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Miso butter is a rich, savory condiment that pairs well with rice, pasta, fish, and more! It adds a boost of umami to everything it touches.
A few months ago, I came across a delightful condiment at a local restaurant: miso butter! It was mixed with rice, and my 6-year-old son gobbled it up immediately and asked for more. So I knew I had to try it for myself.
Here’s how to make miso butter at home; it’s just 2 ingredients and takes only minutes! It adds a rich, savory umami flavor to everything it touches, from rice to pasta to salmon and more!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The best recipes have all the ingredients in the title, right? Such is the case with miso and butter; you’ll need just these two items to make a condiment that makes everything sparkle! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter: 1 stick
- White or yellow miso paste: 2 to 3 tablespoons
Types of Miso
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. 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. I recommend using white or yellow miso for this miso butter recipe; sometimes they’re labeled “light miso.”
- White miso (Shiro miso): This variety has a mild, more delicate flavor and less salt than darker miso.
- Yellow miso: This type is fermented a little longer than white miso and has a mild, lightly sweet flavor.
- Red or dark miso: This variety is fermented longer than white or yellow miso. It has a very strong flavor and can overwhelm the flavors in a dish, so I don’t recommend using it here.
Tips for Mixing It Up
This miso butter is as simple as mixing the two ingredients! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Use room temperature butter. To do so, you can let the butter sit out for 20 minutes. (You can also microwave it for a few seconds, but you’ll run the risk of going too far and melting the butter.)
- Adjust the miso to taste. Want more of a pronounced miso flavor? Use a bit more miso. This is a very forgiving recipe; you can easily adjust it to your taste.
Ways to Use Miso Butter
This savory condiment adds an incredible pop of savory flavor to everything it touches! Here are a few ways to use it in your cooking:
- Rice: Swirl it into White Rice after cooking.
- Noodles: Make a pot of spaghetti and add miso butter to taste.
- Salmon: Melt it to make a butter sauce for Pan-Seared Salmon or use it for cooking
- Shrimp: Make a Garlic Butter sauce with miso butter for dipping
- Chicken: Make this Garlic Chicken with miso butter
Storage Info
Transfer the miso butter to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Dietary Notes
This recipe is vegetarian, plant-based, and gluten-free. For vegan and dairy-free, substitute vegan butter.
Miso Butter
Miso butter is a rich, savory condiment that pairs well with rice, pasta, fish, and more! It adds a boost of umami to everything it touches.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 tablespoons 1x
- Category: Essentials
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature and cut into small pieces
- 2 to 3 tablespoons white or yellow miso paste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the butter and miso until well combined. Taste and add more miso if desired. Refrigerate until using; stores up to 2 months.
Let us know if you have any questions!