Pocket Monster Miso Soup (Pescatarian)

I made this soup a few days ago when I needed something warm but not very filling.  It's a really good thing to eat when it's later at night and you're really bored.  You know--that time when you really want to eat, but you know you shouldn't.  That's the time for this kid's version of Japanese miso soup.  There's no seaweed, so North American kids (including adults who won't eat outside the continent) won't run away from it.  What's more, it's packed with veggies, tofu, and lots of flavor.

Pocket Monster Miso Soup

Why Pocket Monster, you ask?  For one, the yellow corn in this soup reminds me of Pikachu.  For another, I have an amazing Pocket Monster (aka Pokemon) soup bowl bought especially from a 7-11 in Tokyo.  If you don't have one, I guess you can still make the recipe.  But I think mine will have that extra Pocket Monster zing to it.

To have:

1 large-and-in-charge soup pot
20 c water (or light fish stock)
8-12 tbsp miso, to taste
6 c baby spinach &/or arugula
1 c thinly sliced scallions
50g fish stock powder/bouillon cubes (unless you have liquid stock, silly)

Fish-stock powder

3-4 c frozen corn kernels (canned = not sweet)
1 block tofu, cut into 1/4" cubes
2 c thinly-sliced, fresh shitakke mushrooms
2 small, fresh chili peppers
2 tsp fish sauce (of course, leave it out if you hate it!)
4 tsp ground ginger
4 tsp cayenne pepper (if you like it hot)
2 tsp celery salt
6-8 tsp ground garlic

To do:
1.  Boil the water/fish stock.  Add in the stock powder/cubes once things are bubbling.

2.  Add in the miso paste.  Stir, wait, stir, and wait until it dissolves.

3.  Carefully add in the tofu, greens, mushrooms, scallions, peppers, and spices/fish sauce.  Stir and let simmer for around 10 minutes.

4.  Add in the corn.  Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.  Taste it before serving.  If it needs deeper flavor, add more miso paste, 1/2 a tsp at a time.  Stir, wait 2-3 minutes, and taste again.

5.  Pocket Monster it up.  It helps to make the Pikachu call.

Pocket Monster Miso Soup in Pocket Monster bowl