No-Frills Miso Dressing Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Make Ahead

by: Joy Belamarich

June3,2021

4

23 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Serves Enough for one big salad.

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Author Notes

The best thing about this dressing is that it's nearly impossible to mess up. Growing up, my mom always made this for a simple salad alongside her hearty Japanese stews, and I never saw her measure the ingredients. At the end of the meal I was always given the salad bowl to scoop up any last salty greens, and it was my favorite part -- it's that good. One bonus: this dressing isn't just limited to salad. Drizzle it on top of a warm tofu noodle salad, use it as a marinade for grilled fish, or toss it with some thinly chopped carrots, scallions, and cold left over chicken. The options are endless. This dressing keeps for up to one week, all it needs is a few vigorous shakes. —Joy Belamarich

What You'll Need

Watch This Recipe

No-Frills MisoDressing

Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoonsneutral oil (such as peanut, canola, vegetable, etc).
  • 1 1/2 tablespoonsrice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoonswhite miso
  • 1/4 teaspoon(a drop) sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoonhoney or maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoonsoy sauce
Directions
  1. Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth, adding a dash more vinegar or honey to taste. Feel free to spice it up with some Sriracha, a hit of hot pepper flakes, some grated fresh ginger or even a teaspoon of peanut butter.

Tags:

  • Condiment/Spread
  • Japanese
  • Honey
  • Vinegar
  • Make Ahead
  • Side

Recipe by: Joy Belamarich

Writer, Fooder, Blogger. New Yorker turned Cape Coder.

Popular on Food52

21 Reviews

Patti September 22, 2022

Tell me some turned out to be pretty good and simple I had all the ingredients it's Asian enough that I've had that miss you taste which is really good and I was able to put your dressing together in just a second after I pull out the ingredients so it took all of 10 minutes maybe thank you for your recipe Patty

fuhsi May 11, 2020

I double this recipe for a week's worth of lunch salads during normal times. Now we're in quarantine, it's gentle flavors have enhanced vegetables, full-on stir fry's, tuna/egg salad, and toast. My modifications are an extra 1/2 tsp miso, halve the honey, and finely chopped ginger when we have it.

Luke D. May 2, 2020

Lol Joy we totally went to the Iowa Young Writer's Workshop together so long ago. I was looking up salad dressing recipes and bumped into your name. Hope all's well and that this dressing is as badass as it looks! Hit me up if you're ever in W. MA!!!!

Rochelle August 7, 2019

This is my new go-to dressing. An easy weeknight dinner salad with a store bought rotisserie bird. I doctor mine up with Spicy Chili Crisp. Scrumptious!

Anna January 7, 2019

Great recipe! I used it on salad and on steamed broccoli.

Lisa January 6, 2018

So very, very good!!

jennifer September 9, 2017

When my daughter became a vegetarian, I began using miso to make a vegetarian Caesar Salad dressing. It gave the dressing the umami that usually comes from the anchovies and/or Worcestershire sauce. (Luckily, she still eats cheese, so the parmesan helps, too.) Miso was a great stand in for the missing anchovies, but I have yet to make a Miso Caesar dressing that doesn't curdle or separate a bit. Of course, once it's tossed with the salad, that part (which niggles at the perfectionist in me) doesn't seem to matter to the taste buds at all. Now that I read this recipe, and all the wonderful comments for variations and various uses, I think I'll be incorporating Miso in my dressing for more than just my daughter's special dressing.

Simone J. May 13, 2018

Eek just to let you know most parmesan has rennet in it which is an animal product. You need to get vegetarian parmesan.

Lizzie D. May 23, 2016

This is such a great salad dressing. Thank you so much for posting your recipe.

[emailprotected] February 28, 2015

My new favorite use of miso is simply mixing the miso with a little water then tossing cubed turnips and sweet potatoes and roasting in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. This is a wonderful side dish or can even be thrown in a salad to add substance. Enjoy!

Miles March 2, 2015

Sounds great. We just discovered databases and this sounds like a way to roast theme too!

chris January 6, 2015

Looks like a great all-purpose seasoning, to have conveniently available. I'd feel safe, keeping this (basic) recipe for way longer than one week, in the refrigerator.

brandon December 3, 2014

having just found myself with an over abundance of of both white miso and rice vinegar was wondering if you had any suggestions???

Douglas B. September 22, 2014

I bet this would be dreamy on roasted beets or asparagus even

Douglas B. September 22, 2014

absolutely Yummeeeeeee !!!!

Miles July 16, 2014

Has anyone tried this on roasted beets?

Miles March 2, 2014

I'm going to try this (I finally found miso paste (!) over roasted broccoli! Thanks!

Joy B. March 2, 2014

yay! Let me know how it turns out!

