Cooking miso paste recipes is a great way to add flavor to your vegan and vegetarian meals!! You can do so much with red or white miso! Explore this collection vegetarian miso recipes and discover how easy it is to make great tasting vegetarian meals.
This recipe collection of miso paste recipes was originally published in May 2019. It has been updated for photos and content.
Why You Will Love This Collection of Vegetarian Miso Recipes
Miso makes vegetarian cooking taste better!
Miso an easy pantry staple that will last a long time!
Cooking with miso adds umami flavor!
Everyone will enjoy eating the amazing meals you prepare with miso!
What is Miso Paste?
Miso is a paste made from fermented soy beans. It’s made by adding a type of mold to the soybeans which works to breakdown the soybeans creating miso.
Miso paste comes in yellow and red colors with the yellow, called white miso paste being a bit milder than the darker versions. I suggest starting to cook with white miso paste first as it is much more flexible and not as strong in flavor.
The flavors attributed to miso include salty, earthy and savory. These contribute to the umami flavor you get from miso, making it a great addition to a variety of dishes for flavor. It works especially well in adding flavor to vegan and vegetarian miso recipes.
Fermented soy beans are easier for the body to process and absorb than other forms of soy. The fermentation process also introduces probiotics into miso which is important for a healthy digestive system.
How to Store Miso Paste
Miso paste will last in your refrigerator forever, as long as you store it in an airtight container.
Miso paste can also be frozen, but you may want to portion it out before freezing it as you can’t unfreeze and refreeze it repeatedly to use in vegetarian miso recipes.
Don’t worry if the color of your white miso paste darkens as it sits there in your refrigerator as that is common and doesn’t mean it’s bad. The flavor may also intensify in miso paste the longer it sits.
Why You Should Cook With Miso
In vegetarian and vegan cooking, miso is great to use as a flavor enhancer. You can use it when cooking one of these vegetarian miso recipes or explore adding it into other favorite recipes to add more flavor.
Umami, the additional flavor in food following bitter, sweet, sour and salty. Umami flavor generally comes from products derived from animals such as meat, cheese and other dairy products.
Cooking miso paste recipes is a win-win because it’s a plant-based products that adds umami flavor to foods.
Miso works great in a wide variety of recipes but it has a great affinity for the flavors of mushroom, red wine, garlic, beans and much more.
Expert Tips and FAQS for Cooking with Miso
There are lots of vegetarian miso recipes using the red and white varieties miso paste. In addition, you can add it to many types of dishes to enhance the flavor of plant based cooking such as:
- Add it to soups as a flavor enhancer.
- Make a rub for vegetables by mixing miso paste with oil or butter.
- Add it to sauces and dressings.
- Use it in marinades to glaze tofu or tempeh.
- Add it to a pot of beans to infuse the beans with umami flavor.
- And much more!!
How long will miso last?
If the miso is stored in a well-sealed container in the refrigerator it will likely last for a long period of time. Don’t be frightened if white miso paste gets a little darker over time. That is simply the natural process of aging.
Can miso be frozen?
Yes you can freeze miso, but I recommend dividing it into smaller amounts so you can simply remove the amount needed from the freezer. It may lessen the quality of the miso if you are continually freezing, thawing and refreezing. One idea is to transfer it to an ice tray and freeze. Then you can transfer the cubes to a container and store in the freezer.
Which type of miso do you recommend?
If you are new to cooking miso paste recipes, I recommend starting with white miso. It has a softer flavor and won’t overwhelm the dish.
Why does everything taste so salty when I use miso?
One of the main components of miso is salt. It is there as a preservative and is the reason the miso lasts so long in the refrigerator. My suggestion when cooking vegetarian miso recipes is to add any additional salt.
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Collection of Vegetarian Miso Paste Recipes
Enjoying cooking and eating the many different types of vegetarian recipes you can prepare with miso. From sauces, casseroles, marinades and so much more! There’s sure to be something here for everyone!
This recipe uses crumbled tofu, similar to how it’s used in my Tofu Ground Beef Substitute, with different flavors and cooking method but the outcome is the same with a delicious ground beef like texture!
Healthy Vegan Bolognese Recipe with Tofu
Tofu and walnuts create a delicious substitute for ground meat in this slow cooked authentic bolognese sauce. It's hearty and delicious and worth the time it takes to cook.
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Spicy Miso Vegan Tofu Ramen
Looking for your favorite vegetarian ramen to make at home? This spicy miso vegan tofu ramen bowl is the BEST! A simple combination of ingredients creates a tasty spicy miso broth that’s topped with whole and nutritious vegetables and tofu.
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Tofu ricotta – by Cadry’s Kitchen
Super quick and easy to make with only six ingredients. This tofu ricotta is the perfect replacement in any recipe for ricotta cheese, but I like it to use it as the base of a veggie pizza. The miso paste helps to add umami flavor to this vegan cheese.
Miso Sesame Ginger Dressing by Bowl of Delicious
This dressing is so delicious you will want to use it on everything!!! On salads, sushi, grain bowls and much more. Full of flavor from the fresh ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar and of course, white miso. Whip up a batch in a jar to use for the week in under five minutes.
