Making sense of miso
Fermented bean paste? Doesn't exactly scream party in your mouth.
And yet we happily slurp it in that salty, savory soup doled out every time we sit down for sushi. And that's because miso really is a flavor bomb worth knowing.
So let's start there. Miso is a broad term for pastes made from fermented cooked soybeans that are aged, sometimes for years.
Miso has origins in China, but is best known for its role in Japanese cooking, where it is used in soups, sauces, marinades, glazes and dressings.
There are many varieties of miso, which can vary widely in color and flavor intensity based on how long it is aged and which ingredients are added.
Sweet white miso, for example, is made from fermented soybeans and rice, then aged for just a few months. The result is a smooth paste with a sweet, salty, savory flavor and a light golden color. Move up to red miso — usually made with barley instead of rice and aged for up to three years — and both color and flavor get more intense.
Your best bet is to stick with sweet white miso. Its mellow savory-sweet flavor is versatile and pleasant; the stronger miso can be an acquired taste.
Misos are widely available at most grocers, usually refrigerated in the produce section alongside other Asian ingredients. While there are less expensive options, try to get an organic brand. Many cheaper varieties are poorly made and use flavor and color additives to compensate.
Now that you have it, what do you do with it?
Soup is an obvious choice. Bring some water to a simmer and add thinly sliced veggies — carrots, shiitake mushrooms, cauliflower — and some cubed tofu. Simmer briefly, then mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of miso with ¼ cup of water in a small cup. Add the diluted miso to the soup (this helps it dissolve better than adding miso directly to the soup). Simmer briefly, then slurp.
Miso also makes a great glaze for salmon. Mix ⅓ cup miso with 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon water, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 teaspoon wasabi powder and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Spread over salmon, then broil for 3 minutes uncovered, then another 5 minutes covered with foil.
For more ideas for using miso, check out the Off the Beaten Aisle column over on Food Network: http://bit.ly/xnSeR0 . Or give in to total comfort and try it in this 20-minute-easy mac and cheese.
Ÿ J.M. Hirsch is the national food editor for The Associated Press. He is author of “High Flavor, Low Labor: Reinventing Weeknight Cooking.” His Off the Beaten Aisle column also appears at FoodNetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @JM[--]Hirsch.