For many of us, soup is the first thing to come to mind when we hear the word miso. While it’s terrific in a steaming bowlful of ramen, this fermented paste can be added to so much more. Scroll through these 20 tempting recipes to see just how well miso’s umami-rich taste works in applications both savory and sweet.
1. Mi-So Honey Sweet Potato Sorbet: White miso adds a savory depth to each scoop of this honey-roasted sweet potato sorbet, creating a flavor experience beyond compare. (via The Moonblush Baker)
2. Miso Noodle Soup (Vegan): Hearty and healthy, a bowlful of this tofu- and veggie-packed soup is sure to warm you up and satisfy your tastebuds at the same time. (via My Darling Vegan)
3. Miso-Creamed Kale: Forget about creamed spinach with your next steak. It deserves this umami-rich side instead. (via Food52)
4. Individual Apple Crisp With Miso Caramel: Move over salted caramel, miso caramel is here to steal your spotlight. (via Well Worn Fork)
5. Kabocha Squash Toasts With Miso Jam: Add this entry to the ever-expanding list of ways to make fancy toast. Red miso paste and honey simmer together to create a jammy spread for goat cheese, squash and pumpkin seed-topped slices of baguette. (via Tasting Table)
6. Japanese Fried Chicken: Miso mayo is the perfect dip for these bite-sized nuggets marinated in ginger juice, soy sauce, sake and mirin. We bet it would rock as a sandwich spread, too. (via Rasa Malaysia)
7. Miso Salmon: A quick dip in a sweet-salty miso marinade enhances salmon without overpowering it. Pop the filets under the broiler and you’ll be enjoying a flavorful, healthy meal in no time at all. (via Just One Cookbook)
8. Avocado Kale Sesame Miso Soba: Between the miso and avocado, these noodles seem so luxurious — no one would guess that they only take a few minutes to prepare. Serve them up solo or as a side for your favorite protein and veg. (via Kenko Kitchen)
9. Miso Chocolate Hazelnut Rugelach Bars: Transforming time-consuming rugelach into bar cookies is totally genius, as is the miso-Nutella filling combo. All the flavors work beautifully sandwiched between layers of buttery, cream-cheese-enhanced dough. (The Wandering Eater)
10. Shrimp and Corn Tamales With Miso Butter: Soy-citrus shrimp and miso offer an Asian-inspired edge to these otherwise totally Southwestern tamales, resulting in a thoughtful-yet-playful assortment of tastes. (via Hapa Nom)
11. Miso-Scented Portobello: Low in carbs and free of meat, a miso marinade elevates this meaty-tasty portobello steak served with crispy shallots and a side of garlicky cauliflower mash. (via Olives for Dinner)
12. Miso Oatmeal Cookies: You probably already guessed it, but these aren’t any ordinary oatmeal cookies. The addition of miso means not a single chip or raisin need be added for flavor. (via Spache the Spatula)
13. Miso-Roasted Garlic Broccoli: Be prepared to retire your steamer for good. Roasting broccoli is a simple step for enhancing its flavor, but once shallots, garlic and miso are added to the mix you’ve got one special side ready to dish up — totally worthy of a spot at your holiday table. (via Cultural Chromatics)
14. Broccoli-Walnut Pesto: Miso and lemon juice add a bright interest to this fantastic alternative to traditional pesto. (via Produce on Parade)
15. French Onion Soup With Miso: Fool folks into thinking you spent hours and hours simmering away the stock for this hearty soup by simply adding miso and balsamic vinegar to store-bought beef broth. (via Pickled Plum)
16. Ginger Miso Ice Cream (Vegan): Outrageously creamy, full-flavored and made with fewer than 10 ingredients, this is one impressive vegan scoop. (via Drizzle and Dip)
17. Blueberry Turnovers With Maple-Miso Drizzle: Not sure about mixing miso with sweet stuff? Give these turnovers a try — the drizzle is added at the very end, so you can ease into the combo and still have tasty jam-filled pastries to enjoy no matter what. (via Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes)
18. Brussels Sprouts Kimchi Tacos With Miso Cashew Crema (Vegan, Gluten-Free): You’ll need to start prepping the homemade cabbage–Brussels sprouts kimchi a few days ahead of serving these tacos, but trust that they’re totally worth the planning involved. Wanna add some meat to the mix? Simply add a few crumbles of cooked chorizo for an extra pop of flavor. (via Dolly and Oatmeal)
19. Sweet Potato Dumplings: The seemingly simple, creamy sweet potato filling has a ton of flavor packed into each bite. (via Alyssa and Carla)
20. Smoked Salmon Handrolls With Wakame Salad: These handrolls are the perfect way to enjoy sushi at home — so much easier than fussing with all the rolling and cutting of maki rolls. (via Wild Greens and Sardines)
Have you ever tried adding miso to something unexpected? Share your experiments and their results with us in the comments!
