Spicy miso noodle soup with crisp roasted tofu, strips of kale, shoyu-marinated eggs, and Korean rice cakes instead of noodles.
Spicy Miso Soup with Korean Rice Cakes

There are many unreasonable things about having to return home from Disney World in the middle of a northeast winter, but by far the worst is that the 37F temperatures that once felt like a tropical paradise are back to being akin to an Antarctic TUNDRA. So you come back under-dressed, overly tired, and downright irritable with a burning need for hand warmers, a cuppa something hot, and spring to happen, literally overnight.

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I’m not sure I have it in me to cold-adapt all over again, but at least I’ve got to try.

So, SOUP. Specifically, spicy miso soup. It sets your body on fire from your taste buds all the way through to your bones, and it’s my go-to order from the Japanese place across the street whenever I’m feeling the hint of a cold coming on or am just generally winter bluesy. Hits the spot every time.

The way they prepare it, it’s not really a meal on its own, so I’ve bulked it up here with crispy tofu, strips of kale in lieu of seaweed, sweet and salty marinated eggs, and Korean rice cakes, which can be found in the freezer section of your local Asian grocer, though you can always substitute rice noodles if you can’t find them.

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With a big container of this in our fridge, we might just make it through these final winter days. One bowl at a time.

Spicy Miso Soup with Korean Rice Cakes
 
Spicy miso soup with crisp roasted tofu, strips of kale, shoyu-marinated eggs, and Korean rice cakes instead of noodles.
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
For the spicy miso paste
  • ½ cup white miso paste
  • ½ cup red miso paste
  • ⅓ cup sichuan douban chili paste
  • 1 small onion, cut into chunks
  • 3 large garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp minced ginger
  • 3 tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp tahini
For the shoyu hard-boiled eggs
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp water
For the soup
  • 1 14 oz block extra firm tofu, drained and cubed
  • 5 cups vegetable broth
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 lb Korean rice cakes
  • 1 bunch lacinato kale, stems discarded and leaves thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp nanami togarashi or sriracha
Instructions
  1. For the spicy miso paste, combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until pureed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Set aside.
  2. For the eggs, gently place the eggs in a small pot and fill so that the eggs are covered by 1 inch. Add a pinch of salt and bring the water to a bare simmer over medium-high heat, then immediately lower heat just so that the water stays at a bare simmer. As soon as the water starts to simmer like this, set at time for 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Once the time is up, move the eggs into a bowl of cold water and let them cool completely.
  3. Stir together the soy sauce, dark brown sugar, and water in a small pot. Warm up just enough to melt the sugar and then set aside. Peel the eggs and then submerge them in this soy sauce mixture, allowing them to marinate for at least 30 minutes, turning them occasionally while marinating.
  4. Heat oven to 425F. Spread the tofu cubes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  5. In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth and water to a boil. Stir the miso paste into the liquid. Add the Korean rice cakes, kale, and tofu cubes. Allow the Korean rice cakes to cook in the broth until tender. Add more water as necessary if the rice cakes soak up too much of the broth. Serve topped with 1 egg and a sprinkling of nanami togarashi or sriracha.
Notes
Adapted from Lady and Pups
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bowl

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Spicy Miso Soup with Korean Rice Cakes
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41 Responses to Spicy Miso Soup with Korean Rice Cakes

  1. Sune Moolman says:

    The seasons are changing, we are entering autumn and I need to stock up on soup recipes.
    If this one helps for the winter blues, it’s about to become a favourite. 🙂

  2. Sues says:

    It took all I had this morning to leave the warm train station and make the “trek” (like 5 minutes) to work. So, I can’t even imagine what Florida to New York temperatures feel like! This soup is probably the only thing that can save the day!

  3. That would really hit the spot!

  4. mira says:

    I totally agree, 37 F feels hot here, but not after returning from a warmer place! It should start to warm up at least a little 🙂 Love this soup, looks comforting and extra delicious!

  5. Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean…. I´ve just arrived in Germany after a 3 Week trip to Brazil. Hot summer, beach, coconut water… What am I doing back here?! Tonight we´re having a minestrone to warm a little up 🙂 Great soup, I loved the rice cakes =)

  6. Lori R. says:

    Hope you had fun at FBF! And speaking of spicy, this sounds so good (with or without cold weather).

  7. Kelly says:

    I wish I came home to this soup last night! It looks beyond amazing and super comforting! Love the rice cakes and two different misos in here! The heat from the chili paste makes this the perfect soup to warm up with!

  8. Pam says:

    This soup is filled with great flavors, colors, and textures! I am sure it warmed you right up. YUM.

  9. It’s snowing like crazy here so I DEF need a big bowl of this comforting yumminess. Love the unique flavors and ingredients!

