Dashi (Japanese soup stock) is a Japanese soup stock, and it is a fundamental ingredient in many Japanese dishes to create authentic flavor. Today I want to share how to make Kombu Dashi (昆布だし).
What is Kombu Dashi?
Kombu Dashi (昆布だし) is a Japanese soup stock made with kombu (昆布 dried kelp), dried kelp that is used extensively in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cooking. In Korean, it is referred to as dasima (다시마), and in Chinese as haidai (海带). Kombu Dashi is vegetarian and vegan and the easiest dashi you can make. This sea vegetable earns its name as ‘the king of seaweeds’ because it possesses an amazing flavor and nutritional value, unlike any other seaweed. The most noteworthy advantage is its high content of glutamic acid, an amino acid responsible for umami. And umami is what you’re looking for in a dish where it provides a complex, elemental taste. If you follow a vegetarian/vegan diet or simply want to embrace a more plant-based diet, kombu is an outstanding ingredient to incorporate into your cooking. Besides being a great flavor enhancer and tenderizer, kombu is a powerful, health-promoting food that can make up for certain nutrients that are absent in the diets. In my pantry kombu page, I discuss different types of kombu and which kombu is good for specific types of food. Please go over the post if you want to know more about how to use kombu for Japanese cooking.
Two Methods in Making Kombu Dashi:
Method 1: Cold Brew
The cold brew or Mizudashi (水出し) method is pretty hands-off. All you need is to put water and 1-2 kombu strips in a large bottle, let steep for 2-3 hours or more.
Method 2: Hot Brew
If you need dashi right away, the hot brew or Nidashi (煮出し) is the method you can go with. Just place the kombu and water in a medium pot and gently bring out the flavor. Turn off the heat before it comes to a boiling point.
A few quick tips on cooking with kombu:
There is no need to wash or wipe off the white powdery substance as kombu is pretty clean these days. The white compound is known as Mannitol which is the key contributor to the umami.Make a couple of slits on the kombu will help release more flavor.Do not throw away the leftover kombu as it is can be repurposed into Kombu Tsukudani (Simmered Kombu) or Homemade Furikake (rice seasoning).
Recipes Using Kombu Dashi
Shabu ShabuVegan Miso SoupKenchinjiru
If you can’t access kombu, another delicious option for making another vegetarian/vegan dashi is Shiitake Dashi.
The Ultimate Dashi Guide
Dashi plays an important role as a flavor enhancer in Japanese cooking, so you don’t need to season the food with too much salt, fat, and sugar. Rich in minerals and other vitamins, dashi is considered a healthy ingredient in our daily diet. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
Awase Dashi – a stock made from a combination of dried kelp + bonito flakesKombu Dashi * – a stock made from dried kelpKatsuo Dashi – a stock made from dried bonito flakesIriko Dashi – a stock made from dried anchovies/sardinesShiitake Dashi * – a stock made from dried shiitake mushroomsVegan Dashi * – a stock made from dried shiitake mushrooms and kombu
If you are new to different types of dashi, check out my Ultimate Dashi Guide. Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2013. The images have been updated in April 2019.
