You can find plastic tubs of high-quality miso paste at your Asian grocery store!
Making your own miso soup at home isn’t as simple as it sounds. The instant packets, for example, might not hit the spot. That’s because the flavor could be just plain wrong. However, don’t lose hope yet! You can find plastic tubs of high-quality miso paste at your Asian grocery store. While it’s easy to assume that you can only use this ingredient in soup, that’s far from its only possibility!
Vegetable Slaw Featuring Miso Dressing
Putting carrots, cabbage, and kohlrabi together probably sounds like an odd combination. But the creaminess will help you overcome your doubts. Plus, it makes for a fantastic substitution for an ordinary veggie and mayo pairing that is old-hat. Texture-wise, this slaw is crunchy and great for meats, seafood, and vegetable wraps, or perhaps a vegan spring roll filling?
Pan-Fried Miso-Flavored Eggplant
Keen to try eggplant? Although you might be curious about trying Italian-style eggplant parmesan, you might also be unsure of how much you’d like eggplant. We encourage you to go in another direction first! Due to the way this meal is prepared, the eggplant takes on a delightful buttery texture. Add in some mirin and sugar to caramelize the eggplant, and then serve with rice or quinoa!
Mochi Soup
Right about now, you’re thinking, “wait, I didn’t come here to learn about another soup!” Here, delicately sweet white miso takes center stage. Mochi is a soft rice cake that will absorb the broth of the soup. You may have had the ice cream variants before; this take on the dessert will blow your mind. Try topping off your bowl with a mix of traditional Japanese vegetables or even Japanese-style fish cakes (kamaboko) if you’ve got a more adventurous appetite.
Miso-Based Salad Dressing
Miso can also stand on its own as the main player in a salad dressing. Use this sweet and savory blend to take veggies to the next level. You can also incorporate red miso to see if it catches your fancy. Meanwhile, your taste buds will enjoy their exposure to crackling calamari, tasty cheese sandwiches, and grilled proteins such as chicken or fish.
Grilled Salmon Platters
There are only so many times you can use lemon, butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes to elevate the taste profile of your grilled salmon dinners. Eventually, these platters call for something out of the ordinary, so take them up on their challenge: seasonings such as brown sugar, fresh ginger, and a garlicky marinade team up for an enchanting blend.
Bowls of Ramen
Instant ramen, whether you get them in the packet or in a cup, can be quick and satisfying meals all on their own. Even so, they don’t hold a candle to authentically made bowls of tonkatsu ramen. Adding some miso to your noodle soup can accentuate the already-pleasant flavors. For your consideration: carefully combined ingredients, such as broth, bouillon, and paste, will yield a wondrous mash-up of flavors.
Baked Tofu Recipes
Vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t feel left out either! At first glance, tofu seems rather bland. But it doesn’t have to be! Baking the tofu produces another yummy way to get your protein food group. Tofu isn’t guaranteed to be gluten-free, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t. Now then, pass that freshly-cooked steamed white rice!
Get All Your Asian Groceries at Lotte Plaza Market
Lotte Plaza Market is your one-stop shop for all of your Korean and Asian grocery needs. With more than 10 Maryland and Virginia locations, this growing market is continually expanding and opening new markets to better serve our customers. Since we opened in 1976, our goal has always been to provide the best customer service and groceries to our customers. For answers to all of your questions, please email us at LottePlaza.com.