Dashi in a Rush

There is a much easier way to prepare dashi, the uniquely flavored and indispensable stock for miso soup (‘Miso in America,” Feb. 21). Prepared dashi powder is sold in small boxes containing several sealed packets, much like bouillon, and available in any market selling Japanese groceries.

Using prepared dashi, one can make as much or as little miso as one wants and have it at once. Simply boil the amount of water wanted for soup, add some of the powdered dashi (it dissolves instantly), then the miso paste and whatever else you want, and there it is: miso soup, steaming and fragrant.

ALLANA ELOVSON

Via e-mail