How to make Matsutake Mushroom Soup (Clear Broth)

Matsutake mushroom is a popular type of mushroom in Japan and is used in many dishes, especially during the Fall season. This post is all about Matsutake mushroom and how to make the easiest 5-ingredient Matsutake mushroom soup that will warm up your body during the colder months.

What is Matsutake mushroom (松茸/マツタケ)?

In Japanese, matsu means pine tree and take means mushroom, so together Matsutake means Pine tree mushroom. But does Matsutake smell like pine tree? I think it has a woodsy earthy aroma. However, non-Japanese people often perceive the scent of matsutake as an “unpleasant odor,” and some even go as far as saying it smells like sock!

Matsutake is a highly popular and highly prized type of mushroom in Japan. It is used in Japanese cuisine as a luxury ingredient and is known for its distinct earthy aromatic odor. If that doesn’t deter you away, let’s see what Matsutake mushroom soup is all about.

Tips on how to use Matsutake mushroom:

This is what Matsutake mushroom looks like! It looks like there’s dirt on it, but a lot of times it’s just how the mushroom looks and the brown parts pack in a lot of flavors! That’s one of the reasons why you shouldn’t wash this mushroom under water because it will remove all the flavor from it. Instead, you want to wipe the mushroom down with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove dirt, but it will still keep the flavor.

What if I don’t have Matsutake mushroom?

Since the main ingredient is Matsutake mushroom, do you need Matsutake to enjoy this soup? Absolutely not! If you do not have access to Matsutake, you can substitute it with a choice of your favorite mushroom. It won’t be called Matsutake mushroom soup or have the Matsutake mushroom flavor, but it’ll be delicious regardless. Here are some of my favorite mushrooms that will work as a substitute:

• Shitake mushroom
• Maitake mushroom
• Shimeji mushroom
• Enoki mushroom

Tips on making Matsutake mushroom soup

If my explanation about Matsutake mushrooms didn’t deter you away, here are some tips on how to make Matsutake mushroom soup.

• Do not wash matsutake. Washing will remove all the flavors from the mushroom. Wipe away dirt on the mushroom using a damp paper towel.
• When making dashi, do not boil kombu. This will make the kombu slimy. Here is a detailed recipe on how to make dashi.

What is dashi?

Dashi is Japanese soup stock made from steeping several ingredients in hot and cold water. It is used in many soups such as miso soup, clear soup (such as this one), or noodle soups. If you want to learn more about dashi, here is a blog post on dashi.

Don’t worry, you DO NOT have to make your own dashi

Dashi is SO commonly used in many Japanese dishes. However, making the dashi can be one of the most time-consuming parts of any recipe. You can make dashi in batches ahead of time and store it for later use, BUT if you do not want to make dashi, do not fret. There are so many good options for quick and easy dashi you can buy. Here is the link to my favorite dashi powder you can find on Amazon.

Instant Matsutake mushroom soup

I know this post is all about Matsutake mushrooms and how to make Matsutake mushroom soup at home, but let’s be honest not everyone has the time to go foraging the mountains for Matsutake mushrooms or to make their soups from scratch. Plus, Matsutake isn’t a really common ingredient, and let’s not even talk about the hefty price tag that comes with it. For those who are curious about what Matsutake mushroom soup tastes like, I got you! There is an instant soup that you can buy and is the same one I grew up drinking. It is called Matsutake no Osuimono (pictured below). I love this instant soup when I am craving something light and warm.

Places you can find these ingredients:

• Japanese Grocery market (Mitsuwa, Nijiya, Tokyo Central)
• Asian Grocery markets (H-Mart, 99 Ranch)
• Asian isle at your local grocery market 
• Amazon (links to some of my favorites below)

Disclaimer: Tiffoodss is a part of Amazon’s affiliate marketing program. I will receive a commission if you make a purchase through my affiliate link at no extra cost to you.