🍲 Easy Made Japanese Clear Soup (Osumashi) – Light, Comforting

Japanese Clear Soup 🌿 Simple | 🍄 Umami-Packed | 🍜 Soothing & Nourishing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.9 from home cooks and Japanese cuisine lovers alike)

If you’ve ever started a meal at a Japanese restaurant with that delicate, savory broth filled with a few floating mushrooms or green onions — that’s Japanese Clear Soup, or Osumashi. It’s the epitome of simplicity and balance: clean, aromatic, and full of subtle umami depth.

This elegant soup is made with a light dashi base — a traditional Japanese stock — and just a few fresh ingredients. It’s perfect as a starter, a side, or a warm, soothing bowl on a quiet night.

Why You’ll Love This Japanese Clear Soup

⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
🍲 Cook Time: 10 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 4
💰 Cost: Under $5
🌸 Flavor: Delicate, savory, and refreshing
💡 Perfect For: Light lunches, Japanese dinners, or cozy nights in

Ingredients – Simple, Clean, and Flavorful

• 4 cups dashi broth (see note below)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp mirin (optional, for a hint of sweetness)
• 4–5 shiitake or button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 green onions, finely sliced
• Salt, to taste
• Optional garnishes: tofu cubes, spinach leaves, or a sprig of mitsuba (Japanese parsley)

To make dashi (if you don’t have instant):

• 4 cups water
• 1 piece kombu (dried kelp), about 4 inches long
• 1 cup bonito flakes

How to Make Japanese Clear Soup – Light and Soothing

Step 1: Make the Dashi

In a medium pot, add water and kombu. Slowly heat until just before boiling, then remove kombu. Add bonito flakes, simmer for 2 minutes, then strain. (Or use instant dashi granules for a quick version.)

Step 2: Season the Broth

Return the dashi to the pot. Add soy sauce, mirin (if using), and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust seasoning — the flavor should be mild and balanced, not salty.

Step 3: Add the Mushrooms

Add sliced mushrooms to the simmering broth and cook for 2–3 minutes until tender.

Step 4: Serve and Garnish

Ladle the clear soup into bowls and top with green onions and any optional garnishes like tofu or spinach. Serve hot and enjoy immediately.

How to Serve Japanese Clear Soup

🍱 As a starter with sushi or tempura
🥢 Alongside steamed rice and grilled fish
🍵 As a light comfort meal with tofu and greens
🌸 Or sip it solo when you want something nourishing but gentle

Why Everyone’s Loving This Japanese Clear Soup

“So simple but full of flavor — better than any restaurant version I’ve had.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Hana S.

“The dashi base makes all the difference. I make a big pot for the week!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Leo M.

“Perfect starter for my homemade sushi night!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Grace T.

Japanese Clear Soup – Light, Umami-Rich, and Comforting

This Japanese Clear Soup, known as Osumashi or Suimono, is a beautifully delicate broth often served as a starter in Japanese cuisine. It’s made with a light dashi base, seasoned with soy sauce and mirin, and finished with simple garnishes like mushrooms, green onions, or tofu. Despite its simplicity, each sip is full of savory umami flavor — clean, soothing, and deeply satisfying.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Appetizer, Soup

Cuisine: Japanese

Calories: 40

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 4 cups dashi homemade or instant dashi granules dissolved in water
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 3 –4 shiitake mushrooms thinly sliced
• ½ cup cubed soft tofu optional
• 2 green onions thinly sliced
• A few sprigs of mitsuba or parsley optional, for garnish

Equipment

• Saucepan
• Ladle
• Small soup bowls

Method

 

1. Prepare the Dashi – If using instant dashi granules, dissolve 1–2 teaspoons in 4 cups of hot water. For homemade, simmer kombu and bonito flakes for authentic flavor.
2. Season the Broth – In a saucepan, bring dashi to a gentle simmer. Stir in soy sauce, mirin, and salt.
3. Add Mushrooms and Tofu – Add shiitake slices and tofu cubes. Simmer for 3–5 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.
4. Taste and Adjust – Adjust salt or soy sauce to balance the umami and sweetness.
5. Serve – Ladle soup into small bowls, then top with green onions and mitsuba or parsley. Serve warm.

Notes

Dashi options: You can use kombu-only (vegetarian) or add bonito flakes for deeper flavor.

Add-ins: Try sliced carrots, spinach, or enoki mushrooms for variety.

Meal prep: The broth can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Serving idea: Often paired with sushi, tempura, or teriyaki dishes for a light, balanced meal.

FAQ – Japanese Clear Soup

Note

This soup celebrates umami simplicity — a hallmark of Japanese cuisine. Use high-quality dashi and soy sauce for the best flavor, and serve it hot for the most soothing experience.

If you enjoy light, comforting broths like this Japanese Clear Soup, you’ll also love Cristal Recipes’ Gyoza Soup — packed with dumplings and savory flavor.