  10. I’ve never used or found miso paste- now you’re gonna make me go down to the Asian market, LOL!

  11. SallyBR says:

    Can I tell you a little secret? we are flying to Hawaii tomorrow morning…..

    from there we go to a conference in Washington DC, which should be a thermic shock almost as bad as the one you’ve got….

    still, looking forward to THE SUN!!!!!!!! and our 15th wedding anniversary celebration this Saturday…… (got a killer dress for it too)

  12. Normally, I can withstand the first few months of the year until we break into spring, but I just can’t this year. I keep dreaming about sunshine, a pina colada, and a nap on the beach. I guess I’ll have to tide myself over with a bowl of this soup. Miso is just so comforting + the spiciness will keep me toasty 🙂

  13. I want all of these soups. Delicious!!

  14. I cannot get over these shoyu hard-boiled eggs – wow!
    Dang coming back to NYC from Disney mid winter is pretty darn torturous – but a bowl of this would most definitely make everything all better 😉

  15. Amanda says:

    This soup looks delicious!

  16. Mmmm – delicious – Joanne – miso is such a comfort food and this one looks so hearty and comforting.

  17. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this dish. It looks absolutely delicious. Amazing recipe.

  18. I need some soup – this cold weather is the worst. At least you got to escape it for awhile 🙂

  19. Yeah, at least you got to escape to Disney for a lil bit! I am in need of this because it is currently freezing raining all over my life. Ugh!!! Why do we all live in cold climates? I don’t get it.

  20. I too am ready for Spring to happen yesterday. I love that you gravitated towards this soup after your travels. It certainly meets all the requirements for comfort food.

  21. elizabeth e says:

    This looks delicious, and if our “significant snow event” occurs in DC tomorrow night, it may be for breakfast on Thursday morning! I had the same bounceback 2 weeks ago, and it happened for me in about 2 days. Yesterday, 36 degrees felt balmy.

  22. Ugh, I’m so behind on my reading. Unlike a cruise, I have a backyard pool to blame…which is just days away from being completed. And it’s 75 degrees here. And all I want to do is play ooooutsiiiiide. But even in this weather, I’ll still take a bowl of this soup. Because deliciousness cannot be restricted by the silly seasons.

  23. I really like miso soup (I like miso anything, really) but especially if it’s spicy!

  24. Lisa says:

    That’s just beautiful and ideal for the crappy cold winter we are having. Noted and craving.

  25. debbie says:

    I’m not a big fan of soup but this one looks absolutely wonderful. Love the tofu and all the spices in it! I’m so sick of this cold weather too. And now they are calling for more snow here tomorrow night – 8 inches. When is enough enough?????

  26. Kate says:

    We did miso soup this weekend. Perfect for the cold rainy nights we’ve been having.

  27. My eyes always light up when I see a soup recipe!! Delicious!! Pinned!

  28. Tina says:

    I love the Instagram photos of Disney, the one of your husband in that mouse hat! I was about 5 hours north of you and I assure you, you all were warmer!!
    Love the looks of this soul warming soup.

  29. Glad you got to escape the cold weather for a while! This soup looks delicious. I love how you combined so many different textures!

  30. Hotly Spiced says:

    You will need your soup as I’ve heard that it is still snowing in NYC. I’m sorry your Spring hasn’t arrived more promptly xx

  31. I am definitely marinating hard boiled eggs the next time I make them, and will then definitely be making this miso soup too at some point!

  32. Johanna GGG says:

    hope it is easier to cold-adapt at the end of the winter than at the start – at least you know it is on the wane! and korean rice cakes is a new one to me but sounds great for miso soup

  33. Joanne, girl I absolutely love that you put Korean rice cakes in here!! you know it’s so weird but I only use those around New Year’s (Korean tradition thing). . why don’t I use these more often?!!! this soup is brilliant!!!

  34. Julia says:

    I’ve been complaining about how cold it’s been here, and we’re at a mere 45 degrees, ha! We’ve been spoiled rotten with a warm winter, although we could seriously use feet upon feet of snow to get us out of this drought.

    Miso soup…I NEED! I’ve never made it in my own home but I’m craving that warm broth like whoa. Korean rice cakes? Gimme ’em all!

  35. I completely agree with Julia, I’m complaining that my mornings are in the upper 40s when really, everywhere else in the US is sooo much colder. Nothing like a good ol soup to warm us all up!

  36. I always see Korean Rice Cakes at the Asian Market but never know what to do with them…thank you!

  37. This looks fantastic! Perfect for end-of-winter weather when you aren’t able to escape it 😉

  38. tigerfish says:

    Loving this “bowl-dinner”…warm and comforting.

  39. I LOVE korean rice cakes, it looks so delicious 😀
    And this soup is the perfect dish for it to accompany!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  40. cheri says:

    I love this type of food, sounds amazing!

  41. Soup is my staple winter warm me up 🙂

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