35 Ways to Use Miso

This umami bomb is an underutilized secret weapon that adds flavorful depth to savory and sweet dishes.

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Red Miso Shrimp Bisque

Victor Protasio

This sophisticated shrimp bisque is worthy of a special occasion but is also easy to make. Cooking the shrimp shells deepens the flavor.

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Miso Ranch Dip

Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Miso Ranch Dip

Get ready—this dip is about to become your party go-to. It’s quick and easy to make, and you can serve it with any type of vegetable (we particularly like it with carrots, radishes, and cucumbers). Be sure not to puree the chives or pepper, as they will discolor your sauce. Use leftover dip as a spread for pulled pork, hamburgers, or other sandwiches, or thin it out with water or another tablespoon or two of buttermilk to dress lettuces.

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Miso Deviled Eggs

Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Miso Deviled Eggs

This fun twist on deviled eggs is a nice change-of-pace dish for your next picnic or cookout. With just a hint of tang and spice, they’ll appeal to all, including folks who aren’t particularly adventurous eaters. Try to use older eggs—they will peel more easily. Look for shichimi togarashi in the same place you buy miso.

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Pasta with Miso Cream Sauce

Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Pasta with Miso Cream Sauce

This recipe is quite flexible: Fusilli, penne, or any whole-wheat pasta works well. You could also use mini mozzarella balls to save time.

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Oatmeal-Raisin Skillet Cookie with Miso-Caramel Sauce

Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Oatmeal-Raisin Skillet Cookie with Miso-Caramel Sauce

Chewy in the middle with crispy edges, this easy dessert flavored with browned butter is absolutely irresistible. You can swap any dried fruit for the raisins here. Keep leftovers in the skillet and simply cover it.

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Slow Cooker Beef Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickles

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickles

The low, even heat of the slow cooker helps flavor powerhouses like miso, sesame oil, and soy sauce to impart tenderizing moisture, umami depth, and savory personality to common pot roast.

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Parsnip Ribbons with Miso Vinaigrette

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Parsnip Ribbons with Miso Vinaigrette

First up, this ribbon vegetable salad that's a little sweet, a little salty, a bit of toasty, and a touch of tang—the makings of a grade-A salad.

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Grilled Eggplant Planks with Miso Aioli

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant Planks with Miso Aioli

Grilling eggplant allows its flavor to really shine, but our four simple toppings take this speedy side to the next level. Top it with Miso Aioli, Sherry Vinaigrette, Creole Salsa, or Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing. Be sure to choose smaller eggplants; they'll be easier to slice and easier to handle on the grill.

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Miso Caramel Sauce

Photo: Whitney Ott

View Recipe: Miso Caramel Sauce

Use white miso paste to create this impressive salted caramel sauce. It can add pizzazz to almost any dessert, from ice cream to milkshakes to brownies.

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Edamame Hummus with Miso and Sesame

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Edamame Hummus with Miso and Sesame

Edamame replaces chickpeas in this unique riff. Dark sesame oil adds a toasty finish.

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Soba-Edamame Noodle Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Soba-Edamame Noodle Bowl

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat, a wheat-free grain (look for packages that specify gluten-free), and they cook in only 3 minutes. Look for them in the international aisle.

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Brown Rice Bowl with Miso, Poached Egg, and Kale-Radish Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Brown Rice Bowl with Miso, Poached Egg, and Kale-Radish Slaw

Nutrient-rich kale has a mild flavor and becomes tender very quickly, making it a snap to add to speedy meals like this one. Mix and match those greens and grains! Sub farro or quinoa for brown rice, and spinach, chard, or cabbage for kale.

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Miso Roasted Cauliflower

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Miso Roasted Cauliflower

Boost your cauliflower with this powerhouse ingredient that lends savory depth to this dish.

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Vegan Miso Pesto

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Vegan Miso Pesto

The light flavor of white miso adds a touch of sweetness to pesto.

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Meltingly Tender Chicken with Miso, Ginger, and Carrots

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Meltingly Tender Chicken with Miso, Ginger, and Carrots

There is very little hands-on prep here; your oven does most of the work. The combination of flavors is exuberant, and the texture of the chicken is as succulent as can be.

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Scrambled Eggs and Miso

Photo: Whitney Ott

View Recipe: Scrambled Eggs and Miso

Just add shallots and miso for a new take on an old favorite.

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Savory Buttermilk Ranch

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Savory Buttermilk Ranch

We love white miso for its flavor-filled goodness. This type of soybean paste is fermented the shortest amount of time giving it a mild, slightly sweet flavor, perfect for dressings.

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Grilled Chicken and Soba Noodles With Miso Vinaigrette

Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Soba Noodle with Miso Vinaigrette

The vinaigrette doubles as a sauce for the noodles and a glaze before the chicken hits the grill. The noodle mixture and the chicken can also be made a couple of days ahead.

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Miso Aioli Dip

Photo: Whitney Ott

View Recipe: Miso Aioli Dip

All you need is a blender to serve this miso aioli dip with your next platter of fresh crudités.

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Miso Bloody Mary

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Miso Bloody Mary

Give your Bloody Mary some salty, savory umami flair by adding a teaspoon of miso paste.

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Seared Sirloin Steak Bites with Miso Butter and Rice

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

View Recipe: Seared Sirloin Steak Bites with Miso Butter and Rice

Tip: No need to melt the butter for the miso mixture—the hot cooked steak will melt the sauce just enough to give each piece of steak a nice coating. To help save time, prepare miso, cook steak, and roast veggies while the rice cooks.