I really love serving up this eggplant bacon on toasted bread with some tomatoes and lettuce and a generous amount of Guasacaca Sauce. This punchy flavored sauce adds so much amazing flavor to vegan BLT sandwich!
Vegan Eggplant Bacon Slices
Thinly sliced eggplant brushed with a sweet and smoky marinade imitate bacon in this quick and easy vegan bacon recipe.
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Quinoa Risotto with Butternut Squash and Greens
Quinoa risotto with butternut squash and greens is a protein-packed veggie dish made with wholesome, easy ingredients. The dish cooks in about thirty minutes and requires less constant attention than regular risotto. Let’s get cookin’!
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Vegetable Miso Soup by The Food Blog
This soup has all the salty yumminess of your traditional miso soup but with some veggies thrown in as well. The veggies add lots of nutrients to the soup but also make the soup much more filling. I say make up a batch on Sunday afternoon and eat it throughout the week. It’s not too heavy and works to eat all year around.
Roasted Miso Glazed Radishes by Beyond Mere Substances
You may be questioning cooked radishes just like I did!! But these are in a yummy miso glaze along with some mirin wine, tamari and sesame oil. Cook these up and serve them alongside your favorite marinated tofu recipe!!
Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
This savory sweet potato casserole makes a great side dish for meals during the holiday season as well as weeknight dinners throughout the year. This baked sweet potato recipe is made with creamy sweet potatoes, quinoa, and spinach topped with a crunchy breadcrumb and walnut topping.
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Creamy Polenta Recipe in the Slow Cooker
This slow cooker polenta makes a tasty and easy side dish you can make anytime you need a side that won't require tons of attention to make. It cooks up so creamy and delicious with just a few simple ingredients to flavor it and it goes with a wide variety of different meals.
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Lemon Miso Brussels Sprouts by Our Wandering Kitchen
Here’s another vegetable side dish using miso. I love the combination of miso here with lemon, garlic and tamari which creates a refreshing flavor with the brussels sprouts. You can either pan sear or roast the sprouts and then toss them with the sauce. The perfect summery side dish!!
Vegetarian Ramen with Dragon Eggs by The Live-In Kitchen
There is definitely a Game of Thrones theme going on here but this bowl is just gorgeous!!! And I like the clever trick with the eggs to create the marbled look on the egg. But not only does this dish look great but the miso in the broth adds so much flavor to this vegetarian ramen bowl.
Healthy Mushroom Soup Recipe Without Cream
This healthy creamy mushroom soup is made without cream for a homemade mushroom soup that's dairy free, gluten free and vegan. It's quick and easy to make and perfect for meal prep.
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Balsamic Miso Sweet Potato Wedges
Super simple yet tasty side dish to serve with any meal. Balsamic and miso provide extra umami taste in this sweet potato recipe.
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Vegan Tomato Chipotle Soup by Lost Not Found
This recipe uses red miso paste which has a stronger flavor than the white used in most of these other recipes, but this miso pairs well with the bold flavors of the chipotle and tomatoes in this yummy soup. The miso provides a bit of extra umami punch to the dish.
Baked Pumpkin and Kale Manicotti with Miso Sauce by Adore Foods
These manicotti are filled with two of my favorites…pumpkin and kale. Miso is used in the sauce to add a nice rich umami flavor to top this delicious stuffed pasta. This dish is so delicious and worth the extra time it takes to prepare!!
Savory Oven Roasted Miso Mushrooms
An easy, savory mushroom side dish with a quick marinade made with balsamic, soy, garlic and miso to serve up with so many different meals. These miso mushrooms take only 20 minutes to prepare, creating delightful roasted mushrooms with so much umami flavor.
Miso Mushroom Brown Rice Casserole
Miso mushroom brown rice casserole makes the perfect side dish for any meal. An oven-baked rice dish that’s packed with tons of flavor and goes with a variety of dishes.
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Maple Miso Potato Wedges by Debra Klein
A quick and easy three ingredient marinade for these delicious roasted potato wedges. The perfect side dish for any meal!! Ready and on the table in less than 30 minutes.
BBQ Asian Asparagus by Another Food Blogger
Another recipe made with red miso and is perfect to use this spring and summer on the BBQ grill. The miso just that extra umffff to the asparagus!!
Curry Ramen with Miso Lentils by Vegan Richa
Here’s another flavorful ramen featuring miso. In this dish, the miso is part of the lentils which top off this ramen bowl. There are tons of flavors going on in this dish!! It’s a definitely a must try!
Enjoy all the ways of cooking vegetarian miso recipes to create delicious, healthy and flavorful meals you and your family will love!
Want to know more about kitchen tools that I consider to be important to have on hand when it comes to making cooking easier? All my favorite Kitchen Cutting Tools are listed in this instructional gift guide with ideas for gadgets that will save you time and make simplify cooking.
If you try a recipe from this collection, why not drop a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. You can let me know how the recipe went for you and which one you’re cooking next. And don’t forget to tag me @cookeatlivelove in your photos on social media so I can see your creations.
