What is the best substitute for miso?

Soy Sauce/ Aminos Soy sauce is the most common substitute for miso paste. Miso is thick and creamy, whereas soy sauce is thin like water, but if texture isn't a factor, they are both made of soy and chock full of salty and savory notes.

Can soybean paste replace miso?

Soybean paste, a fermented bean paste, can be used as a substitute for miso paste in many dishes . It is commonly used as a seasoning in stews, soups, and even dipping sauces. This paste can be used as a red miso paste substitute, but keep in mind that it is quite salty.

What is the secret ingredient in miso paste?

Miso, a fermented soybean paste, is a culinary staple in Japan, says Sonoko Sakai, chef, cooking teacher, and author of Japanese Home Cooking. It's made using just four ingredients: cooked soybeans, grains (typically rice), salt, and koji mold , a type of fungus scientifically known as Aspergillus oryzae.

Which type of miso is the healthiest?

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.

What is the most popular type of miso?

White miso : Also called shiro miso, white miso originated from Kyoto and is the most commonly produced type of miso. Made with rice, barley, and soybeans, shiro miso has a mild, sweet taste.

What are the 2 main ingredients in miso?

Miso, a.k.a. fermented soybean paste, is made by combining just three simple ingredients— soybeans, salt , and koji (a type of fungus cultivated on rice and other grains)—and allowing the mixture to age for months or even years.

Where do I find miso in the grocery store?

You should find it in the Asian food section of just about any major food retailer. Miso paste is sometimes labeled as soybean paste.

Is there MSG in miso paste?

To recap: Miso paste is a fermented paste made by aging soy beans with salt, koji and other ingredients until they have a very concentrated flavor. It contains high amounts of glutamic acid and salt, but not MSG extract .

Who should not eat miso?

Some people may have an allergy to soy protein and will therefore need to avoid miso and other soy-based foods. Soybeans are considered to be goitrogenic. This means if you have a thyroid issue you may be advised to minimise your intake.

Why is miso so expensive?

Wealthy landowners, royalty or samurai would only eat rice miso that had been made using expensive polished white rice. It was often so expensive that it was used as gifts, or even as currency.

Is miso anti-inflammatory?

The consumption of miso has also been reported to exert health effects, such as fat suppression [9], anti-inflammation [10] and stroke prevention [11].

What does miso taste like?

Miso is the ultimate reference point for the flavor sensation known as umami. The paste and the soup have a deep savory flavor, with toasty, funky, salty-sweet richness . This umami flavor forms the base of a lot of everyday Japanese cooking.

Where can I find miso paste in the grocery store?

Miso paste is widely available from supermarkets – you'd typically find it near other Japanese ingredients in most grocery stores.

Is miso similar to soy sauce?

Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans mixed with salt and a mold called koji. It's often used to make broths, soups, and marinades. This soy sauce substitute is best for making liquid dishes like ramen or salad dressing. Like soy sauce, it has a salty, umami flavor.

What is the Chinese equivalent of miso?

Many countries in Asia have their own versions of fermented pastes — for example miso in Japan, doenjang in Korea and doubanjiang in China.

Best Miso Substitute (2024)

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Don’t have miso paste? This unique ingredient is hard to replace, but there are a few options. Here’s the best miso substitute!

Making a recipe that calls for miso paste and don’t have it?Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean paste that’s full of nutrients and savory flavor. It’s known for its intense savory flavor, otherwise known as umami: the fifth flavor. It’s often used in Japanese-style dishes like miso ramen and miso salmon, but you can also use it as a substitute for cheesy flavor like in vegan pesto.

You can find miso in the international foods aisle near the Japanese ingredients. There are many different types of miso: and they all taste different! Yellow miso, white miso, red miso, dark or brown miso are all different varieties of this magic ingredient.

Important: Miso is such a unique ingredient, you should seek it out if at all possible! This is especially important if the word miso is in the recipe title, like Miso Glaze. But if you don’t have time to shop, here are a few substitutes! They just don’t come close to the real thing.

Best miso paste substitute

1. Soy sauce

The best miso substitute? Soy sauce. Soy sauce can stand in for the salty and savory flavor of miso in a pinch. But keep in mind: miso paste has a creamy texture and soy sauce is very thin, almost like water.

Use this ratio: Substitute ½ tablespoon soy sauce for 1 tablespoon miso paste.

2. Tamari (or coconut aminos)

Tamari is a Japanese variety of soy sauce that’s made as the bi-product of makingmiso paste, so it’s a good substitute for miso. The biggest difference between soy sauce vs tamari is that tamari contains little to no wheat! You can also use coconut aminos, a commonsubstitute for soy saucemade from the sap of the coconut palm that is both gluten-free and soy free. Both are slightly less salty than miso, so keep this in mind.

Use this ratio: Substitute ½ tablespoon tamari or coconut aminos (plus a pinch of salt) for 1 tablespoon miso paste.

3. Fish sauce

Another miso substitute? Fish sauce. Fish sauce is a condiment made from fermented fish that’s used often in Southeast Asian cuisine like Thai food. It’s used to bring umami to recipes and has a funky, tangy, salty flavor that’s similar to miso paste. However, its flavor is much stronger than miso and its texture is liquid, not thick and creamy.

Important: Don’t make this substitution in baked goods like miso chocolate chip cookies.

Use this ratio: Substitute ½ teaspoon fish sauce for 1 tablespoon miso paste.

4. Worcestershire sauce

If you don’t have the above condiments, another miso substitute is Worcestershire sauce. Worcestershire sauce is a common condiment that adds savory and complex flavors to dishes from Caesar dressing to the classic Bloody Mary. It was invented in Britain in the mid-1800’s, and its flavor is tangy, salty, sweet, savory, and a little funky. It has much stronger onion and garlic notes than miso, and its texture is liquid, not thick and creamy.

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Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

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