What is it about miso?
OK, I know that Japanese people and a friend of mine who lived in Korea for a few years practically melt over a bowl of miso soup. Kinda like me with a plate of hominy or grits--soul food! And it is good! But I'm curious: right now we both have colds and I find myself craving miso and putting spoonfuls of it in everything I eat. It is just so comforting! What is this "feel better factor", and have any of you experienced it? I actually ate some on a spoon yesterday (don't recommend that, it gave me indigestion) and toyed with the idea of spreading it on toast. I use the rice miso, which is kind of a pale tan and rather salty.
DH, my darling little carnivore, is underwhelmed. But then he is so congested he can hardly taste anything.
Is there any nutrional element in miso that would satisfy a certain craving, or is it just the taste?
Some miso paste contains msg so it's worth reading the label.
This thread has now made me crave Miso soup!
In The Uncheese Cookbook, there is a recipe for All Season Blend. It is basically a dry mixture of nutritional yeast, garlic & onion granules & a variety of other spices. You put in in your processor to mix it up. I use this instead of plain nutritional yeast for a little more flavor.
Put a heaping teaspoon of All Season Blend in the bottom of a cup. Fill with boiling water; stir. Add a heaping teaspoon of miso; stir & drink. You have to stir throughout drinking as the miso settles to the bottom, but I love this drink! It is especially soothing if you have an upset stomach -- like after drinking too much the night before!!
Oh wait, none of us are doing that anymore, are we? ;)
I've been doing a bit of reading lately on the health benefits of miso. In fact, DH and I started our '30 day Miso Challenge' on 1 April. We're each drinking one mug of miso per day for 30 days to see if there is any improvement in overall health. I'm really interested to see if it helps my allergies. I've tried just about every herbal remedy to no avail; and really don't want to take an Rx. I'll keep you posted.
Just reading an old thread- wondering how the 30 day thing went for you. Did it help your allergies at all?
I realize this is an incredibly old thread, sorry about that but I had some miso questions. :)
I bought some miso and tried it for the first time tonight in some hot water. It was ok, kind of bland but I would drink it again. Now here is where I am confused...YabbitGirl, you were talking about how your miso was in a box. And on Wikipedia, miso looks like a powder. The miso I just used was thick and like a paste. Are there 2 different textures? Which is better for soup? Seems I had to stir and stir and stir to get the paste to dissolve in the hot water.
Also, the paste I used was very dark. Do the lighter varities have more flavor? ???
I realize this is an incredibly old thread, sorry about that but I had some miso questions. :)
I bought some miso and tried it for the first time tonight in some hot water. It was ok, kind of bland but I would drink it again. Now here is where I am confused...YabbitGirl, you were talking about how your miso was in a box. And on Wikipedia, miso looks like a powder. The miso I just used was thick and like a paste. Are there 2 different textures? Which is better for soup? Seems I had to stir and stir and stir to get the paste to dissolve in the hot water.
Also, the paste I used was very dark. Do the lighter varities have more flavor? ???
deuce0 - I'm glad you brought this up, it's getting cold and miso soup is perfect! I think you may have purchased the miso that comes in a short tub (like cream cheese), perhaps the red? I've never used red for soup, but I have mixed it with mirin, sugar, and toasted sesame seeds to spread on grilled or roasted veggies (eggplant, zucchini, etc.)
The only miso we get here comes in a plastic package, with or without tub (think yogurt pot but square) and it is dark reddish brown or pale tan. It's a thick paste, so thick you have to do a bit of mixing if you add it to something. It's kind of salty. I keep saying I'm going to try the dark one but I have sodium and water retention issues so I keep not doing it.
I've heard on here that there are places in the States you can get barley miso and other kinds. Here we only get the original. And I'm buying some more this afternoon! The last "tub" I bought turned out to be reusable and now they only sell it in a plastic "envelope"-type package but I can put it in the tub to keep it nice. A tupperware-type container would do as well.
Last week I stumbled across some miso soup in my cabinet that I got that the Asian market and have been eating a lot of it lately.
Theories are since it's a fermented food that might have probiotics it's healthy that way.
The Japanese grow up eating it in the morning, probably cold winter mornings and it just reminds them of mom and home, so it's a comfort food. (I don't know just guessing).
But I love it. The brands I buy come with a little packet of seasoning and seaweed. Throw in some seaweed for extra vitamins and minerals and it's a powerhouse food. :)
For a little more flavor I often add a little veg bullion as well. My favorite is better than chicken bullion that comes in a jar. For a large mug a usually use a teaspoon of miso and a spoon of bullion give or take. If I'm feeling really frisky I also add a sprinkle of Norri flakes.
Thanks, guys! Here is a pic of the kind I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Organic-Hacho-12-1-Ounce-Package/dp/B000KPUA7S/ref=pd_bbs_5/103-2750107-2210203?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1192110174&sr=8-5
It was in a bag but it was a paste. So you can buy a powder kind to?
Tanevab, I will try it tonight with the better than chicken bullion, I love that stuff!
Thanks, guys! Here is a pic of the kind I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Organic-Hacho-12-1-Ounce-Package/dp/B000KPUA7S/ref=pd_bbs_5/103-2750107-2210203?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1192110174&sr=8-5
It was in a bag but it was a paste. So you can buy a powder kind to?
Tanevab, I will try it tonight with the better than chicken bullion, I love that stuff!
I've never seen a powderd kind. maybe though. I like the paste. this is the one i use, it's raw too.
http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=551
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