Best 8 Miso Substitutes

While we consider ourselves as critics of globalization, we must say that we see it bringing good things, too. One of those things is the fact that increased cross-cultural exchange and understanding. When thinking about this, we often have Japan in mind. If it weren’t for globalization, we probably wouldn’t be able to learn as much as we know today about Japanese culture, food, customs, etc.

And until 15 years ago or something, we had no clue that Japanese cuisine is so diverse and delicious. In the pre-pandemic world, we used to go to a Japanese restaurant at least once a week. But then the lockdowns and restrictions arrived, and restaurants had to close. Okay, many of them were delivering, but we didn’t find this to be interesting. The more entertaining thing was to cook at home and experiment with ingredients from all over the world. But then we learned that it is not as simple as we imagined. Many little shops that sold food from different countries weren’t allowed to work, and large markets didn’t always have what we needed. We found ourselves in difficulty finding things like miso! However, we didn’t want to give up on our traditional weekly Japanese meals, so we began looking for miso substitute options. And while there were many of them, our personal favorite miso substitutes are soy sauce, tahini, tamari and even salt. And even that’s not all the miso alternatives we found!

Miso is a traditional, Japanese food (or seasoning, to be exact), that first appeared sometime in the eighth century. Although many people believe it is just a soup, miso is a seasoning made from soybeans fermented with salt and koji. It often also contains grains like rice or barley. And that is actually the reason why this seasoning has that salty, umami taste. The texture of the paste is similar to the one of peanut butter it can be smooth or chunky, and it is fermented anywhere from a few weeks to a few years.

It is necessary to know that there are more than 1000 varieties of miso, and they differ in color, texture, and flavor. That, of course, depends on ingredients, duration of fermentation, and the place where it is kept. In the occidental part of the world, we can commonly find white and dark miso.

But Miso isn’t just delicious. It also brings a plethora of health benefits. For instance as a fermented food, it comes with probiotics that help the digestive system. It is also a good source of copper, manganese, vitamin K, protein, and zinc.

Hence, we have no doubts that you will love miso and all the benefits it brings! And if for some reason you can’t eat it, or find it in your local stores, no worry! You can use some miso-paste alternative, that will be just as delicious and nutritional!

How Does Miso Paste Get Such an Amazing Flavor?

Interestingly, the history of miso begins in China and not Japan. It was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks. You see, back in the day they were using a fermented mix of soy, salt and grains, in order to preserve the food. But as it turned out, these fermented ingredients also gave the paste a really good and interesting taste. And later on with time, the Japanese improved this original technique of miso-making, making it even more delicious.

What is the Best Miso?

There are plenty of types of miso, and answering the question of what is the best isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. The main reason for it is that it depends on your preferences.

White or Shiro miso has the mildest taste. Some people even call it sweet miso. Red, or aka miso, has been fermented the longest time, and has the strongest and most distinct flavor. Yellow or Shinshu miso is what you would call a golden middle way. Plus, many people think that this type of miso is the most versatile.

Are There Gluten Free or Soy Free Miso?

Although grains are a regular part of miso paste, there are some without. The best way to make sure that you are getting the right one is to check the ingredients on the label. So, you need to check that the product you are buying doesn’t contain barley, wheat, or rye. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t contain grains, but they are gluten-free such as rice, millet, etc.

As for soy-free, it’s a bit more complicated. As we mentioned, miso is made of fermented soybeans. Hence looking for variation that doesn’t contain soy is a bit of a challenge. However, it is still possible, and you can find a paste option made of chickpeas instead. Or you can try a soy-free miso substitute.

Popular Miso Uses

• Salad dressings: If you like vinaigrette, we guarantee that you will like it even more if you add just a bit of miso. All you need is to mix it up with sherry or wine vinegar, and you will be thrilled by the marvelous savory dressing you will get.
• Main course soup: That is the first thing that comes to our minds when we hear the word miso. We are used to it as a type of broth with pieces of tofu and some seaweed. However, it can get much better than that. All you need to do is cook three cups of broth and a tablespoon or two of white miso. You can also add veggies, meat, or noodles.
• In stir-fries: Many people add it to stir-fries because it gives them a truly remarkable taste. However, the best is to add at the end of the process.
• Onions for burgers: Do you know how burgers in some places taste so much better than in others?! Have you ever thought that it is because of miso paste? You need to fry the onions a bit and then add a teaspoon or two?
• Sauce: It can be a sauce that you serve on the side. Cook your meat first and then put it on the side. Combine the wine vinegar, two tablespoons of miso, and a bit of hot water. You can then pour the mixture over your food or dip it in the sauce.

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is the first thing that comes to mind as a miso paste substitute. It has that similar salty, umami taste. It is also made of fermented soybeans koji. It also includes grains. The difference is that it is saltier and more liquid. Soy sauce can also be a tamari substitute.

