Recipes

We So Love These 59 Miso Recipes

This goes way beyond soup. Crank up the miso on your life instead of ignoring it in the back of the fridge.
miso pesto ramen noodles
Photo by Alex Lau

Miso? That's a soup, right? Okay, yes, but also no. Miso is a funky Japanese fermented soybean paste that's probably been patiently loitering in the back of your fridge for months twiddling its thumbs, waiting for you to realize its worth. Each dollop packs so much attitude (aka, umami) that you won't even recognize iceberg lettuce when it's transformed by a blanket of ginger-miso dressing. Here are 59 ways to crank up the miso.

  • This image may contain Dish Food Meal Plant Platter and Bowl
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen
    5/59

    Roasted Broccoli and Tofu With Creamy Miso Dressing

    Toasted sesame seeds can often be found in the Asian sections of some supermarkets, sometimes labeled Gomasio. If ever there was a time of year to keep a big jar of them on hand, pre-toasted and ready to go, this is it. They are the perfect crunchy topper for everything from salads to soups and roasted vegetables.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Fruit Pineapple Sprout Dish and Meal
    Alex Lau
    6/59

    Shredded Chicken Salad With Creamy Miso Dressing

    Smoky bacon, crunchy shredded lettuce, and an addictively zesty dressing—what’s not to like?

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  • tofu kimchi soup
    Alex Lau
    23/59

    Tofu and Kimchi Stew

    If gochujang hasn’t made it to your pantry yet, you can use any miso.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Dish Food Meal Pottery Vase Jar Plant and Stew
    Hirsheimer & Hamilton
    24/59

    Chicken and Vegetable Miso Soup

    At home, chef Gregory Vernick (Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia) always keeps miso on hand for an umami blast in everything from braises and mayo to this Asian-leaning chicken soup. You won’t believe how much depth it adds to canned broth.

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  • This image may contain Dish Food Meal Plant Bowl Vegetable Pizza and Curry
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen
    29/59

    Miso Polenta With Spring Vegetables and Tofu

    We used to think making polenta meant deciding between adding butter and milk or taking a flavor hit and just using water. But miso adds the umami and richness we crave without dairy.

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  • Image may contain Plant Dish Food Meal Produce and Vegetable
    Aya Brackett
    30/59

    Miso-Cured Black Cod with Chilled Cucumbers

    Pro tip: Viva brand paper towels are used at Rintaro specifically for insulating the cod from its salty cure and will absorb moisture without falling apart.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Cutlery Spoon Food Dish Meal Plant Soup Bowl Soup Vegetable and Produce
    Danny Kim
    31/59

    Quick Miso Soup

    No need for powdered packets here: Just pack a thermos with veggies, tofu, and miso in the morning. Come snacktime, you’re a cupful of water and a couple of minutes away from a delicious, bone-warming soup.

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  • Miso Caramel Apple recipe
    Alex Lau
    32/59

    Miso Caramel Apple

    The caramel in this recipe is chewy, so it will stick to the apple but won’t turn into a hard shell when cooled.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Dish Food Meal Soup Bowl Plant and Soup
    Photo by Alex Lau
    33/59

    Vegan Umami Broth

    Roasting the vegetables, along with a trio of umami-rich ingredients (miso, mushrooms, and kombu), give this meat-free broth a deep, satisfying flavor.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Vegetable Dish Meal Squash and Produce
    Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone and Jennifer Ophir
    34/59

    Crispy-Skin Salmon With Miso-Honey Sauce

    Quick cooking, not-too-expensive, and super satisfying, salmon fillets are a weeknight dinner slam dunk—and our go-to method for making them is pretty much un-mess-up-able.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Yam Sweet Potato Dish and Meal
    Yossy Arefi
    49/59

    Miso-Glazed Turnips

    A simple stovetop technique transforms turnips by deploying a secret ingredient that may be hiding in the back of your fridge.

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  • Image may contain Food Seasoning Sesame Bread and Bun
    Alex Lau
    50/59

    Miso Doughnuts

    Miso sugar: also excellent on popcorn or in place of brown sugar in barbecue dry-rub recipes.

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  • Image may contain Food and Relish
    Gentl & Hyers
    55/59

    Mott St Ssam Sauce

    This miso and hot pepper paste sauce is a staple in Mott St.'s chef's home, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a meaty meal without it on the table.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Vegetable Corn Animal Honey Bee Bee Invertebrate Insect Fruit and Pineapple
    Danny Kim
    56/59

    Grilled Corn with Miso Butter

    “Coating sweet grilled corn with miso butter brings nutty flavor to a classic.” –Brad Leone, test kitchen manager

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  • Image may contain Food Toast Bread and French Toast
    59/59

    Apricot-Miso Jam

    We know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. Miso-spiked jam is not only delicious with pork but is especially tasty on bread with cream cheese.

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