Name: Japanese Clear Soup: Your Healthy Hibachi Twist at Home Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil (or Peanut Oil); 4 cups Chicken Broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought); 2 cups Beef Broth (or vegetable/mushroom broth for vegetarian option); 4 cups Water (adjust to taste); 1 medium Sweet Onion (cut into wedges); 2 cloves Garlic (fresh, minced or sliced); 2 medium Carrots (chopped into chunks); 1 inch Fresh Ginger (sliced); 1 cup Button Mushrooms (sliced thinly); 2 tablespoons Scallions (finely chopped); Salt to taste (adjust after simmering)

Description

This Japanese Clear Soup offers a healthy hibachi-style twist you can easily prepare at home. Combining sesame oil, chicken and beef broths, and fresh aromatics like onion, garlic, ginger, and scallions, this light yet flavorful soup is simmered gently to extract deep savory flavors. It’s an elegant, comforting bowl perfect for a nourishing starter or a light meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Broth and Liquids

2 tablespoons Sesame Oil (or Peanut Oil)
4 cups Chicken Broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought)
2 cups Beef Broth (or vegetable/mushroom broth for vegetarian option)
4 cups Water (adjust to taste)

Vegetables and Aromatics

1 medium Sweet Onion (cut into wedges)
2 cloves Garlic (fresh, minced or sliced)
2 medium Carrots (chopped into chunks)
1 inch Fresh Ginger (sliced)
1 cup Button Mushrooms (sliced thinly)
2 tablespoons Scallions (finely chopped)

Seasoning

Salt to taste (adjust after simmering)

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Instructions

Heat Oil: Pour sesame oil into an 8-quart stock pot and set to medium-high heat. Warm the oil for about 2 minutes until it shimmers, signaling it’s hot enough to begin cooking.
Sear Aromatics: Add the sweet onion wedges, minced garlic, carrot chunks, and sliced ginger to the pot. Sear these aromatics for about 5 minutes until they caramelize slightly, which deepens the soup’s flavor.
Add Liquids: Gently pour in the chicken broth, beef broth, and water. Stir well to combine all ingredients, then bring the mixture up to a full boil over medium-high heat, which should take about 5 to 7 minutes.
Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a low boil. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer gently for at least 1 hour to develop rich, layered flavors.
Skim and Season: Carefully skim off any foam or impurities from the surface using a skimmer. Taste the broth and season with salt as needed to suit your preference.
Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls, then garnish with the finely chopped scallions and thinly sliced button mushrooms to add fresh texture and color just before serving.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable or mushroom broth.
Adjust water quantity to tailor the broth’s strength to your liking.
Caramelizing the aromatics is key to achieving the soup’s rich flavor base.
Use low-sodium broths to better control salt levels.
This soup refrigerates well and flavors often deepen after a day.