Tofu and Napa Cabbage Soup | The Secret Is in the Broth
This Tofu and Napa Cabbage Soup is a simple and delicious Chinese vegetable soup made with silky tofu, sweet napa cabbage, carrot and shiitake mushrooms. The secret is in the broth — the dried shiitake soaking water turns into a deep, savory base that tastes like it simmered for hours. It's a cozy chinese recipe for a light weeknight dinner or dinner for one, all made in a single pot. No stir-fry today — the frying pan gets a day off, and this healthy asian recipe does the comforting instead.
✨ What you’ll love about this recipe:
✔️ Cooks in under 20 minutes — the frying pan gets the day off
✔️ Silky tofu and soft, sweet napa cabbage in every spoonful
✔️ Just one pot, so cleanup is basically a quick rinse
✔️ Budget-friendly veggies that turn into a cozy, filling bowl
✔️ Deep shiitake broth that tastes like it simmered for hours
--------------------------------------------
🛒 Ingredients (1 serving)
--------------------------------------------
🥬 Main
Napa cabbage — 3–4 leaves, about 7 oz (200g), stems and leaves separated
Carrot — 1/3, about 2 oz (55g), thinly sliced
Dried shiitake mushrooms — 3
Silken tofu — 5.3 oz (150g)
Ginger — 4–5 thin slices
Green onion — 1, whites and greens separated
🍲 Broth
Shiitake soaking water — 1¼ cups (300ml), strained
Water — ¾ cup (180ml)
🧂 Seasoning
Mushroom bouillon powder — 1 tsp (or chicken / kombu powder — ½ tsp)
Salt — a pinch, to taste
White pepper — a pinch (optional)
Sesame oil — ¼ tsp (optional)
🛢 Cooking
Scallion oil or neutral oil — 1 tbsp
--------------------------------------------
🕒 Chapters
--------------------------------------------
00:00 - Intro
00:21 - Soak Dried Shiitake Mushrooms in Hot Water
00:38 - Slice Ginger and Green Onion
01:08 - Prep Carrot and Napa Cabbage
02:08 - Trim Shiitake and Strain the Mushroom Broth
02:34 - Cut Silken Tofu Into Cubes
03:10 - Sauté Ginger, Scallion and Shiitake
03:59 - Add Carrot and Napa Cabbage Stems
04:16 - Pour in Mushroom Broth and Simmer
05:07 - Add Silken Tofu and Season the Soup
05:49 - Add Napa Cabbage Leaves Last
06:22 - Finish With Green Onion and Serve
--------------------------------------------
🔖 #TofuSoup #VegetableSoup #SoupRecipe #TofuRecipe #ChineseSoup #HealthyDinner #NapaCabbageSoup #DinnerForOne #LazyWeeKitchen