25 Delicious Reasons You Should Eat More Miso

Soup is just the beginning.

Lauren Paul / BuzzFeed

So, what is miso anyway?

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Miso is a rich, savory paste made by mashing up soybeans, rice or barley, salt, water, and koji (an edible mold used in producing rice vinegar and sake) — and waiting for it all to ferment. Miso has been around for centuries in China and Japan, and its long history has made for some delicious variations that go with everything from brussel sprouts to chocolate chip cookies. Not to mention all the tummy-friendly probiotics the fermentation process produces. You can find miso online or in the Asian aisle of just about any grocery store for only a few bucks. Here are 25 delicious ways to cook with it.

1. Miso Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic

Erin / Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com

The buttery miso paste makes these taters extra savory. Recipe here.

2. Miso Grilled Eggplant Quinoa Salad

Michelle Tang / Kitchen Mess / Via kitchenmess.com

A super earthy salad topped with miso dressing. Recipe here.

3. Chile Pepper Tempeh Burger with Miso Carrot Cream

Nina Olsson / Nourish Atelier / Via nourishatelier.com

Burger as art. Recipe here.

4. Lobster Miso Ramen

Jay del Corro / The Aimless Cook / Via theaimlesscook.com

An Asian classic with a New England twist. Recipe here.

5. Easy Vegan Miso Gravy

Amber / Fettle Vegan / Via fettlevegan.com

Step 1: Make gravy. Step 2: Slather on everything you eat from now on. Recipe here.

6. Fall Spice Apple & Miso Oatmeal

Kathryn / The Scratch Artist / Via thescratchartist.com

Surprisingly sweet, subtly savory. Recipe here.

7. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus with Honey Miso Glaze Recipe

Caroline / Pickled Plum / Via pickledplum.com

Just when you thought bacon couldn't get any better. Recipe here.

8. Red Cabbage Steaks with Ginger Lemon Miso

Danielle / Rooting the Sun / Via rootingthesun.com

Complete with ~mustard crisped shallots~. Recipe here.

9. Broccoli Carrot Bisque with Yellow Miso

Randle Browning / Week of Plenty / Via weekofplenty.com

So creamy, yet so vegan. Recipe here.

10. Miso Caramel Candies

Mary Kasprzak / Blossom To Stem / Via blossomtostem.net

Candy for grown-ups. Recipe here.

11. Harissa Miso Delicata Squash Tacos

Lisa / Healthy Nibbles & Bits / Via healthynibblesandbits.com

Miso gets 🔥spicy🔥. Recipe here.

12. Veggie Couscous in Coconut Miso Broth

Danielle Oron / I Will Not Eat Oysters / Via iwillnoteatoysters.com

Perfectly browned recipes help up the umami factor. Recipe here.

13. Baked Pumpkin and Kale Manicotti with Miso Sauce

Adore Foods / Via adorefoods.com

Pasta, perfected. Recipe here.

14. Cheesy Miso Caramelized Corn and Pineapple Chile Dip

Tieghan Gerard / Half-Baked Harvest / Via Cheesy-Miso-Caramelized-Corn-and-Pineapple-Chile-Dip-3

Omgomgomgomgomg. Recipe here.

15. Miso Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Anabel Lee, Alyna O'Hanlon / The Shortbread Cure / Via theshortbreadcure.com

Step up yo cookie game. Recipe here.

16. Miso-Glazed Crispy Skin Salmon

Emily Clifton / Nerds With Knives / Via nerdswithknives.com

A necessary tool in your fish recipe arsenal. Recipe here.

17. Miso Butter Corn with Togarashi and Furikake

Maryanne Cabrera / The Little Epicurean / Via thelittleepicurean.com

Basically Japanese street corn. Recipe here.

18. Edamame and Miso Dip

Marie-Ève / Craving Greens / Via cravinggreens.com

The ultimate appetizer. Recipe here.

19. Blondie Cupcakes with Miso Buttercream

Thalia / Butter and Brioche / Via butterandbrioche.com

Proof that miso improves pretty much everything. Recipe here.

20. Crispy Tofu Pita Sliders with Miso Aioli

Lisa / Healthy Nibbles & Bits / Via healthynibblesandbits.com

Savor this vowel-heavy umami aioli. Recipe here.

21. Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Miso Cookies

Finn / Port and Fin / Via portandfin.com

The perfect combo of all your favorite tastes. Recipe here.

22. Kimchi Pizza with Salami and Tomato-Miso Sauce

Caroline / Pickled Plum / Via pickledplum.com

🍕 ❤️ 🍕 ❤️ . Recipe here.

23. Miso-Stewed Short Rib French Dip Sandwich

Mandy Lee / Lady and Pups / Via ladyandpups.com

Upgrade your comfort food. Recipe here.

24. Crunchy Miso Beet Rice with Spinach and Egg

Ali / Inspiralized / Via inspiralized.com

The best possible use for your spiralizer. Recipe here.

25. MIso Banoffee Tart

Alana / Alana Bread / Via alanabread.com

Live your best life. Recipe here.