A basic stock used for a lot of Japanese recipes.

Ichiban Dashi (First Sea Stock)

Makes 4 cups.

Ingredients

Quantity	Measure	Ingredient
1	litre	water (cold)
10	cm square piece	kombu (13-18 grams)
1/2	cup	loosely packed katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)

Place the water and the kombu in a pot and let the kombu soak for about 15 minutes.
Place the pot over medium heat.
Right before the water starts to boil remove the kombu.
Remove the pot from the heat and scatter the katsuobushi over the surface of the water.
After 3 or 4 minutes (the katsuobushi will have sunk to the bottom of the pot by this point), strain the stock through a strainer lined with a tightly woven cotton cloth or a coffee-filter.
Refrigerate the stock in a tightly covered container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Sources disagree on whether ichiban dashi can be frozen. Some say that it can be frozen, while others argue that the stock loses its aroma / flavor when frozen, so it’s best to use it when it’s fresh. It’s up to you!

Niban Dashi (Second Sea Stock)

Makes about 4 cups.

Ingredients

Quantity	Measure	Ingredient
4	cups	water
	Kombu and katsuobushi used in ichiban dashi

Combine all of the ingredients in a pot. Place the pot over low heat and cook the mixture for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and then strain the stock through a strainer lined with tightly woven cotton cloth or a coffee-filter.
Refrigerate the stock in a tightly covered container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.