Katsuo Dashi Recipe: Perfect Flavor With Bonito Flakes

Author: Joost Nusselder, author of The Essential Japanese meal planner cookbook Updated October 10, 2022

Katsuo dashi is very easy to make. Unlike awase dashi (here’s how to make that), it just uses 2 ingredients, katsuobushi and water.

Here’s the perfect recipe to get started:

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In this post we'll cover:

• 1 Homemade Katsuo Dashi Recipe
  • 1.1 Ingredients  1x2x3x
  • 1.2 Instructions 
• 2 What flavor does katsuobushi give to dashi?
• 3 Best katsuobushi to use
• 4 Conclusion

Homemade Katsuo Dashi Recipe

Joost Nusselder

If you don’t have dashi on hand, another option is to make your own. Here’s how it’s done.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 2 cups

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cups water
• ½ cup katsuobushi loosely dried bonito flakes

Instructions

 

• Pour the water in a 1-quart saucepan and warm over medium heat.
• Add bonito flakes and let the water come to a rapid simmer. Allow to simmer for one minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow the bonito flakes to steep in the broth for an additional five minutes
• Strain the bonito flakes from the broth. Then add more water pouring through the strained bonito to make two cups.
• The broth can be used immediately or you can refrigerate it up for a week or freeze it for up to three months.

Keyword Dashi

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

What flavor does katsuobushi give to dashi?

Katsuobushi is a key ingredient in dashi, a type of Japanese soup stock. The fish imparts a rich, umami flavor to the broth.

Best katsuobushi to use

(view images)

Eden sells bonito flakes that are imported from Japan. They’re aged and dried and have a rich, savory taste.

The brand recommends you try them in noodle broth with shiitake or in French onion soup.

Find Eden bonito flakes on Amazon

Conclusion

It’s very easy to make and essential to making Japanese dishes. Now, go off and create your favorite recipes!

Check out our new cookbook

Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.

Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:

Read for free

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.