You know those Japanese steak houses where they cook on that big flat top in front of you and do the exact same tricks every time? The volcano onion stack, shaping the rice into a big heart, catching the shrimp tails in their jacket pockets, and clanking their spatulas on the flat top to make beautiful Hibachi music for the entire 30 minute cooking process?
I love those places.
My favorite two parts are the pink/white sauce they give you (which is probs like 99.9% mayonnaise…healthy) that I basically drown all my food in – especially the rice, and the soup they bring you at the beginning.
It’s such a simple little soup, but for some reason it is sooo delicious and so comforting.
I’m not sure why I never tried to recreate it at home before. I think I assumed that since the broth is so flavorful that it would probably be really complicated to make…like simmering beef bones and pig hooves and 60 different types of vegetables all day.
Which might be how the traditional, legit way of making this soup is…but this version that I am about to share with you is the easiest thing ever and tastes just as good! I promise!
So I want to clarify what I mean by “the easiest thing ever.” It is literally the easiest recipe I have probably ever made or posted on The Garlic Diaries before. Here are the steps to make this soup:
Pour broth in pot. Add onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Simmer for 45 minutes. Slice garnishes.
And that’s it.
I almost shouldn’t even put it on here as a recipe…but I am anyway because it’s supa tast-ayyy.
I hate hate hate hate HATE mushrooms, by the way. I didn’t add them to the top of my soup, but I did simmer a few of them in the broth along with the onions and garlic. If you are a mushroom hater, don’t worry!! You don’t taste them in the broth, they just add a little earthiness and depth.
I realized while writing this that I forgot to tell you about our one year anniversary trip in my last post!
We drove to Kansas City eaaaarly Saturday morning, got there at about 10 o’clock, and spent the day at this theme park/water park called Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. We had a pretty awesome time there, but basically all of the roller coasters were broken. It actually became humerous after a little while because it was just so ridiculous. We walked up to like 5 different roller coasters and they were like…nope…it’s shut down right now.
So that was a little frustrating, but we were able to laugh about it – and they ended up opening several back up throughout the day, so we only really missed out on like 2.
So that’s what we did until about 5, and then we checked into our fancy shmancy hotel where the front desk lady proceeded to tell us that we could have gotten the room for $200 dollars less if we booked through the hotel instead of Expedia because we are military….awesome. That was fun to hear.
Then we spent about an hour at the hotel rooftop pool (fannnccaayyy), which was SO SO fun. That might have been my favorite part of the trip. The pool was awesome, and we just swam around and talked for a while. And it felt really amazing outside. And we were drinking a cocktail out of a water bottle. Yeah, we’re classy.
Theeen we showered, got ready, and went out to this DE-licious restaurant called Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar. We got three different types of cooked oysters – all BOMB. Then we shared a bowl of seafood chowder which was quite possibly the best thing I have ever eaten EVER. Seth got shrimp for dinner and I got fish, and then the waiter convinced us to get this insanely good dessert even though I was already painfully full.
After that we went out to a bar where they were playing live jazz music, and Seth decided to order a Manhattan because he had never had one and it’s a famous drink. He hated it and said it was literally straight liquor – but of course he drank it anyway. We stayed there till about 12:30 and then walked back to our hotel. We were staying on the 34th floor, and the view was amazing – especially at night with all the lights from the city.
Overall, it was an absolutely amazing weekend! Definitely my favorite anniversary celebration so far. Traveling together is just so fun. Even if it’s only a few hours away!
You guys have to try this simple, delicious, flavorful, comforting soup!
I hope you all have an amazing weekend – we have a four day weekend so today feels like Friday, whooooooooooooooooooooooop!
- 1 32 oz box chicken stock/broth
- 1 32 oz box beef stock/broth
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 10 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 3 mushrooms (we used baby portabella, but you can use any mushroom you want) plus extra for topping
- 5-10 green onions, sliced
- French fried onions (like what you use for green bean casserole)
- Pour the two broths in a large pot
- Add in the onion, garlic, and mushrooms
- Bring to a boil
- Reduce to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes
- Remove the vegetables and season with salt to taste (this will depend on your taste preference, but we ended up needing a pretty decent amount)
- Top with thinly sliced mushrooms, green onions, and french fried onions
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
Want more yummy soup recipes? Check these out:
The Best Chicken and Rice Soup
30 Minute, One Pot White Chicken Chili
Taste nothing like the soup. However it’s a good recipe. Taste good. But I’f you’re looking to mimic the soup from any of the Japanese steak house, this isn’t the one. Worth a try though…
This wasn’t my experience Kate, but I’m sorry it didn’t work out as well for you. Thank you for the feedback! I’m always interested to hear how my recipes work out for other people :).
