Kikkoman Shiro Miso Soup Hits the Spot

My grandson loves Oriental food. His favorite food as a toddler was rice. He would eat it morning, noon and night if you let him. He even developed a taste for sushi at a very early age.

One of his first phrases was “the fire” to indicate he wanted to go to his favorite hibachi restaurant. It was virtually impossible to take him out to eat anywhere else.

One of Josh’s favorite soups is Miso, which is made from soybean paste. He always orders it if it is on the restaurant menu. He also counts on Nana having some of his favorite soup on hand whenever he comes to visit.

Luckily, I can do that with ease, thanks to Kikkoman. They have a wonderful variety of instant Miso soups, which include:

Shiro Miso, the authentic white Miso soup;
Aka Miso, which is red Miso soup;
Tofu Miso and
Spinach Miso.

My grandson likes them all but he is particularly found of the Shiro Miso.

Kikkoman’s Shiro Miso Soup comes in a 1.05-oz bag. There are three packets inside, representing three servings of soup. That is the perfect amount for us because, when Josh comes to visit, it is just the three of us; grandparents and grandchild.

There are 35 calories in Shiro Miso Soup and of that amount 10 are fat-related. However, there is a mere gram of fat in a serving of this delicious delicacy. It is also low in carbohydrates, at a mere 4 grams. It contains no sugar or cholesterol. Unfortunately, it is somewhat high in sodium at 820 milligrams.

Shiro Miso Soup provides 3 grams of protein but no fiber. It also offers 2% of the daily-recommended amount of iron.

Ingredients include dehydrated seaweed, rice, salt, soybeans and wheat gluten. It also contains modified food starch, powered fish, monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed soy protein, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate and succinic acid.

The soup is easy to make. It can be done on the stovetop or in the microwave.

To fix on the stovetop, all you have to do is put the contents of the packet into a small saucepan with two-thirds cup of water and bring to a boil. Then serve.

To microwave the dish, merely heat the water to a boiling point. Then add the soup, mixing thoroughly. Allow it to rest for about one minute and then serve.

Here is my summary review:

Taste: 4 stars. Miso soup never seems to taste as good at home as it does in a restaurant. I think there is some little added ingredient they use to give it that extra little kick. However, as pre-packaged soups go, Kikkoman’s Shiro Miso Soup is quite good.

Freshness: 4 stars. The contents are dehydrated and will, therefore, last a long time. The fact that they are double bagged I am sure helps to maintain the freshness.

Nutrition: 5 stars. The good news is there is little in this soup that is bad for you. It is low in fat and carbs and contains no cholesterol or sugar. On the other hand, it does offer some protein value and helps with the daily-recommended amount of iron. I’d call it a win:win situation.

Green value: 4 stars. The packaging is not reusable but is biodegradable.

Packaging: 4 stars. The packaging is bright a colorful with orange on a white background. A picture of the finished soup is included on the front of the packet in order to whet the appetite. The Kikkoman name and label is also prominently displayed. The contents are identified both in English and in Japanese. The contents are double bagged in nearly identical packaging in order to help preserve the ingredients.

Ease of storage: 5 stars. The packet is medium sized at approximately 8″ by 5.5″. The inside packets are smaller at 4.5″ by a little over 3″. Both packets have directions on them so it is possible to remove the inside packets and store them while discarding the outside packet, if desired. Either way, the packets are relatively flat and should be easily stored in a kitchen drawer, cabinet or pantry.

Availability: 5 stars. Kikkoman products have become fairly mainstream and should be available in most large grocery stores. Some discount department stores with a food section may also carry them. Additionally, because this soup is specialized, specialty food stores often carries it.

Price: 5 stars. I purchased the soup at the commissary for a little over $1 a packet.

Product purchase probability: 5 stars. I must keep this product on hand if I want to remain in the good graces of my grandson.

Final rating: 4.6 stars. This is good soup when you need one in a pinch.

RATING SCALE:

5 stars = outstanding
4 stars = good
3 stars = average
2 stars = below average
1 star = poor