Creamy Miso Dip Recipes

ASIAN ESSENTIALS: CREAMY MISO DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. You can make your own mayonnaise (I usually do); however, I do not wish to over complicate this recipe. So, a good store-bought mayo will work fine. If you are feeling on the healthy side, you can substitute the mayonnaise with a product called, Vegenaise. It is a vegan version that is really good.
• 3. All About Miso Paste White Miso: The mildest of the four. It is made from soybeans that have been fermented along with a large percentage of rice. Depending on how it is fermented the color can be from white to a light beige. Of the four, it has a sweet taste, and great for salad dressings and light sauces. Yellow Miso: Yellow miso is traditionally made from soybeans fermented with barley and a small percentage of rice. It can be yellow to light brown in color. It is mild, with earthy flavor notes, and works well in condiments, soups, marinades, and glazes. Red Miso: Made with soybeans fermented with barley or other grains, though with a higher percentage of soybeans and a longer fermentation period. It can range in color from red to dark brown. The deep umami flavor of red miso can overwhelm mild dishes, but is perfect for hearty soups, braises, and glazes. Brown Miso: Made almost entirely from soybeans, with a long fermentation time, this miso is the strongest and saltiest of the four. The color can range from a deep brown to almost black. Because of its strength, it does not work well in dressings or light sauces. I do find it works with beef and pork dishes. Additional Note The depth of color with any particular miso can also tell you something about its flavor. Generally speaking, the darker the color, the longer it's been fermented and the stronger it will taste. So, check the actual color of the paste for an indication of how mild or strong it is. One More Thing Miso is very salty, so make sure you taste it before adding any additional sodium.
• 4. You can make the dressing a day or two before serving. Just make sure it is tightly covered and refrigerated.
• 5. Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• 6. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl.
• 7. Whisk together until smooth.
• 8. Do a final tasting for proper seasoning before serving.
• 9. PLATE/PRESENT
• 10. Serve with a plate of chicken tenders, wings, or just drizzle over some yummy baked chicken. Enjoy.
• 11. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

EDAMAME AND MISO DIP

Steps:

• Bring a small pot of water to a boil and add the edamame. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and cool slightly.
• Place the edamame in a food processor along with the miso, 1/2 cup water, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and 2 tablespoons rice vinegar. Set aside 1 tablespoon scallion for garnish and add the rest to the food processor. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Season with the additional tablespoon of rice vinegar if desired.
• Transfer the dip to a small serving bowl and garnish with the reserved scallions and the sesame seeds if using. Serve with crackers and vegetables for dipping.

CARROT-MISO DIP

Steps:

• Toss 1 pound carrots (cut into 2-inch pieces) and 1 halved shallot with vegetable oil and kosher salt on a baking sheet. Roast at 425 degrees F until tender, 25 minutes; let cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor; add 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup white miso paste, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger, 2 chopped scallions,2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon each rice vinegar and soy sauce. Puree until smooth, then transfer to a bowl and top with sesame seeds and more scallions. Serve with rice crackers.

MISO-GINGER DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine the miso and vinegar (or vinegar and lime juice) in a small bowl and whisk together. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until amalgamated. You can also mix this in a blender.
• Toss with the salad of your choice.

FIVE-INGREDIENT CREAMY MISO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta water, then drain the pasta.
• Add the butter, miso and 1 1/4 cups pasta water to the pot and whisk over medium heat until miso breaks down and liquid is uniform, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pasta and Parmesan and cook, stirring vigorously with tongs until cheese is melted and sauce emulsifies. (The key word here is "vigorously." To achieve a silky smooth pasta instead of a gloppy one, put your cacio e pepe skills to work.)
• Divide among shallow bowls and sprinkle with nori or furikake, if using.