Miso

This article is about the traditional Japanese seasoning. For other uses, see MISO (disambiguation).

Miso for sale in a Tokyo food hall

Miso (みそ or 味噌^?) is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus kōjikin (麹菌^?), the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso soup called misoshiru (味噌汁^?), a Japanese culinary staple. High in protein and rich in vitamins and minerals, miso played an important nutritional role in feudal Japan. Miso is still very widely used in Japan, both in traditional and modern cooking, and has been gaining world-wide interest. Miso is typically salty, but its flavor and aroma depend on various factors in the ingredients and fermentation process. There is a very wide variety of miso available. Different varieties of miso have been described as salty, sweet, earthy, fruity, and savory. The traditional Chinese analogue of miso is known as dòujiàng (豆酱).

History

Hatchō miso barrel

The earliest form of miso is known as "Hishio". Hishio is a kind of salty seasoning which is made from grain.

The origin of the miso of Japan is not completely clear.

• Grain and fish misos had been manufactured in Japan since the Neolithic era (Jōmon period).^[1] These are called "Jōmon miso".
• This miso predecessor originated in China during the 3rd century BC or earlier. It is likely that Hishio, and other fermented soy-based foods, were introduced to Japan at the same time as Buddhism in the 6th century AD. ^[2][3][4] This fermented food was called "Shi".

Until the Muromachi era, miso was made without grinding the soybeans, somewhat like natto. In the Kamakura era, a common meal was made up of a bowl of rice, some dried fish, a serving of miso, and a fresh vegetable. In the Muromachi era, Buddhist monks discovered that soybeans could be ground into a paste, spawning new cooking methods using miso to flavor other foods. In medieval times, the word "Temaemiso", meaning home-made miso, appeared. Miso production is a relatively simple process and so home-made versions spread throughout Japan. Miso was used as military provisions during the Sengoku era and making miso was an important economic activity for daimyos of that era.

During the Edo period miso was also called hishio and kuki and various type of miso that fit with each climate and culture was formed throughout Japan.

These days miso is produced industrially in large quantities and traditional home-made miso has become a rarity. In recent years, many new types of miso have appeared. For example, there are ones with added soup stocks or calcium, or reduced salt for health, etc.

Flavor

(from left) Koujimiso, Akamiso, Awasemiso

The taste, aroma, texture, and appearance of miso all vary by region and season. Other important variables that contribute to the flavor of a particular miso include temperature, duration of fermentation, salt content, variety of kōji, and fermenting vessel. The most common flavor categories of miso are:

• Shiromiso, "white miso"
• Akamiso, "red miso"
• Awasemiso, "mixed miso"

Although white and red (shiromiso and akamiso) are the most common types of misos available, different varieties may be preferred in particular regions of Japan. In the eastern Kantō region that includes Tokyo, the darker brownish akamiso is popular while the western Kansai region encompassing Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe prefer the lighter shiromiso.

Ingredients

The ingredients used to produce miso may include any mix of soybeans, barley, rice, buckwheat, millet, rye, wheat, hemp seed, and cycad, among others. Lately, producers in other countries have also begun selling miso made from chickpeas, corn, azuki beans, amaranth, and quinoa. Fermentation time ranges from as little as five days to several years. The wide variety of Japanese miso is difficult to classify, but is commonly done by grain type, color, taste, and background.

• mugi (麦): barley
• tsubu (粒): whole wheat/barley
• genmai (玄米): brown rice
• moromi (醪): chunky, healthy (kōji is unblended)
• nanban (南蛮): mixed with hot chili pepper for dipping sauce
• taima (大麻): hemp seed
• sobamugi (蕎麦): buckwheat
• hadakamugi (裸麦): rye
• nari (蘇鉄): made from cycad pulp, Buddhist temple diet
• gokoku (五穀): "5 grain": soy, wheat, barley, proso millet, and foxtail millet

Many regions have their own specific variation on the miso standard. For example, the soybeans used in Sendai miso are much more coarsely mashed than in normal soy miso.

Miso made with rice such as shinshu and shiro are called kome miso.

Types of miso are divided by main ingredients.

