Miso paste is a relatively new ingredient for many Kiwi cooks but one that is rapidly increasing in popularity due to its umami characteristics. Scientifically speaking, umami is the ‘fifth taste’, following on from sweet, sour, salty and bitter. It gives a full-flavoured savoury mouthfeel to dishes, a little like a spoonful of Marmite might to a stew.
Originating in Japan, miso paste is made from soy beans, salt and koji – a type of fungus, which are fermented with rice, barley or other grains. It comes in red and yellow as well as white, which is in fact a yellowish-beige colour, and is the variety generally found in New Zealand.
Miso is extremely versatile and can find its way into soup, casseroles, dressings and sauces. Add a teaspoon at a time and taste the difference. It only needs to be refrigerated once open, and in a sealed container it will last in the fridge for months.
To make a beautiful saké, miso and butter basted steak, watch our video with The Backyard Cook‘s Marty Shanahan below!
Loading the player...
Miso broth with chicken, barley and vegetables
Ready in less than 30 minutes, this comforting miso broth recipe with chicken, barley and vegetables is great enjoyed for a simple yet comforting weeknight meal
Miso grilled terakihi donburi
Quick, healthy and delicious, this miso grilled terakihi donburi recipe ticks all the boxes for a weeknight meal. Serve with a cabbage and carrot salad topped with spring onions
Healthy chicken karaage with miso mayo
Chicken karaage gets a healthy edge with this recipe. Serve with Japanese-style slaw and homemade miso mayo for a restaurant-worthy meal at home
Flourless almond butter and miso biscuits
With just a handful of ingredients you can make these flourless almond butter biscuits. You can’t taste the actual flavour of miso, but it brings a lovely richness and a touch of salt to the recipe
Roasted vegetables with tahini miso dressing
Roast veges get a dose of umami flavour with this tasty recipe idea. Winter vegetables are drizzled with a super savoury tahini miso dressing to create the ultimate side dish for your next roast
Eggplant chargrilled with miso and cheese
The combination of miso and eggplant is irresistible in this recipe. Topping it with cheese gives an extra rich flavour. For a different mix, try courgettes or steamed mussels instead of the eggplant
Miso and lemon-glazed chicken with Japanese sesame spinach and avocado salad
This miso and lemon-glazed chicken with Japanese sesame spinach and avocado salad is just as good as it sounds. Whip it up in just 30 minutes for a healthy and delicious midweek dinner.
Seared salmon with miso slaw
Looking for your next weeknight winner? This recipe ticks all the boxes. Tender seared salmon and crunchy miso slaw come together to create a healthy dinner that can be on the table in just 30 mins
Roasted kumara and orange salad with miso dressing
Miso paste adds just the right amount of saltiness and brings a beautiful richness to this roasted kumara and orange salad recipe. Any leftover dressing will keep in the fridge for up to a week
Garlic mushrooms with spinach, quinoa and miso butter
Adding miso to butter to this quinoa recipe is a lovely way to inject a little umami into everyday eats. Thickly sliced flat mushrooms are used in this dish, but any mushroom will do. Created by Emma Galloway for Taste magazine
Ginger and miso eggplant with noodles
Who said weeknight meals have to be boring? This ginger and miso eggplant recipe packs a flavour punch, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes. Serve with steamed greens for a filling vegetarian dinner
Walnut and miso filled eggplant with radish salad
Nourish yourself with this wholesome and delicious walnut and miso filled eggplant with radish salad. A perfectly balanced vegetarian dish full of goodness.
Chocolate miso sauce
The addition of miso in this simple chocolate sauce recipe adds a beautiful depth of flavour and subtle saltiness. Some will think this is a strange combination, but it’s really a perfect match
The Backyard Cook’s saké, miso and butter basted steak
The flavour cocktail of saké, miso and butter mixed together then brushed over a beautiful cut of beef is nothing short of incredible. It’s worth hunting out these special ingredients because they will take any cut of steak from zero to hero.
Miso broth with tamari pumpkin and noodles
Warm up with this wholesome nourishing miso broth with tamari pumpkin and noodles. The perfect combination for a meat-free dinner idea.
Butter miso mushroom risotto
Enjoy the flavours of Asia with this delectable butter miso mushroom risotto. This dish is quick and easy, yet still packs bags of flavour!
Spicy dumpling miso soup
This deliciously fresh Asian inspired miso dumpling soup is perfect for dinner tonight – packed with bags of flavour and just the right amount of kick!
Miso broth with salmon and soba
This delicious Japanese inspired miso broth is beautiful enjoyed with fresh salmon sashimi and light soba noodles.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Tomato & basil meatballs
Sponsored by Maggi
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
NZ Pork & green bean stir-fry
Sponsored by NZ Pork
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%