Where to buy miso paste

What is Miso?

Used in Japan for over 1,300 years, miso is a paste that can serve as seasoning and as a flavor enhancer. It’s made from fermented soybeans and is perfect for getting an umami hit.

Unsurprisingly, miso is used in a wide variety of Japanese dishes, from soup to miso-glazed salmon.

Many Japanese home cooks will throw a teaspoon of miso into dishes to give them extra depth. As well as adding umami, it has a high salt content, so it can be used as a salt substitute in some cases.

What is Miso Made of?

Miso is made of three ingredients: soybeans, koji (rice bacteria) and salt.

How to Make Miso

Miso is actually incredibly easy to make at home — it just takes a long time.

Miso paste recipe

No matter what type, the main ingredient is soybean.

Soybeans are boiled until soft-ish, then mashed and koji is added. Mix with your hands then add salt and leave for around six months to let the bacteria do its job, checking periodically for any mold on the top.

Then uncover and start using. It’s that simple.

Types of Miso

There are many different ways to categorize miso, ranging from

is miso paste made from fermented soybeans

where does miso paste come from