• Kome miso, "rice miso"

Color is yellow, yellowish white or red, etc. Whitish miso is made from boiled soybean, but reddish miso is made from steamed soybean. Much of Kome miso is consumed in Eastern Japan, Hokuriku and Kinki areas.

• Mugi miso, "barley miso"

Whitish miso is produced in Kyusyu, Whestern Chugoku area in Japan,Shikoku areas. Mugi miso has a peculiar smell. Northern Kanto area produces reddish miso.

• Mame miso, "soybean miso"

Miso is a darker, more reddish brown than kome miso. This is not so sweet, but has some astringency and good umami(旨味). This miso requires a long maturing term. Mame miso is consumed in mostly Aichi prefecture, part of Gifu prefecture and part of Mie prefecture.

• Tyougou miso, "mixed miso"

This comes in various types, because it consists of other varieties of miso mixed together. This may improve the weak points of each type of miso. For example, Mame miso is very salty. But when combined with Kome miso, the finished product has a mild taste.

• Red miso

This is aged for a long time, such as over one year. Therefore, due to Maillard reaction, the color of this miso changes gradually from white to red or black, thus giving it the name red miso. Features of the taste are saltiness, and some astringency with umami. Factors in the depth of color are the formula of the soybeans themselves and the quantity of soybeans used. Generally, steamed soybeans are more deeply colored than boiled soybeans.

• White miso

The most widely produced miso, made in many regions of the country. Its main ingredients are rice, barley, and a small quantity of soybeans. If a greater quantity of soybeans was added, the miso would be red or brown. Compared with red miso, white miso has a very short brewing time. The taste is sweet, but the umami is soft (compared to red miso).

Storage and preparation

Miso typically comes as a paste in a sealed container requiring refrigeration after opening. Natural miso is a living food containing many beneficial microorganisms such as Tetragenococcus halophilus which can be killed by over-cooking. For this reason, it is recommended that the miso be added to soups or other foods being prepared just before they are removed from the heat. Using miso without any cooking may be even better.^[5] Outside of Japan, a popular practice is to only add miso to foods that have cooled in order to preserve kōjikin cultures in miso. Nonetheless miso and soy foods play a large role in the Japanese diet and many cooked miso dishes are popularly consumed.

Usage

Main article: Miso soup

Miso is a part of many Japanese-style meals. It most commonly appears as the main ingredient of miso soup, which is eaten daily by much of the Japanese population. The pairing of plain rice and miso soup is considered a fundamental unit of Japanese cuisine. This pairing is the basis of a traditional Japanese breakfast.

Miso is used in many other types of soup and souplike dishes, including some kinds of ramen, udon, nabe, and imoni. Generally, such dishes have the title miso prefixed to their name (for example, miso-udon), and have a heavier, earthier flavor and aroma compared to other Japanese soups that are not miso-based.

Many traditional confections use a sweet, thick miso glaze, such as mochidango. Miso glazed treats are strongly associated with Japanese festivals, although they are available year-round at supermarkets. The consistency of miso glaze ranges from thick and taffy-like to thin and drippy.

Soy miso is used to make a type of pickle called "misozuke".^[6] These pickles are typically made from cucumber, daikon, hakusai, or eggplant, and are sweeter and less salty than the standard Japanese salt pickle.

Other foods with miso as an ingredient include:

• dengaku (sweetened miso used for grilling)
• yakimochi (charcoal-grilled miso covered mochi)
• miso braised vegetables or mushrooms
• marinades: fish or chicken can be marinated in miso and sake overnight to be grilled.
• corn on the cob in Japan is often coated with shiro miso, wrapped in foil and grilled.
• sauces: sauces like misoyaki (a variant on teriyaki) are common.
• dips: used as a dip to eat with vegetables (ex. cucumbers, daikon, carrots, etc.)
• side dish: miso is often eaten not only as a condiment but also as a side dish. Mixed or cooked miso with spices/ vegetables are called 'okazu-miso' (おかず味噌), which are often eaten along with hot rice, or spread over onigiri.

Nutrition and health

The nutritional benefits of miso have been widely touted by commercial enterprises and home cooks alike.

Claims that miso is high in vitamin B₁₂ have been contradicted in some studies.^[7] Part of the confusion may stem from the fact that some soy products are high in B vitamins (though not necessarily B₁₂) and some, such as soy milk, may be fortified with vitamin B₁₂.

