questions about using miso

[Dante]

OK, so I've never used miso before, but finally got some to use as an ingredient in a sauce. I'd like to know what else I could use it for besides soup. I'm sure it has a hundred-and-one uses but I a unversed in this area.

Sincerely,

Dante

[mkayahara]

Funny you should ask. Way back in November, nakji offered up a great recipe for squash with miso:

You can either steam the squash (for health) in chunks, or roast it tossed with sesame oil and salt. Then, when it's soft, mash it up adding a tablespoon of good miso, a tablespoon of butter, fresh ground pepper and a grating of fresh Parmesan to taste.

I never got around to trying it... until last night. It's highly recommended!

You can also use miso to marinate meats and fish (like the famous "miso-cured black cod"), but others with more experience than me in this area will have to provide information on how to use it for that.

[Blether]

You can get good use from it anywhere that you'd apply salt and savouriness - think anchovy substitution, for example. In Japan it's mixed with other seasonings and applied to fish before grilling/baking. It's also good to go with drinks, mixed with seasonings, spread on a flat wooden spoon and grilled.

[blue_dolphin]

I like to play with the Miso-Almond Sauce from Mollie Katzen's "Still Life with Menu." She uses it on Steamed Vegetables, Tofu and Soba Noodles.

She uses 4 T miso and 6 T almond butter and gradually blends in 1.5 cups of boiling water.

I like it as is or with some garlic, tahini in place of some or all of the almond butter, parsley and a squeeze of lemon.

Or with peanut butter, ginger and some hot chili sauce with a sprinkling of cilantro.

[karlos]

David Chang makes a compound butter with it. I just recently bought my first tub of miso and haven't gotten around to trying it yet- other than some soup.

[Moopheus]

I make miso salad dressings fairly frequently in the summer. Chang's miso butter recipe is good. William Shurtleff's Big Book of Miso covers the traditional uses, and then some.

[Shalmanese]

It also serves as a surprisingly good stock substitute when stock is the base note. For example, I was recently making lentils and didn't have any stock so I subbed in miso instead. Tasted 95% the same.

[earlgrey_44]

You can get good use from it anywhere that you'd apply salt and savouriness

This is exactly correct. For example, use a rice miso as a salt substitute for oatmeal.

Creamy oatmeal with miso and maple syrup - mmm tasty. Gives a nice protein boost too...

[Paul Bacino]

I do a miso marinated Salmon Dish!!

[emannths]

Sweet miso marinated black cod, chilean sea bass, salmon, or other fatty fish is great. [Recipe]

Mackerel stewed in miso with ginger is a nice winter fish meal. [Recipe]

It's also good on eggplant--either as a sauce or sort of a paste that adheres to one side of a slice as you cook it.

You might also want to check the Japanese cooking board for other suggestions.

Edited February 28, 2011 by emannths (log)