Best "instant" miso soup mix?

As winter is arriving, my son for hot drinks only has miso soup. To be honest, for me tea or miso.
Rather than my doing from scratch, putting in the fridge to be reheated, etc.
what is your favorite mix that can be dumped into a thermal cup with water and had on the bus ride to school? Right now what is acceptable to him is hikari munute miso but it is not my favorite.

And as a funny - he was reading a magazine that said that healthy eating is available when you go to college - not just pizza and ramen. He was unhappy as those and pepperoni are his favorite foods.

I've never used a mix but miso soup is incredibly easy to make from scratch. Buying instant miso seems a little like buying pancake batter mix--it's only slightly easier than making the real thing. Aside from the tofu (and scallions if you like them), all of the ingredients have a long shelf life. Plus, miso has a lot of uses (I've been using a little in salad dressings lately, along with wasabe powder). You just need dashi (instant works fine or you can make it with bonito flakes and donbu), miso and wakame seaweed.

thaiobsessed wrote:I've never used a mix but miso soup is incredibly easy to make from scratch. Buying instant miso seems a little like buying pancake batter mix--it's only slightly easier than making the real thing. Aside from the tofu (and scallions if you like them), all of the ingredients have a long shelf life. Plus, miso has a lot of uses (I've been using a little in salad dressings lately, along with wasabe powder). You just need dashi (instant works fine or you can make it with bonito flakes and donbu), miso and wakame seaweed.

You can even find miso paste with dashi...if you really need to eliminate another step.

thaiobsessed wrote:I've never used a mix but miso soup is incredibly easy to make from scratch. Buying instant miso seems a little like buying pancake batter mix--it's only slightly easier than making the real thing. Aside from the tofu (and scallions if you like them), all of the ingredients have a long shelf life. Plus, miso has a lot of uses (I've been using a little in salad dressings lately, along with wasabe powder). You just need dashi (instant works fine or you can make it with bonito flakes and donbu), miso and wakame seaweed.

Where would someone buy the ingredients to make miso soup from scratch? I have wandered through Golden Pacific and one of the stores on Argyle trying to figure out what I need (besides the miso) and have not been successful. Granted, I haven't asked for help.

The GP wrote:

thaiobsessed wrote:I've never used a mix but miso soup is incredibly easy to make from scratch. Buying instant miso seems a little like buying pancake batter mix--it's only slightly easier than making the real thing. Aside from the tofu (and scallions if you like them), all of the ingredients have a long shelf life. Plus, miso has a lot of uses (I've been using a little in salad dressings lately, along with wasabe powder). You just need dashi (instant works fine or you can make it with bonito flakes and donbu), miso and wakame seaweed.

Where would someone buy the ingredients to make miso soup from scratch? I have wandered through Golden Pacific and one of the stores on Argyle trying to figure out what I need (besides the miso) and have not been successful. Granted, I haven't asked for help.

Assuming you can't make it out to Mitsuwa or Tensuke, you can visit Joong Boo Market (Kimball, just north of Belmont, right off the Kennedy).

Bonito flakes and konbu for dashi are normally available at the whole foods on halsted...i'm sure the Japanese mega markets have more competitive pricing.

I've also seen Minute miso, which comes in a plastic squeeze container, in the store. It's in liquid/paste form, and you just add it to boiling water

for a super-quick snack, I prefer this: http://www.kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/pr ... 03&fam=109

however, as noted above, it's simple to buy a tub of shiro miso, hondashi, wakame, and shelf-stable firm tofu just about anywhere (maybe not the miso) and make your own soup on the go...provided refrigeration all of the aforementioned are relatively-long lasting perishables...

To go along with OP's actual request-- -- let me say that I've always been satisfied with Kikkoman's various varieties of instant miso. There are several varieties, including ones with tofu, spinach, etc.
No kitchen work required!

Geo

that's two for Kikkoman!

those packets can get fairly pricey so shop around

The GP wrote:

thaiobsessed wrote:I've never used a mix but miso soup is incredibly easy to make from scratch. Buying instant miso seems a little like buying pancake batter mix--it's only slightly easier than making the real thing. Aside from the tofu (and scallions if you like them), all of the ingredients have a long shelf life. Plus, miso has a lot of uses (I've been using a little in salad dressings lately, along with wasabe powder). You just need dashi (instant works fine or you can make it with bonito flakes and donbu), miso and wakame seaweed.

Where would someone buy the ingredients to make miso soup from scratch? I have wandered through Golden Pacific and one of the stores on Argyle trying to figure out what I need (besides the miso) and have not been successful. Granted, I haven't asked for help.

I was at Golden Pacific this weekend--they had a pretty good selection of ingredients for miso soup. Tai nam also has a reasonably good selection of Japanese ingredients (towards the west end of the store).

Golden Pacific:
Konbu and wakame seaweed


Instant dashi, bonito flakes


They have miso as well (refrigerated section)

thaiobsessed-

Thanks for the photos. That will help me in my quest to make my own miso.