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Miso Soup with Tofu

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Miso Soup with Tofu

The Japanese often begin their day with a warm bowl of miso soup. But it's good anytime—especially if you're feeling sick. If you have the Japanese pantry staples miso, kombu (kelp), and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes or tuna flakes) on hand, the soup is ready in less than 15 minutes. The original is full of savory, umami flavor but also high in sodium, so we've cut back a bit on the miso and bonito flakes.

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Sautéed Green Beans with Miso Butter

Photo: Chris Court

View Recipe: Sautéed Green Beans with Miso Butter

Super savory miso elevates crisp beans beyond their humble goodness.

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Miso Chicken

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Miso Chicken

Miso sometimes glazes fish, but here it’s used as a marinade and a glaze for chicken. Along with sour rice vinegar, salty soy sauce, sweet honey, and spicy chile paste, the umami taste of white miso completely transforms plain pan-roasted chicken breasts into a dish of well-balanced flavors and aromas.

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Miso Citrus Vinaigrette

Photo: Alison Miksch Styling: Lindsey Lower

View Recipe: Miso Citrus Vinaigrette

Another reason we love miso: It's versatile—a lovely addition to soups, marinades, grains, and dressings, like this Miso Citrus Vinaigrette.

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Salmon with Spinach Salad and Miso Vinaigrette

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Salmon with Spinach Salad and Miso Vinaigrette

The gingery vinaigrette in this dish is also delicious with a steak salad. Wild Alaskan salmon is a sure sustainable choice. Avoid farmed salmon.

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Miso-Glazed Salmon with Wilted Spinach

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Miso-Glazed Salmon with Wilted Spinach

This Asian-inspired fish is a great weeknight meal, and you can save more time by purchasing pretoasted sesame seeds. Look for them in the spice aisle.

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Soba Noodles with Miso-Glazed Tofu and Vegetables

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Soba Noodles with Miso-Glazed Tofu and Vegetables

Soba noodles lose about 80% of their sodium when cooked in unsalted water. Rinse and drain the soba thoroughly after cooking to remove any lingering salt.

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Grilled Miso-Marinated Filet Mignon

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Grilled Miso-Marinated Filet Mignon

The sweet, nutty marinade gives this choice cut of beef just the right amount of Asian flair. Enjoy this weeknight recipe for just over 200 calories.

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Ginger Beef Salad with Miso Vinaigrette

Cooking Light May 2009

View Recipe: Ginger Beef Salad with Miso Vinaigrette

Skip the grated cheese and croutons and serve an Asian-inspired salad with homemade seven-ingredient vinaigrette. Serve with soba noodles, followed by dessert.

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Grilled Maine Lobster Tails with Miso Butter

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Grilled Maine Lobster Tails with Miso Butter

The Brombergs (Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas) fondly recall eating steamed lobsters at the beach on Long Island. Their modern twist is grilled lobster with miso butter. Miso brings salty umami notes to the sweet, succulent lobster.

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Sesame-Miso Cucumber Salad

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Sesame-Miso Cucumber Salad

This summer-friendly, no-cook Asian cucumber salad recipe works best with white miso for its mild and sweet flavor. Serve this simple side dish alongside our Grilled Chicken and Soba Noodles with Miso Vinaigrette.

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Shrimp with Miso-Ginger Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Shrimp with Miso-Ginger Sauce

Try this simple shrimp dinner with Cucumber and Shaved Carrot Salad for a meal that comes together in a flash.

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Miso Grilled Vegetables

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Miso Grilled Vegetables

Miso adds worlds of savory depth to fresh grilled vegetables.

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Miso Chicken with Brown Rice

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Miso Chicken with Brown Rice

rojadecabeza found a new use for the household rice cooker. "I used my rice steamer and cooked the chicken and rice at the same time with the chicken in the veggie basket. The chicken was very juicy; my husband loved it!"

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1 of 36

Red Miso Shrimp Bisque

2 of 36

Miso Ranch Dip

3 of 36

Miso Deviled Eggs

4 of 36

Pasta with Miso Cream Sauce

5 of 36

Oatmeal-Raisin Skillet Cookie with Miso-Caramel Sauce

6 of 36

Slow Cooker Beef Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickles

7 of 36

Parsnip Ribbons with Miso Vinaigrette

8 of 36

Grilled Eggplant Planks with Miso Aioli

9 of 36

Miso Caramel Sauce

10 of 36

Edamame Hummus with Miso and Sesame

11 of 36

Soba-Edamame Noodle Bowl

12 of 36

Brown Rice Bowl with Miso, Poached Egg, and Kale-Radish Slaw

13 of 36

Miso Roasted Cauliflower

14 of 36

Vegan Miso Pesto

15 of 36

Meltingly Tender Chicken with Miso, Ginger, and Carrots

16 of 36

Scrambled Eggs and Miso

17 of 36

Savory Buttermilk Ranch

18 of 36

Grilled Chicken and Soba Noodles With Miso Vinaigrette

19 of 36

Miso Aioli Dip

20 of 36

Miso Bloody Mary

21 of 36

Seared Sirloin Steak Bites with Miso Butter and Rice

22 of 36

Miso Soup with Tofu

23 of 36

Sautéed Green Beans with Miso Butter

24 of 36

Miso Chicken

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Miso Citrus Vinaigrette

26 of 36

Salmon with Spinach Salad and Miso Vinaigrette

27 of 36

Miso-Glazed Salmon with Wilted Spinach

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Soba Noodles with Miso-Glazed Tofu and Vegetables

29 of 36

Grilled Miso-Marinated Filet Mignon

30 of 36

Ginger Beef Salad with Miso Vinaigrette

31 of 36

Grilled Maine Lobster Tails with Miso Butter

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Sesame-Miso Cucumber Salad

33 of 36

Shrimp with Miso-Ginger Sauce

34 of 36

Miso Grilled Vegetables

35 of 36

Miso Chicken with Brown Rice

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