While I love cooking Japanese-style dishes, I don’t always keep all the Japanese ingredients in the house. When I’ve run out, there are plenty of good miso paste
substitutes so I don’t feel like I need to rush to the store. It’s a fermented paste made from soybeans. I read somewhere that miso and soy sauce were invented by Japanese monks to add savoury (also called ‘umami’) flavours to vegetarian food. So it’s a super useful ingredient for adding loads of flavour. (in order of preference) If I run out of
miso paste, my next go-to is soy sauce because it adds a similar salty / umami / savoury hit. Soy tends to be saltier and less creamy than miso so I start with less and work my way up as needed. If a recipe just calls for a small amount of miso and has plenty of other ingredients, adding a little salt may be all you need. Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It looks a little like miso paste and has a similar consistency so it can be
substituted in recipes where you want to get some body from the miso paste. If a recipe is using large quantites of miso, tahini probably isn’t going to work because the flavour profile is more nutty and creamy compared with the salty / savoury flavour of miso. In soups, a full flavoured vegetable stock can work instead
of miso. Although if you’re making a pure miso soup, it will need something else. Similar to soy sauce, fish sauce adds saltiness and umami. A little goes a long way though so start small.What is Miso?
1. Soy Sauce
2. Salt
3. Tahini
4. Vegetable Stock
5. Fish Sauce
Which Miso is Best?
There are many different types of miso. The most common is ‘Shiro’ miso also called ‘white miso’. It has the palest colour and the mildest flavour. This is the miso I buy.
The darker the colour of your miso the stonger the flavour. You can substitute different types of miso paste for each other, just prepare to use less if using a darker or red paste. You can always add more as needed.
My Favourite Recipes Using Miso Paste
- Miso Harissa Roast Cauli
- Tahini Miso Turmeric Sauce
- Corn & Miso Salad
- Lemony Miso Salmon
For more on Miso Paste
7 Delicious Ways to Use Miso PasteMore Ingredient Substitutes
- The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Substitutes
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Collard Greens
- Miso Paste
- Oyster Sauce
- Pesto
- Tahini
Also see see the Simple Ingredients Substitutes Index.
Have fun in the kitchen!
With love,
Jules x
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Don’t have miso paste? This unique ingredient is hard to replace, but there are a few options. Here’s the best miso substitute! Making a recipe that calls for miso paste and don’t have it? 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. It’s often
used in Japanese-style dishes like miso ramen and miso salmon, but you can also use it as a substitute for cheesy flavor like in vegan pesto. 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! Yellow miso, white miso, red miso, dark or brown miso are all different varieties of this magic ingredient. Important: Miso is such a unique ingredient, you should seek it out if at all possible! This is especially important if the word miso is in the recipe title, like Miso Glaze. But if you don’t have time to shop, here are a few substitutes! They just don’t come
close to the real thing. The best miso substitute? Soy sauce. Soy sauce can stand in for the salty and savory flavor of miso in a pinch. But keep in mind: miso paste has a creamy texture and soy sauce is very thin, almost like water. Use this ratio: Substitute ½ tablespoon soy sauce for 1 tablespoon miso paste.1. Soy sauce
Need a gluten free or soy free substitute for soy sauce? Try tamari (gluten free), coconut aminos (gluten free and soy free), or liquid aminos (gluten free).
2. Fish sauce
Another miso substitute? Fish sauce. Fish sauce is a condiment made from fermented fish that’s used often in Southeast Asian cuisine like Thai food. It’s used to bring umami to recipes and has a funky, tangy, salty flavor that’s similar to miso paste. However, note that it’s much stronger than miso and the texture is very thin, not creamy.
Use this ratio: Substitute ½ teaspoon fish sauce for 1 tablespoon miso paste.
Here are some great miso recipes for using this magic paste:
- Miso Salmon
- Easy Miso Glaze
- Miso Ramen with Soft Boiled Egg
- Cauliflower Stir Fry
- Go-To Tofu Stir Fry
- Go-To Stir Fry Sauce
- Quick Soba Noodles
- Grilled Bok Choy
- Easy Vegan Pesto
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.