Love this soup, just tweaked it a bit. I put corse grated carrots in broth while cooking then strained the carrots, mushrooms and onions, add salt I topped mine of with just the fried onions.
Sounds super yummy, Renee! So glad you liked it :).
Ooooh I love this!!! The soup is one of my favorite parts, too. It’s simple but so, so yummy. What I love about yours is that there’s lots more of the good stuff– shrooms, onions– than there typically is in restaurants. That’s the best part of making things at home!!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel recently posted…Indoor Salted Caramel S’mores
Thanks, Jess! Yeah they never seem to put enough on at the restaurant. Definitely a benefit of making it at home!
I don’t believe I’ve had this mayo sauce, but it sounds delicious! Your pictures are just lovely and I adore soup!! Would love to have a bowl of this!! YUM!
Cailee recently posted…REST!
Oh it is sooo tasty (and horribly unhealthy)! Thanks, Cailee!
I’m not sure other than the garnish (French fried onions) where your comment on how this is an unhealthy comes from? little confused about that one……
The unhealthy remark here is referring to the mayo sauce that she says she’s never tried, not the soup. The soup isn’t unhealthy with the exception of the French Fried Onions.
I am loving Asian soups in these cooler months and yours looks so good, and unlike you I love mushrooms so throw in heaps for me!
Dani @ House in Tillford recently posted…Potato Blini with Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Ricotta | Recipe
I love soups all year round – even when it’s 100 degrees outside. I know, I’m weird!! Throw those mushrooms in there girl!!
Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best! This looks like a great soup!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop recently posted…Watermelon Sorbet
Agreed, Kathy :). Thanks!
I have no idea what is in that mayonnaise sauce that they serve, but it is amazing. I love it over tofu.
It is too hot for soup here at the moment, but this is the kind of meal I will love in Autumn.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Health Myths: True or False? by Susie @ SuzLyfe
Agreed! It is so good! It’s crazy hot here too, but I’m weird and eat soups all year round. I love them too much to wait!
This soup looks and sounds fabulous, Annie! I love mushrooms and this is SO GOOD! A quick, delish, healthy and comforting meal!
Thanks, Anu!
What a delicious and flavorful soup! We love the Japanese steakhouses but haven’t gone in a while so I can’t wait to try making this! So glad you had an amazing anniversary trip too!
Thanks, Kelly! Yes now you can get the experience at home :).
YUM! This combines pretty much everything my boyfriend loves (except Chipotle) so I’ll have to give it a try.
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks recently posted…Roasted Corn, Basil, and Feta Salad
Yayy!!! Try it out! Let me know how it goes :).
Oh – and pinned to try later :)
Savita @ ChefDeHome recently posted…By ChefDeHome- Jerk Chicken Sliders with Grilled Pineapple Relish
Annie, this soup sounds SO good and looks even more delicious! I can’t wait to get some mushrooms in next grocery :) thanks for sharing!!!!
Savita @ ChefDeHome recently posted…By ChefDeHome- Jerk Chicken Sliders with Grilled Pineapple Relish
Thanks, Savita!!
I love Japanese stetakhouses too, Annie (show me the crazy who doesnt! I must de-friend them). Kinda super weird that I like them though, because I use to work at a high end one –> totally didn’t ruin me for life. The white sauce – rocks the house and worth every mayo laden calorie! And I’m TOTALLY with you on the soup SO.GOOD!! Love that you recreated it and you made it easy! I will toe-ts Slurp slurp to that!!!! Gimme gimme, girlfriend! ♡ you always bring the yum and give me the giggles! Thanks for being you- Awesome! Cheers, sweetness!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Blueberry & Whipped Mint Mascarpone Crostini {with Almonds & Honey}
That is weird that you like them after working at one! All the food at the restaurants I used to work at has been ruined for me…sadly. Yesssss BRING ON THE CALORIES in the white sauce! Thanks, Cheyanne!!
This soup sounds fantastic, Annie! I love the mushrooms in here. Such a quick and delicious meal!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Quinoa Caprese Salad
Thanks, Gayle!