How to use miso?

What is miso?

Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning usually made with fermented soy. The fermented food adds an umami saltiness to anything from soups to marinades and even desserts. Miso paste is a base for everyday Japanese dishes like miso soup or ramen soup. 

How is miso made?

Miso is usually made with fermented soy and rice. But can also include other legumes and whole grains like beans, beans and buckwheat.

Miso paste is made by mixing cooked soya beans (or other mentioned ingredients) with koji and salt water. Koji is a starter culture, usually fermented rice. But other ingredients can also be used for it. This mixture is then fermented for several months until it becomes a soft paste.

What does miso taste like?  

Miso flavour is known as umami. It's a rich, salty, sweet, toasty, deep savoury flavour.

How long can miso be stored?

Miso paste is a "preservative food, " meaning it can be kept for an extended time due to its higher salt content. You can store it in a jar in your refrigerator for months, and it won't go off. 

How to use miso?

Here are some of the easiest ways to incorporate miso paste into your cooking.

• Use miso to make a simple miso soup. Add it to a simple broth (1 tbs for 0.5 l of liquid) and stir until it dissolves completely. Be careful adding salt - miso is a bit salty. 

• Use miso when cooking ramen broth. Miso is an essential ingredient in many ramen recipes.

• Miso paste is an excellent ingredient in vegan and vegetarian cooking. Add it to your plant-based dishes for an umami flavour that

•  Miso adds umami to your soups and stews. You can still use miso in your daily dishes, even if you're not vegan or vegetarian. Just add it to your soups and stews. 

• Miso doesn't need to be cooked. So you can add it to your salad dressings. Mix it with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and other ingredients you usually use to top your salad. Miso will add an exciting flavour to all your fresh veggie creations.

• Use miso for marinades for an even more umami taste. You can easily mix miso with other seasonings and condiments and create new exciting flavours. 

• Add it to your stir-fries. Miso will enhance the flavour of any veggies and noodles. 

• Use miso in gravies. It will make its flavour richer and gives it the umami kick.

• You can add miso paste to baked goods and desserts. Thanks to its rich flavour it can be an excellent salt replacer in many sweet recipes. You can make miso cheesecake, sundaes, brownies, caramel and many other delicious sweet miso treats.  

What miso paste products can I buy online? 

Hatcho Miso Paste - made only with whole soya beans, matured for almost 3 years in cedar wood barrels.

Sweet White Miso Paste - lightly fermented to give a delicious savoury, yet sweet taste and a creamy texture.

Brown Rice Miso Paste - unpasteurised whole soya beans paste with brown rice

Barley Miso Paste - fermented whole soya beans paste with barley

Chickpea Miso - miso with a twist - fermented chickpea paste -no soy miso!

Miso Ginger Paste - made from gluten-free miso and fresh ginger.