Umami Packed Miso

The taste of miso

Umami is a type of flavoring usually found in savory foods. Umami, associated with savory foods is also a Japanese word which means ‘pleasant savory taste’. A food often associated the umami flavor is miso, often used in many dishes particularly in Japanese cuisine.

Miso is the thick seasoning paste used in Japanese sauces and soups to give dishes a unique taste. It is made from fermented soy beans or rice and other grains and is often also used as a condiment. Alternatively, it can be used as a marinade when mixed with other ingredients to create the perfect miso inspired cuisine such as Miso Chicken.

Miso Chicken can be made by mixing together a marinade:

• 5lbs chicken thighs
• ¾ cup white miso
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup beer
• ¾ cup soy sauce

All you need to do is mix the ingredients together and marinade the chicken in the mixture overnight and bake the boneless chicken in the marinade for 30 minutes at 350F.

Recipes with miso

To make a simple sauce which is perfect for drizzling over meats, vegetables or grains, gather together the following ingredients:

1/4 cup water, more to taste
1 tbsp light miso
1/3 cup tahini
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp orange zest
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

Whisk the ingredients together and add a little water if desired. If you want to try miso in soup, you might like a Shrimp and Broccoli combination, or Garlic, Miso and Ginger soup or even Shitake Lemongrass soup.

Miso can also make a great glaze on catfish or can make a delicious salad dressing when drizzled over a crispy green salad. Overall, miso is an extremely versatile food and can be used in a variety of recipes – so give it a go!

Find more miso recipes on Recipebridge.