What Is Miso?
Miso is a key ingredient in Japanese cooking and forms the base of the staple dish, miso soup. The paste, similar in texture to peanut butter, is typically a cultured mixture of soybeans, a grain (like rice or barley), salt, and koji (a mold). Depending on the variety, miso can be smooth or chunky and is fermented anywhere from a few weeks to several years.
Flavor:
distinctly salty and funky, but some light misos are also sweet.
Varieties
There are more than 1,000 types of miso, ranging in texture, flavor, and color. These factors can be influenced by the ingredients, length of fermentation, and the conditions under which the miso is kept. Miso imported into the United States is typically divided into two main categories: light or white miso and dark or red miso. Some miso is labeled awase, which is a mixture of more than one kind of miso paste.
White or light miso (sometimes called sweet miso) can be light beige to yellow in color and tends to be lighter and sweeter in flavor thanks to a shorter fermentation time. It's made with less soybean content and more grains, like white rice. Red or dark miso ranges in color from light brown to almost black and is fermented for longer for a stronger, funkier, and saltier flavor. This miso is made with a higher proportion of soybeans and salt for an intense experience.
Different types of miso can often be used interchangeably in recipes but with varying results. Generally, the darker the color, the stronger the taste. Light-colored miso is better for light dressings and sweets, while dark miso is best for long braises and stews.
Miso Uses
Miso is a paste and can be mixed into sauces, dressings, batters, and soups. It can be eaten cooked or raw. Since miso is a cultured food, it's best to add it to long-cooked dishes at the end of cooking. Be careful not to boil dishes like miso soup—too much heat will kill the active bacteria in the miso.
How to Cook With Miso
Miso is ready-to-use right out of the container, and while it is typically not eaten alone, it does not need further preparation. The fermented food adds an umami saltiness to anything from marinades to desserts.
Storage
Since it's a fermented product, miso keeps very well. Store it tightly sealed in the original container in the refrigerator and it will keep for a year or longer. Light miso doesn't have the shelf life of the darker varieties, since it had a shorter fermentation time, and should be used in under a year. Miso does oxidize, so placing a piece of plastic wrap directly against the paste after each use will help prevent discoloring.