Using Miso

There’s really no trying to figure out why my husband does the things he does but back in about July or August, he got on this miso kick. It’s about the time I wanted to make keifer and kombucha so I think he was just wanting something else that’s fermented.

I had never had miso that I knew about. He couldn’t remember ever having miso but he wanted miso so he searched online, read reviews and decided South River Miso Company was a good place to order miso. But, they don’t ship to Texas when the temps are above 200º . . or maybe it’s when temps are above 100º and feels like it’s 200º. Anyway, they only ship to Texas between November 1 and the end of April. So . . we waited. 

Then I went to MO and Fox Farm is a little shop that’s an organic type market. I love that store and I was able to find unpasteurized miso for Vince there. I bought red and white, not having a clue what the different colors/flavors meant since I’ve never tasted any of it . . that I know of.

Then, about mid-November, Vince’s order from South River arrived. He got:

1. 3 bags of koji so he can make his own miso (don’t hold your breath)
2. Tamari – chickpea
3. Tamara – Sweet Tasting Brown Rise
4. Miso – Sweet White
5. Miso – Hearty Brown Rice
6. Miso – Sweet Tasting Brown Rice
7. Miso – Chickpea (2 of them)
8. Miso – Azuki Bean
9. Miso – Golden Millet

It all sat in the fridge (These are 1 pound jars each) from mid-November til last week. I kept saying . . Vince, what are you going to do with the miso? I had no idea what he was planning to do with it. I thought it was for some fermentation project he was going to do.

Finally, I said . . if you don’t do something with the miso, I’m tossing it! Or, buying a 4th refrigerator! He began sending me links to recipes. Oh . . I’m supposed to just use it as an ingredient? I had no idea.

I know I’ve had it before . . at restaurants, but I just never knew. I was so frustrated with Vince for taking up a full shelf in the fridge . . til I tasted miso. Now, I can’t stop eating it. It reminds me of a tangy peanut butter. It’s so good! Then I said to Vince “They stop shipping to us in April so maybe we should order more”. He said YES! So, I ordered the following flavors:

1. Dandelion Leek (2) – Click on the link and read about that one. It sounds so yummy!
2. Three Year Barley
3. Sweet White – That’s the only one I’ve used already and it’s so good.
4. Garlic Red Pepper – That one sounds good too so I ordered several of those.
5. Golden Millet

So far, I’ve made Sweet Potato, Ginger, Miso soup using the Sweet White Miso and Coleslaw Dressing using the Sweet White. Both were delicious . . extremely delicious. Vince has been asking for more coleslaw hourly . . since I made the first batch on Christmas Day.