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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Squeeze the roasted garlic into the food processor (no need to wash after processing the plantains), then add the coconut milk, nutritional yeast, miso, vinegar and allspice and blend until smooth. —

Jim Webster, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2023 There are six very high oxalate foods: spinach, rhubarb, rice bran, buckwheat groats, almonds and miso soup -- don’t eat those. —

Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 4 May 2023 Apart from being used to make soup, miso paste can be served directly as a topping on rice. —

Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023 Refreshing by themselves, the wraps swell with flavor after a plunge in the accompanying dish of tahini, miso and fish sauce. —

Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2023 One new plate features roasted steelhead trout with hot, roasted sweet potatoes, kale cabbage slaw, warm wild rice and a miso sesame ginger dressing. —

Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Sep. 2022 The session was part of a six-week course that addressed how to cook with miso, clean around stove burners and remove stains from clothing. —

Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2022 Add the okra and cook for another 3–4 minutes, then remove from the heat and whisk in the miso. —

Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2022 These roasted potatoes, beets, carrots, and onions have all the flavors—umami from the miso, sweet from maple syrup, creamy tang from tahini—and can be made ahead, and easily reheated in a warm oven. —

Serena Coady, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'miso.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.