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    Home » Recipes » Savoury

    Dashi Broth (Umami Stock)

    Published: Feb 23, 2023 by Michelle · 3 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Dashi is a clear Japanese soup stock that is used as the base for many soups and dishes. It's a simple, delicious and versatile broth made with only 4 ingredients.

    A jar of dashi broth on a marble trivet.

    What is dashi?

    Dashi is a clear, golden-coloured all-purpose stock that forms the base of many soups and dishes in Japanese cooking.

    It is the cornerstone of Japanese cuisine and is used in many Japanese dishes.

    Dashi has a mild flavour and is filled with savoury umami, which is known as the 5th taste.

    Dashi is mainly made with seaweed (kombu) and bonito flakes, which have high amounts of glutamic acid that give it its delicious umami taste.

    Koreans also use a similar broth flavored with anchovies (instead of bonito flakes).

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Dashi is very easy to prepare from scratch with only 4 ingredients.

    It is a versatile recipe that forms the base of many Korean and Japanese-style soups, such as budae jiggae, miso tofu soup, oden, and noodle soup broth.

    Using both bonito flakes and anchovies heightens the depth of flavor the broth.

    You can easily customize the dashi broth with additional seasonings to suit your taste.

    Ingredients you'll need

    • kombu: also known as kelp; usually comes dried in large pieces and is dark in colour
    • bonito flakes: made from skipjack tuna that has been smoked and fermented; also known as katsuobushi
    • dried anchovies: optional; they are small, salted anchovies; adds additional umami flavour
    • water: filtered, to make the stock

    You can find all these ingredients in Japanese grocery stores or Asian supermarkets.

    How to choose dried kombu

    Choose dried kombu with lots of white powder/specks on it.

    The white powder is the glutamic acid, which adds to the umami. (It is not mold or dirt).

    Don't wash the kombu, which will wash away the glutamic acid.

    Instead, use a slightly damp towel to gently clean.

    Informational photos on how to make dashi broth, with text overlay.

    Bowl of dashi stock with ingredients on the side.

    How to make anchovy broth

    Place the kombu and water into a pot and heat it up until it is near boiling. (Don't let it boil or the kombu will become slimy).

    Remove the kombu and set aside (to make furikake) or discard.

    Add in the bonito flakes and anchovies.

    Let the liquid simmer for about 30 seconds.

    Turn off the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes.

    Strain out the bonito flakes and anchovies and pour the dashi broth through a sieve or mesh strainer into a clean jar.

    Let it cool, cover with a lid and place into the fridge until ready to use.

    How to store soup stock

    Store the cooled dashi broth in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    You can freeze the dashi in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. (Make sure to give enough headspace in the container to allow for expansion of the liquid).

    To use, defrost the broth overnight in the fridge.

    A bowl of clear dashi broth in a white bowl.

    Ways to use anchovy broth

    You can use the dashi broth in many Japanese and Korean dishes.

    Serve the broth with various noodles. Or try one of these:

    • oden: Japanese-style fish cakes in broth
    • udon noodle soup
    • takoyaki: octopus balls
    • okonomiyaki: Japanese savoury pancakes with veggies, seafood/meat
    • miso soup: add the dashi to some miso paste
    • tteokbokki: spicy Korean rice cakes in gochujang sauce

    Vegan variation

    For a vegan variation, you can use dried shiitake mushrooms and white radish in place of the bonito flakes and dried sardines.

    Mushrooms are also very high in umami.

    Expert tips

    You can easily double the dashi stock recipe for a larger batch.

    Take care not to boil the kombu or it may become slimy.

    You can save the used kombu and bonito flakes to make furikake seasoning.

    If you can find it, you can use instant dashi, anchovy broth tablets, or dashi powder as a shortcut.

    Other recipes you may like

    Be sure to check out these recipes:

    Oden (Japanese-Style Fish Cakes in Broth)

    Beef Udon With Egg (Niku Tama Udon)

    Easy Seaweed Salad (Wakame)

    Braided Tuna Buns

    Katsu Sando (Pork Cutlet Sandwich)

    Easy Chicken Katsu Curry

    Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!

     

    A close up of golden coloured Japanese dashi stock in a white bowl.

     

    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Dashi Broth (Japanese Stock)

    Dashi is a clear Japanese stock that is used as the base for many soups and dishes. It's a simple, delicious and versatile broth made with only 4 ingredients.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 182kcal
    Author: Michelle

    For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.

    Ingredients

    • 1 large piece dried kombu
    • 1 L (4 C) filtered water
    • ¾ C bonito flakes
    • ¼ C dried anchovies optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Place the kombu and water into a pot and heat it up until it is near boiling. (Don't let it boil or the kombu will become slimy).
    • Remove the kombu and set aside (to make furikake) or discard.
    • Add in the bonito flakes and anchovies.
    • Let the liquid simmer for about 30 seconds.
    • Turn off the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes.
    • Strain out the bonito flakes and anchovies and pour the dashi broth through a sieve into a clean jar.
    • Let it cool, cover with a lid and place into the fridge until ready to use.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 443mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

    The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.

    Did you try this recipe?Mention @siftandsimmer or tag #siftandsimmer!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linsey

      February 24, 2023 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      I have never used this clear Dashi broth before. It looks not too difficult and time consuming to make. It is certainly a very delicious broth with some noodles. Will give it a try when I gather all the ingredients . Thanks Michelle!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        February 25, 2023 at 7:03 am

        Hi Linsey, dashi is indeed very simple to make and yields a flavorful broth. Do give it a try for your next noodle soup! 🙂

    2. Raymund | angsarap.net

      February 26, 2023 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Michelle I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this amazing recipe for Dashi broth. I've always been a fan of Japanese cuisine and this broth is the perfect base for so many different dishes. I really appreciate how simple and easy-to-follow the recipe is, with only four ingredients needed.

      Reply

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