Advantages

The best thing about soy sauce is that it doesn’t contain any animal products, so vegetarians and vegans can enjoy it too. Moreover, a lot agree that soy has a slightly better flavor and it is saltier than miso.

Nutritional Facts

Tamari Sauce

Tamari is a Japanese sauce made of fermented soybeans. Unlike Chinese soy sauce, it has a thicker consistency and a more balanced flavor. The difference is also that tamari is made from the liquid that comes from miso paste as it ages. That is what makes it an excellent miso replacement.

Advantages

Tamari is a bit less salty, so it is excellent as a dipping sauce. It is effortless to use. It is richer in flavor and thicker in consistency which makes it a better sub to miso paste.

Disadvantages

Since it is liquid, it doesn’t give the same texture to meals as miso. It often comes with a high level of salt which can be a problem for people with hypertension or those who control sodium intake.

Nutritional Facts

Tahini

Tahini is a Middle Eastern food made of toasted ground sesame. Many of us know it as the ingredient to make hummus. Since it looks a bit like miso and has a similar consistency, it can be used as an alternative to miso paste.

Advantages

Since it has the same texture, tahini could be a good miso substitute. Moreover, this ingredient also has the same color as miso paste.

Disadvantages

It doesn’t have the same taste since the ingredients and the process of making are different. Plus, it can be challenging to find it.

Nutritional Facts

Fish Sauce

Fish sauce is made of fish or krill that have been coated in salt. And the entire fermentation process can last up to two years! But it’s all worth it, as fish sauce is a very delicious, transparent red-brownish liquid that will be an amazing miso substitute.

Advantages

It is often used as a miso alternative because it brings that same umami taste. In that sense, it is very similar to miso paste. Other than that, fish sauce is often used to improve the taste of curries, stir-fries, etc. It is also an excellent option for people who have gluten intolerance and want a gluten-free miso substitute.

Disadvantages

It is made of anchovies, so vegetarians and vegans can’t use it. It also comes with an exceptionally high amount of salt. People who watch their sodium intake should stay away from it.

Soybeans paste

Soybeans paste is made with a similar process as miso, hence they would make a great miso alternative. It is a thick brown paste. It is often used in Korean cuisine together with red chili paste.

Advantages

It has the same ingredients as miso, so naturally, it is one of the first choices for a white miso substitute. Other than that, soybeans are very thick and concentrated.

Disadvantages

Soybean paste has a more robust flavor. In this respect, it is more similar to Chinese ground bean sauce. It is best to use a little at the beginning and then increase the amount if necessary.

Nutritional Facts

Vegetable Stock

It is a delicious and healthy alternative to miso. Vegetable stock is made by cooking vegetables, herbs, and umami seasonings. But you can also change seasonings if you like it better.

Advantages

Vegetable stock is an excellent miso sub when you are making soup. The main benefit is that you can change the seasons as much as necessary until you get the desired taste. Although it is generally liquid, you can change the consistency of the stock.

Disadvantages

The main problem with vegetable stock is that it can be too watery. Also, choosing the right seasonings can take a bit of time. So that can be an issue if you’re in a hurry.

Nutritional Facts

Salt

Many get surprised when they find out that salt can be used as a white miso paste substitute. However, it is the simplest way to resolve the problem of not being able to find miso.

Advantages

Salt is inexpensive and easily accessible. It is also easy to use. Besides that, you can add as much as you want to get the preferred taste.

Disadvantages

However, salt is just simply salty. It doesn’t offer any specific flavor. Hence the taste of your food can be a bit bland if you use salt instead of miso.

Nutritional Facts

Adzuki Beans

These are sweet little beans commonly cultivated throughout Asia. Usually, they are red, but you can find them in other colors such as white, grey, and black. Although they are very different from soy, you can use them as a miso substitute.

Advantages

Adzuki beans are mild and sweet with a nutty flavor. Their texture is smooth, which makes adzuki beans an excellent substitute for miso.

Disadvantages

The main problem with this miso alternative is that it’s very sweet. That means that you will have to add more salt to your meals. Other than that, adzuki beans are a fantastic miso substitute. Also, considering that they are usually dry, you will need a processor or a food chopper to make a paste.

When you are in a hurry and want to make something quickly, you can use these miso substitute options. However, you can also make your miso at home. And it’s pretty simple, all you need is:

• 1 Tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon of mirin or sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of sake or white wine
• 1 Tablespoon of roasted soybean flour
• Pinch of salt

Mix all the ingredients, and you will get perfectly splendid homemade miso. You can also replace miso with dashi, another Japanese ingredient with umami taste.

And that’s all the miso substitute options we wanted to share! Miso is indeed a pretty unique condiment, and it is best to do everything in our power to find it. However, when you can’t consume it, or have trouble finding it, you can easily go with miso alternatives: soy sauce, tahini, fish sauce, vegetable stock and so many more! It’s all up to your preferences!

So, have you tried any of these options? Or perhaps you have your own favorite miso substitute?