Miles March 3, 2014

Joy - it turned out great! I roasted the broccoli in olive/canola oil mix with salt for about 5 minutes convection, 15 regular. Then I let it cool just a bit and then tossed it with the dressing and finished it off with some toasted pine nuts - this will be a standard at our home now! Thanks!

Joy B. March 3, 2014

So happy to hear this, Miles. Never tried this dressing with roasted veggies -- you've inspired me!

sel January 26, 2014

miso makes a wonderful brushed on or hands on coating for roasting chicken or any meats....wonderous condiment for jazzing the otherwise dull mayo. Use your instincts, as with any type of cooking...that is how recipes came into our lives....Sel

No-Frills Miso Dressing  Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

No-Frills Miso Dressing Recipe on Food52? ›

Similarly, this homemade miso dressing is made of simple Asian pantry items such as miso, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and fresh ginger. A little bit of grated ginger lends a refreshing zing and a kick to this savory dressing. Miso (味噌), a salty-savory Japanese condiment, is fermented soybean paste.

What is miso dressing made of? ›

Similarly, this homemade miso dressing is made of simple Asian pantry items such as miso, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and fresh ginger. A little bit of grated ginger lends a refreshing zing and a kick to this savory dressing. Miso (味噌), a salty-savory Japanese condiment, is fermented soybean paste.

What is a substitute for miso paste in a recipe? ›

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.

Is miso paste the same as white miso? ›

Shiro miso, also known as white miso, is a type of miso paste made from fermented soybeans and rice or barley. Unlike its red counterpart, shiro miso is fermented for a shorter period, resulting in a milder and sweeter flavor profile.

Does red shell miso dressing need to be refrigerated? ›

They confirmed that the sealed bottles are actually shelf-stable at room temperature, and need to be refrigerated ONLY AFTER OPENING. They also said that they recommend shipping with ice because there are no preservatives in the dressing, so shipping with ice will help the product last longer overall.

Is miso good or bad for you? ›

Miso soup contains several beneficial vitamins, minerals, and components that may improve your gut and heart health and may lower your risk of cancer. If you are on a low-salt diet, read the label on packaged miso soup to choose one that's low in sodium.

Why is miso so expensive? ›

“Traditionally, rice miso is more expensive than barley miso, because the grain is more expensive,” explains Chung. Accordingly, wealthier merchants could afford to purchase more expensive miso made with rice, whereas farmers and townsfolk often ate miso made with millet, barley, or other common grains.

What is the secret ingredient in miso paste? ›

Classified as a fungus, Koji takes the starch in rice and other grains and breaks it down into sugars that can then be utilized by other microbes. It's an essential ingredient in miso.

Where do I find miso in the grocery store? ›

You can find miso paste in the grocery store in the Asian cuisine aisle. This aisle is typically located towards the back of the store, near the international foods section. As you make your way down the aisle, you'll see a wide variety of Asian ingredients and products, including soy sauce, rice vinegar, and noodles.

Is miso good for the gut? ›

May support gut health

The fermentation process involved in the production of miso promotes levels of beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics. These bacteria are thought to help a range of health issues, including digestion and gut health.

How long does miso last in fridge? ›

So, how long can I keep miso? Miso is a “preservative food,” that can be kept for a long period of time due to its salt content. If kept in your refrigerator, miso itself does not go bad. In terms of the quality of the taste, miso should remain relatively consistent for up to one year.

How long does miso paste last once opened? ›

Sweet miso should be consumed within three weeks of opening, white miso within 3 months. Darker misos, such as barley, brown rice and red miso keep for at least 6 months, and soybean miso for 12 months. Beyond these periods the miso wont spoil, but the flavour and colour will change becoming less aromatic.

Does miso have MSG? ›

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.

Can you leave miso out overnight? ›

A: It's better to be refrigerated to prevent it from being fermented more, especially in warm season. Keeping it in room temperature should be fine, but I suggest you to keep it in a fridge. The shelf life is long, about 2 months in room temperature and 1 year or more in refrigerator.

Can you leave miso soup out overnight? ›

In general, it's best to consume all the miso soup right away because it will lose its aroma and taste as time passes. If you like to keep the leftover, let your miso soup cool to room temperature (up to 4 hours; any longer and it will spoil) and then refrigerate.

What is miso and what does it 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.

How is miso made? ›

Miso is a Japanese traditional paste produced by fermenting soybean with fungus Aspergillus oryzae and salt, and sometimes with rice, wheat, or oats. It contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, isoflavones, and lecithin (Watanabe, 2013).

How is miso different from soy sauce? ›

As step 2 for both products differs: Both start out with the same aerobic (“with air”) fermentation process, using the same mold and milk acid fermenting (“lactobacillus“) cultures. But for miso, this process is stopped before the mold sporulates, while for soy sauce, it is stopped right after it sporulated.

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