miso

noun

mi·​so ˈmē-(ˌ)sō 

plural misos

: a fermented paste that is used especially in Japanese cuisine, that consists chiefly of soybeans, salt, and usually grain (such as barley or rice), and that has a savory taste ranging from very salty to somewhat sweet

… miso, the savory paste that flavors everything in Japanese cuisine from soups and pickles to dressings for salads.

—Harris Salat

Darker misos, such as brown and red, are fermented longer and have a stronger flavor. Lighter-colored misos have been fermented for less time, and have a milder, less salty flavor …

—Robin Asbell

Miso is teeming with protein, B vitamins and minerals, and rich in glutamates, which give food that meaty taste known as umami.

—Carole Kotkin

… miso paste is made by fermenting soybeans and sometimes grains (such as rice, barley, or rye) with a mold …

—Cook's Illustrated

We live on rice, fish, pickles, noodles, and miso soup, made from soybeans.

—James Fallows

Examples of miso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The cafe serves specialty cookies, with flavors like miso brown butter, matcha yuzu almond and Valrhona chocolate chip. —Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026

Made by simply pureeing sauce ingredients together in a blender—peanuts, cilantro, scallions, rice vinegar, and miso—then tossing with springy noodles, this quick side can be enjoyed either at room temp or chilled. —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026

Dessert ranged from cocoa panna cotta to roasted pear with miso and macadamia ice-cream. —Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 7 June 2026

Probiotics are generally safe to take every day, especially when eaten in foods such as yogurt, miso, tempeh, buttermilk, and soy beverages. —Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 5 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above