviviscent Skinny Miso Soup

This is my favourite reviving food, something for when life has thrown too much at you, when need a reviving, but healthy comfort food that is easy to prepare. I call them Reviviscent (capable of causing Revival) Foods. I like the way the word sounds and rolls around the mouth, “revival” with a touch of fizz perhaps? I got home late last night, after a busy day at work, late finish and the usual horrors of the dreaded Jubilee line, I was crotchety, generally grumpy and in a thoroughly bad mood feeling generally out of sorts and believing the entire world to be at war with me. You know the general feeling when all you want to do is to cocoon and nurture yourself?

Miso soup is the ultimate adapt and substitute recipe, you can have it thin or thick, vegan, vegetarian or carnivorous. Serve skinny or as an entire meal in the bowl. Special or use everything up. It is delicious and makes you feel virtuous. The only essential ingredient is miso paste (and I think spring onions). I buy tubs of miso paste from the Japan Centre Supermarket, my current brand is Miyasaka white miso, I have not yet fathomed which brands I prefer. Clearspring and Marigold both do a powered miso soup base which Waitrose sells, I prefer the paste which makes a thicker flavoured soup and is far far cheaper. I also buy individual packets of dried seaweed for adding to the soup, individual packets are better as it rapidly absorbs water from the air and spoil once opened.

Reviviscent Skinny Miso Soup Serves 2

1 pint (½ litre) water
1 tbs miso paste
4 spring onions – shredded
1 small carrot – use a vegetable peeler to cut ribbons
¼ red pepper diced
¼ green pepper diced
2 leaves of spring greens – shredded

Soy & chilli and dried seaweed to serve

Bring one pt of water to the boil, add the miso paste and stir until dissolved. Add the chopped vegetables and stir for a minute, until warmed and cooked but still crunchy.