The pros: Trader Joe's Miso Ginger Broth will satisfy a home cooks desire for Miso Soup without having to go out.
The cons: If you don't like the flavor of miso, then yes avoid this.
The verdict: If you are feeling like Japanese Trader Joe's has some hits and some misses. If it's frozen, it's pretty much a hit. If it's sushi, then please reach out to your local Japanese restaurant. If you are like me and need a break from chicken soup all the time, then this is another good choice to reach for on its own. With cold and flu season almost upon us, perhaps your palate wants a break from the regular servings of chicken soup.
This a solid choice as long as you have the necessary ingredients to follow through with the Miso Soup. This is just the broth. While not nearly as flavorful as what you might get in a restaurant, it was also missing one thing: fish. Traditional miso soup can be made using sardines, dried kelp, katsubushi (skipjack tuna or bonito), or dried shiitake. The dried shiitake is what is used here. While I think my palate is more accustomed to a seafood base, the shiitake did their job in flavoring the broth. I'm just not sure it was as intense as my local Japanese restaurant. Yes, there were a number of flavors working in harmony in here. But it did remind me of having a vegetable broth more than anything. If there was ginger flavor, it was subtle and did not lend any heat to the dish. As a boxed broth this was well done (comparing anything to fresh is kind of unfair).
For $1.99 you will still need to add your own touch to get this to what you would think of as a miso soup. For me that meant the addition of tofu and green onions. Otherwise, once I added those two items, I only noticed subtle differences between this and what I might get in a restaurant. Considering this came in a box, it was pretty good. I'd buy it again.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The carton of Trader Joe's Miso Ginger Broth:
The nutritional information and the ingredients:
How to prepare:
How Trader Joe's describes this product:
A quick recipe from this box (but I can honestly say I did not try it yet):
After being heated with some obvious additions like green onions and firm tofu (remember, this box only contains broth):
Would I buy this again? Yes, while Trader Joe's Miso Ginger Broth won't be a weekly item, I'd like to keep one of these on hand. If you need a break from chicken soup or just want something different, then this is a solid choice to reach for.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Looks interesting as a change from my bone broth! Do misos have bones? ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie
I like the Miso Ginger Broth, too. As you stated, it's a good thing to keep on hand for a quick soup base. Also, thanks for pointing out it was mushroom based and not fish-based, and for always posting a photo of the ingredients list. That kind of information is extremely helpful to me.
No problem. Glad I could help. Always double check the ingredients before buying just to make sure they dont change the formulation of this product.
I'll pick up a box to try.. My laziness prevents me from making a quick Miso broth so, this product might just be a keeper..
So glad to hear from you Ross! Its worth a try but keep some extra items to make it more than just a broth.
I will be adding this to the grocery list. Thanks
I wasn't a fan of this.. but then again i always have white miso and dark miso on hand (since they last forever) so i just whisk the miso into hot water when i need some.
I like adding the firm baked "savory" tofu that TJs sells, plus some scallions and then i crumble in a few sheets of those nori snack packet seaweed sheets.
I also don't think that this broth had any of the probiotic and prebiotics that are in miso paste since those would be killed during the pasteurization process to make this shelf stable broth..