Food

21 Ways to Cook with Miso

Give your soups, stews, and steaks a salty, umami-packed punch

By SAVEUR Editors

January 13, 2016

Made by fermenting soybeans with salt, rice fungus kōji, and sometimes rice or barley, miso paste imparts a salty, umami-packed punch to soups, salads, roasted vegetables, and more.

Miso comes in a rainbow of colors, from sweet-and-salty white to salty-funky brown. You can substitute one miso paste for another in these recipes, but take note that the darker a miso, the more savory it'll be.

Miso Soup — This clean-tasting, simple miso soup from chef Chris Fischer is made with dashi, a fish broth reinforced here with kombu and bonito flakes.Elizabeth Cecil

Salmon Foil Yaki — Your new favorite way to cook salmon: with Asian sauces, scallions, and enoki mushrooms, all wrapped up in a foil pouch.Matt Taylor-Gross

Edamame Miso Tuna Sandwich — Edamame beans make this sandwich a protein-packed meal while sesame-chile oil gives it a kick.André Baranowski

Noodles in Dashi with Miso-Coated Pork Belly — Red miso paste, more fermented than its blond counterparts, adds piquancy to pork belly cooked with brown sugar, mirin, and sesame seeds.Andrea Fazzari

Seafood Seaweed Butter — We developed this compound butter to accompany a gleaming Grilled Seafood Tower, but it works as well simply tossed with boiled noodles as a simple weeknight pasta dinner.Matt Taylor-Gross

Broiled Spaghetti Squash with Walnut-Miso Glaze — It's rare that we encounter spaghetti squash not shredded into its eponymous noodle-like threads. But kept intact, it reveals a beautifully yielding texture and a savory, subtle flavor that's perfectly offset by a rich walnut-miso glaze.Maxime Iattoni

Soba Noodle Salad with Miso and Grilled Prawns — A miso marinade doubles as a dressing for a flavorful salad composed of watercress, scallions, and soba noodles. Get the recipe for Soba Noodle Salad with Miso and Grilled Prawns »Farideh Sadeghin

Sardine Miso Ball Soup — "Sardines" and "miso soup" probably don't go in the same sentence very often, but here they make a great pair. Get the recipe for Sardine Miso Ball Soup »André Baranowski

Miso Roasted Scallions — Roasting scallions brings out their sweetness—finished with a tangy miso dressing, this surprising, simple dish makes a great appetizer or side.Helen Rosner

Leek and Clam Foil Yaki — Clams, leeks, and king oyster mushrooms get cooked in a foil pouch that resembles a Jiffy Pop.Matt Taylor-Gross

Chicory and Herb Salad with Apple, Pomegranate, and Creamy MIso Dressing — Shiso, mint, and cilantro puer up lightly bitter chicory in this invigorating Asian-infected winter saladRyan Liebe

Garlic and Red-Miso Porterhouse — A marinade of red miso, ginger, and garlic gives this steak a crisp, flavorful crust and a juicy interior.Todd Coleman

This sauce has an intense umami flavor and a mustardy zing.Todd Coleman

Seaweed Salad with Orange and Macadamia Nuts — Chef Josita Hartanto of Berlin's Lucky Leek mixes three marinated seaweeds with sweet caramelized mushrooms, steamed vinegary rice, and crisp toasted nori in this vegan rice bowl. All of the seaweeds used here can be found online so search them out, as they each contribute a different texture and taste to this salad. Get the recipe for Seaweed Salad with Orange and Macadamia Nuts »Matt Taylor-Gross

Prawns with Edamame Slaw and Carrot Miso Sauce — Carrot juice and white miso make a sweet umami dressing for jumbo prawns and a spicy slaw of radish and edamame in this recipe adapted from chef Ryan Edwards of Appellation restaurant in Barossa, Australia. Get the recipe for Prawns with Edamame Slaw and Carrot Miso Sauce »Matt Taylor-Gross

Crispy Pork Belly with Persimmons — Lovely persimmons aren't just for salads and desserts. We also like to cook them in savory dishes, including this crispy pork belly simmered with miso, honey, and sake. Get the recipe for Crispy Pork Belly with Persimmons »Andre Baranowski

Mushroom Foil Yaki — Mushrooms get cooked in a foil pouch with Asian sauces in this effortless "one-foil" dish.Matt Taylor-Gross

Bitter Melon and Tofu Stir-Fry with Pork Belly and Eggs (Goya Champuru) — Soft tofu, scrambled eggs, and rich pork belly stand up to astringent bitter melon in this flavorful stir-fry. Get the recipe for Bitter Melon and Tofu Stir-Fry with Pork Belly and Eggs (Goya Champuru) »Justin Walker

The addition of sweet white miso updates a traditional corn cake recipe, perfectly balanced by a zesty topping of pesto.Leah Koenig

Braised Pork Belly with Leeks and Ginger — Awamori, a lightly sweet rice distillate, is used to blanch and cook—as well as coat—tender pork belly, resulting in a sticky, umami-rich sauce. Get the recipe for Braised Pork Belly with Leeks and Ginger »Matt Taylor-Gross

Spinach and Tofu Salad with Peanut–Miso Dressing — Tofu adds creaminess to this spare salad of spinach dressed with peanut butter and red miso paste. Get the recipe for Spinach and Tofu Salad with Peanut–Miso Dressing »Andrea Fazzari

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