15 Delicious Miso Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is too much miso soup unhealthy? ›

You may want to eat miso in moderation by adding it sparingly in your day-to-day cooking, especially if you are watching your sodium intake or have high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease.

Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans. The soybeans are mixed with salt and koji, a mold that's also used to make sake. The blend might also include barley, rice, rye or other grains. To get its unique flavor, the mixture ferments for anywhere from a couple months to years!

Miso soup is low calorie, low fat, and high in nutrient content, so it is safe to eat daily. However, it does have a high salt content. So, those on blood thinning medication or who have heart problems (including high blood pressure and heart disease) may want to limit their consumption of miso soup.

I like to add grated ginger, tofu, and veggies to miso. My Japanese friend taught me to mix red and white miso pastes for an authentic flavor.

You should avoid miso soup if you have a soy allergy. Most miso paste—the main ingredient in miso soup—is gluten free because the koji used is made with rice. But some miso paste, such as mugi miso, uses koji made with barley. And some packaged miso soup may also contain wheat gluten to give it body.

Until a decade ago, miso soup, which contains salt, was sometimes avoided because it might cause hypertension. Rather, it has been proven that "the combined action of the ingredients contained in miso leads to the suppression of high blood pressure."

To avoid cooking off the lactic acid when making miso soup, you can make sure to turn off the heat and cool the pot until 120°F-158°F (50C°-70°C) (the probiotics will die above 158°F/70°C). But most Japanese people don't take an exact temperature reading and turn off the heat when adding miso to the pot.

Miso should be stored in a covered container and to maintain its colour and flavour, refrigeration is best. As a general rule, the lighter the colour and flavour, the more careful you will need to be and refrigeration is best. Sweet miso should be consumed within three weeks of opening, white miso within 3 months.

Miso improves your digestion

Having a healthy gut flora is very important because it helps defend your body against toxins and harmful bacteria. It also improves digestion and reduces gas, constipation and antibiotic-related diarrhea or bloating ( 6 , 8 , 9 ).

What is the healthiest miso? ›

Hikari Miso, Organic Miso Mild Sodium Miso

This product is even healthier than others as it has less sodium. It is also the traditional Shinshu-style made from organic rice and soybeans, and has a yellow color. The high koji ratio creates a mild and sweet taste.

Miso contains amino acids that can help boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that helpsmake you sleepy. Bananas: An excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which can help relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin.

According to Kim, “White miso is the best option for home cooks, and it'll be a great gateway to try the other types of miso out there.” Because white miso is generally only fermented for three months and made with a higher rice content, it boasts a mild, sweet flavor that is perfect for soups, sauces, dressings, and ...

Every miso has a different level of salt, and the worst thing you want to do is to add too much miso to your soup. A general rule of thumb is to use about 1 tablespoon per cup (U.S. measure, 236.5ml) or 1/4 l (250ml) but if you have a very salty red miso for example, you may need less.

As a rule of thumb, pairing miso with earthy, woodsy flavors — think winter squashes like pumpkin, kabocha, and butternut; toasty, nutty flavors like brown butter, sesame, chocolate, and caramel; or hearty fruits like apples and bananas — adds its deep, dynamic flavor without being overpoweringly funky or salty.

Whenever David Chang of Momof*cku fame realizes he's added too much miso to a dish, his go-to fix is to add butter "for balance." Butter not only contributes a subtle sweetness but also deposits a slight film on the tongue that somewhat inhibits the ability to perceive saltiness.

Health effects of eating miso

Benefits include reduced risks of breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancer, and protection from radiation. Researchers have found that consuming one bowl of miso soup per day, as do most residents of Japan, can drastically lower the risks of breast cancer.

Miso soup and its origins

It became a 'daily meal' for the samurais during the Kamakura period (1185–1333), and, during the age of Japanese civil wars. The recipe for its 'instant paste' was developed for military commanders to eat — which made miso soup an easily-preparable and accessible meal.

Miso soups generally are low calorie because they are very low in fat and carbohydrates, if you are making a miso soup with merely miso paste and Japanese stock, then your cup of miso soup is likely to be below 50 calories.