The Dashi Diaries

Winter in our opinion calls for all dishes that are slurpy and soupy and full of flavour. And dashi is where the flavour is at! Dashi is a Japanese sensation that is often used as the base for miso, broths and soups.

There are a few different types of dashi, but the one thing they have in common is that they enhance and bring out the flavour ‘umami’ (the fifth taste) to a dish.

The fifth what you say?

We all know that taste is made up of sweet, sour, salty and bitter, but it turns out that there is a fifth taste that has only been recognised by western scientists recently. Umami a magical fifth flavour that is a combination of all of sweet, sour, bitter & salty and turns out umami is where we get that moreish ‘all flavour’ craving from.

Dashi is designed to enhance this ‘fifth’ taste element which is why dashi is darn delicious and an integral ingredient in Japanese dishes!

If you’re not well versed in the Japanese language , understanding the different dashi types can be a bit confusing when going by names, but never fear because we’re about to break it down for you!

Kombu

Kombu Dashi is the most simple of the dashi family with just water and dried sea kelp used. Usually the kelp is steeped in water until the water takes on the unique rich flavour of the kelp. This type of dashi is perfection for vegetarian dishes.

Bonito

Bonito is basically the same method as above but instead of using kelp, Bonito is used to create a stronger more fishy flavour and is apparently better used the second time around of boiling! Turns out Bonito (dried tuna flakes) is the dashi dish that keeps on giving!

Iriko / Niboshi

This particular dashi is made by boiling dried baby anchovies or sardines creating a stronger and bolder flavour. Once your desired flavour is reached you can either dispose of the fish or keep them in to add to a soup!

Shitake

Another great dashi for vegetarians as the base is made from delectable shitake mushrooms creating a rich earthy flavour base that will add boldness and depth to your dish without the use of meat to achieve full blown flavour.

Dash over to Ippudo and try all their delicious dashi combinations!