Dashi comes as instant granules (dashi no moto) or as the raw ingredients, bonito flakes and kombu, and both are found in the world food aisle of larger UK supermarkets or more reliably at Japanese and Asian grocers. Instant granules are the easiest starting point for most home cooks.
Where to look
- The world food aisle for instant dashi granules, often next to miso and soy sauce.
- Japanese and Asian supermarkets for bonito flakes (katsuobushi) and dried kombu to make it from scratch.
- Online Japanese grocery retailers, for the widest range of both instant and raw versions.
Instant vs from scratch
Instant dashi granules dissolve in hot water and are a reasonable everyday shortcut. Making it from kombu and bonito flakes takes longer but gives a cleaner, more delicate flavour, and is worth it for a dish like clear miso soup where the broth is the star.
