Leek is a European vegetable, but I have found its mild flavour is suitable for Japanese dishes. Miso Soup is an example. Today I used Leek for ‘Butajiru’, that is a type of Miso Soup with Pork. It’s so comforting and also filling.


Makes

4 Servings

Ingredients

4 cups Soup Stock of your choice *Today I used Chicken Stock
1/2 Carrot
1 Potato
2 to 3 Shiitake *sliced
200g Pork *thinly sliced and cut into bite-size pieces
1 Leek *thickly sliced
3 to 4 tablespoons Miso *Today I used White Miso & Red Miso
Shichimi (Japanese Chilli Spice Mix)

Method
  1. Slice Pork thinly and cut into bite-size pieces. Vegetables need be cut into the size that is easy to eat. I recommend to slice Leek fairly thickly.
  2. Heat Stock, Carrot and Potato in a saucepan, bring to the boil and cook for a few minutes. Add thinly sliced Pork, Shiitake and Leek.
  3. When all the vegetables are cooked, add Miso. Remove the soup from the heat just before it starts to boil. *Note: When you add thick paste of Miso, combine Miso and some soup in a small bowl first, then add it.
  4. Sprinkle with some Shichimi (Japanese Chilli Powder) and enjoy.