Salty, rich, and umami, miso paste adds depth of flavour to any dish. But, no matter how much we love our go-to miso recipes, there’s always room for fresh inspiration when we’re looking for ways to use up an open jar of this versatile condiment.
From Japanese-inspired dinners to fusion pasta dishes to miso salted caramel bakes, these are some of our favourite recipes that call for miso paste. Jump straight to:
Miso chicken, poultry, and pork recipes
Quails with Burnt Miso Butterscotch and Pomegranate and Walnut Salsa
In this bold and inventive Ottolenghi recipe, sweet miso butterscotch sauce is made savoury as it coats whole roasted quails, topped with a sweet and slightly acidic salsa of walnuts and pomegranate seeds.
Discover more must-try Ottolenghi miso recipes and cooking tips here.
Nadiya Hussain’s Kimchi Chicken with Buttery Miso Leeks
Served with sticky rice, this spatchcocked chicken recipe is perfect for a more adventurous family meal or effortless dinner party dish.
Roasted Pork Belly with Crushed Butternut Squash and Apple and Walnut Salsa
As well as producing superb crackling, this pork belly recipe is the perfect blend of fragrant and umami flavours, served on a bed of miso-infused butternut squash.
Miso fish recipes
Spicy Miso Salmon with Broccoli Rice
Perfect for when you want a light midweek meal without compromising on flavour, this gluten-free recipe from the Hemsley sisters features a sweet, spicy, umami sauce that is deliciously moreish.
Mary Berry’s Sesame Miso Trout
All you need to make this easy Mary Berry recipe is fresh trout, pak choi (or leafy greens), and a handful of store-cupboard ingredients.
Vegan and vegetarian miso recipes
Tofu Miso Katsu
Hailing from the Japanese city of Nagoya, miso katsu uses a beautifully seasoned red miso paste sauce poured over crispy tonkatsu.
Giant Mushroom and Sesame Roll with Salsa Verde
For an impressive vegan centrepiece, look no further than Ixta Belfrage’s umami-packed mushroom dish encased in a crispy sesame dough and finished with a fresh, herby salsa verde.
Yotam Ottolenghi’s Leeks with Miso and Chive Salsa
Mild, sweet leeks are simmered to perfection and topped with crispy fried leeks and a punch ginger, miso and chive salsa in this vegan starter (or side dish) from Ottolenghi.
Yotam Ottolenghi’s French Beans with Freekeh and Miso
Packed with tender greens, fresh herbs, umami shiitake mushrooms, nutty freekeh and smoky fried aromatics, this Ottolenghi recipe works well as a side dish for a dinner party spread.
Miso pasta recipes
Miso e Pepe
Taking inspiration from an Italian classic, this six-ingredient spaghetti dish is the ultimate bowl of comfort food.
Meera Sodha’s Miso Butter Greens Pasta
This veg-packed pasta dish from Meera Sodha is perfect for a hearty, satisfying weeknight dinner.
Tim Spector’s 11-Plant Orzo
Tim Spector’s Catalan-inspired dish contains a variety of vegetables, fresh herbs, and a dollop of miso for a gut-friendly flavour boost.
Ixta Belfrage’s Prawn Lasagne with Habanero Oil
Miso paste helps anchor the light, creamy, smoky and spicy flavours of this lasagne with a twist that’s a firm fan favourite on The Happy Foodie.
Miso noodle recipes
Chilled Sesame Noodles with Balsamic Mushrooms, Lime Slaw and Toasted Furikake Seeds with Sesa-Miso Dressing
Cold noodle salads make for a great lunch on the go, and this recipe from popular London chain The Salad Project blends deliciously bold flavours for a dish that’s fresh and satisfying.
Monday Miso Noodle Soup
Nutty buckwheat noodles, fried shiitake mushrooms, and jammy eggs are deliciously hearty accompaniments to a miso-based soup like this one from Melissa Hemsley, which comes together in mere minutes.
Miso baking and dessert recipes
Nicola Lamb’s Miso Walnut Double-Thick Chocolate-Chip Cookies
Miso-coated walnuts add an earthy, umami depth of flavour to these gooey cookies from Nicola Lamb.
Miso Caramel Ice Cream Bomba
Miso caramel forms the flavour base for not one but two components in this impressive centrepiece dessert: the nutty, salty brittle base, and the luscious ice cream filling. Finished with a beautiful dark chocolate shell, it’s perfect for serving at dinner parties.
Butterscotch-Miso and Candied Lemon Cookies
Gurdeep Loyal’s cookbook is all about turning store-cupboard staples into a variety of inventive, flavour-packed dishes, and you’ll find an entire chapter dedicated to miso recipes. In this cookie recipe, miso adds delicious depth of flavour in contrast with the sweet, zesty elements of lemon.
Vegan Matcha-Miso Double Cheesecake
This dairy-free take on cheesecake brings together layers of light, floral matcha and a whipped topping with miso and vanilla for the ultimate medley of flavours and textures.
Miso Caramel Pears with a Crumble Topping
The subtle, unique flavours of pear in this recipe blend perfectly with the umami crunch of a miso-infused crumble topping – making it ideal for an autumnal dinner party dessert.
Frequently asked questions
What is miso?
Miso paste is a condiment made from a base of fermented soy beans mixed with a grain like rice or barley, and is used widely in Japanese and other east Asian cuisines.
What are the different types of miso?
There are numerous varieties of miso paste, and the types used in Japanese cooking often vary from region to region. However, there are three main types of miso paste most commonly found in supermarkets: white miso (shiromiso), yellow miso (shinshumiso), and red miso (akamiso).
White miso is light and subtly sweet, making it the perfect versatile condiment for everyday use in soups, dressings, and baking recipes.
Red miso has stronger and deeper flavours, owing to the longer fermentation time. This makes it a great addition to richer, darker dishes like stews or tomato-based sauces.
Yellow miso is a midpoint between the two, balancing the lightness of white miso with the complexity of red.
What are the health benefits of miso paste?
Soybeans are rich in antioxidants and, because it is a fermented product, miso contains probiotics that can help improve gut health. It is important to look for unpasteurised miso paste and avoid over-cooking or boiling it, in order to get the full benefits.
Studies indicate that the antioxidants, bacteria, and plant compounds in miso can also help support heart health, immune function, brain health, cholesterol levels, and more.
Where can I buy authentic miso paste in the UK?
Most major UK supermarkets stock miso paste, but specialty shops and Asian markets typically have a greater variety of types and brands. Popular brands for authentic miso paste include Miso Tasty, Hanamaruki, Yutaka, and Clearspring.
How should miso paste be stored?
Miso paste should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer, especially once opened, and used for over six months if stored correctly. If your miso paste comes in a tub rather than a jar, try adding a layer of cling film under the lid to help keep it sealed.