Some, especially proponents of healthful eating, suggest that miso can help treat radiation sickness, citing cases in Japan and Russia where people have been fed miso after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Notably, Japanese doctor Shinichiro Akizuki, director of Saint Francis Hospital in Nagasaki during World War II, theorized that miso helps protect against radiation sickness.^[8]

Some experts suggest that miso is a source of Lactobacillus acidophilus.^[9] Lecithin, a kind of phospholipid caused by fermentation, which is effective in the prevention of high blood pressure.^{[clarification needed]} However, miso is also relatively high in salt which can contribute to increased blood pressure in the small percentage of the population with sodium-sensitive pre-hypertension or hypertension. Based on the other results of double-blind controlled studies of sodium and hypertension, there is no definitive evidence that high sodium intake leads to negative clinical conditions such as hypertension in healthy persons. Clinical evidence indicates wide-population heterogeneity in response to sodium.^[10][11][12]

See also

• Soy sauce
• Doenjang
• Dajiang
• Tauco
• Fermented bean paste
• Yellow soybean paste
• Marukome

Footnotes

1. ^ お味噌の歴史
2. ^ Shurtleff, W.; Aoyagi, A. 2009. "History of Miso, Soybean Jiang (China), Jang (Korea), and Tauco (Indonesia) (200 BC-2009)." ISBN: 9781928914228.
3. ^ {{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ahgFlXnDZ54C&pg=PA627&lpg=PA627&dq=shurtleff+aoyagi+history+miso+soybean+jiang&source=bl&ots=WWADbHs-gC&sig=XEB1Mdk71ZqaunBHOdt8n3JvF9w&hl=en&ei=BrKsTreVAqauiALB9uSpCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false
4. ^ Albala, Ken (2007). Beans: a history. Berg Publishers. p. 216. ISBN 1845204301. http://books.google.com/books?id=OjJlNsYgdGAC&pg=216#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
5. ^ Shurtleff, William; Aoyagi, Akiko (2001). The book of miso: savory, high-protein seasoning. Soyinfo Center. p. 48. ISBN 1580083366. http://books.google.com/books?id=N3EJorOxXtsC&pg=PA48&dq=heat+microorganisms#v=onepage&q=heat%20microorganisms&f=false. 
6. ^ W4E: Misozuke Recipe (Japanese miso pickle) | Japan
7. ^ "Vitamin B12". The Vegetarian Society. The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom Limited. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080822090753/http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html. Retrieved December 28, 2010. 
8. ^ "Miso Medicine: Health Giving Properties Of Miso". Clearspring. Clearspring Ltd.. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060524132713/http://www.clearspring.co.uk/pages/site/products/miso/info3.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2010. 
9. ^ Complementary and Alternative Medicine Index (CAM)
10. ^ Luft FC, Rankin LI, Block R et al. Cardiovascular and humoral responses to extremes of sodium intake in normal black and white men. Circulation 1979; 60: 697–706.
11. ^ Miller JZ, Weinberger MH, Daugherty SA et al. Heterogeneity of blood pressure responses to dietary sodium restriction in normotensive adults. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 1987; 40: 245–250.
12. ^ Luft FC, McCarron DA. Heterogeneity of hypertension: the diverse role of electrolyte intake. Annual Reviews of Medicine, 1991; 42: 347–355.

References

• Farnworth, Edward R. (2003). Handbook of Fermented Functional Foods. CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-1372-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=0pHBOjhq_P4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
• Shurtleff, William; Aoyagi, Akiko (2001). The book of miso: savory, high-protein seasoning. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 1-58008-336-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=N3EJorOxXtsC&pg=frontpage#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
• Katz, Sandor Ellix (2003). Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods. Chelsea Green Publishing Company. ISBN 1-931498-23-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=qCMmXAp237cC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 

External links

• Miso Online Japan Miso Promotion Board
• History of Miso, Soybean Jiang (China), Jang (Korea) and Tauco / Taotjo (Indonesia) (200 B.C. to 2009) A detailed history of miso worldwide (1,378 pages, 4,362 references) is available online.