Kenchinjiru (Japanese Root Vegetable and Tofu Soup)
A comforting Buddhist temple style soup of sesame fried root vegetables, shiitake and crumbled tofu in a light savoury broth.
Made with Homemade vegetable stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.96 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Pour your ready made vegetable stock (see the base recipe) into a pan with the kombu and warm it over a low heat while you prepare the vegetables. Take out the kombu before it boils.
5 min - 2
Wrap the tofu in kitchen paper, press it for 5 minutes, then crumble it into pieces about the size of a pea.
- 3
Heat the sesame oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the tofu for 3 minutes, then add the daikon, carrots, parsnip and shiitake and stir for 5 minutes until glossy.
8 min - 4
Pour in the warm stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the root vegetables are tender.
20 min - 5
Stir in the tamari, mirin and ginger, then taste and adjust with a little more tamari if needed.
- 6
Ladle into bowls and top with the spring onions.
Tips
- Kenchinjiru traditionally uses burdock and taro. Parsnip and a small potato are an easy UK swap for both.
- Keep the kombu out of a hard boil, as it turns bitter and slimy.
- Check tamari and mirin labels. Some mirin style seasonings contain wheat or alcohol you may want to avoid.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. It also freezes well for up to 2 months, though the tofu becomes slightly chewier.
Questions
Is kenchinjiru vegan?
Yes. It was developed in Buddhist temple kitchens and uses no fish or meat. Many shop bought dashi products contain fish, which is why this version uses vegetable stock with kombu.
What can I use instead of daikon?
Use white turnip or a small piece of swede. Mooli from a supermarket also works.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, provided you use gluten free tamari and check your mirin. Ordinary soy sauce contains wheat.
More made with homemade vegetable stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.