Asian-inspired Tastes

By Author: John Smith
Total Articles: 16
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We live in a modern world where cultures, much more than in the past, influence one another for the good of all. One area where we experience this every day refers to food, and cuisine from all over the world. It’s as if there is a much greater fusion in enjoying what all parties bring to the table, so to speak. Take, for example, miso paste, that fermented paste made from soybean and often used in Japanese and other Eastern dishes.

Because people visit other countries much more regularly and try foods that in the past may have been unknown to them and strange on their palate, it is much easier to get exposed to and used to new tastes. Miso paste is created by fermenting salt, grains such as rice or barley, a fungus known as koji and salt beans to create this savoury paste. This paste is used in many dishes, and also as a soup on its own. A lot depends on what one is willing to try and how adventurous you are.
There are certain basic tastes that we all know and which we have been exposed to all our lives, such as sweet, sour, bitter and salty tastes. In the early 20th century Japanese research uncovered yet ...
... another taste and called it ‘umami’, which means savoury. This taste, therefore, is now one of the five recognised tastes that we come into contact with all the time. So, umami refers to a specific, savoury taste.

Miso paste has certain recognizable levels of umami contained in it, which gives it its specific nature and taste. Even though miso originated in Japan, it has become equally popular in many kitchens in Europe, the US and the West generally, and it is not only used as soup (everybody has heard of miso soup) but also to be added to noodles, vegetables, meats and even desserts. Some add it to pasta such as, say, a carbonara. It is a taste that transcends cultural borders and is becoming known all over.
There are different types of miso, and depending on how long it is fermented, you may find white (also known as Shiro miso) and red/brown miso. The darker miso is normally the variety with a stronger, saltier taste, bringing umami out more than does Shiro miso. The Shiro miso (white miso) is generally speaking milder and not as salty and/or savoury.

For those that have not tasted miso before: it has a texture that resembles that of peanut butter and is added to make foods taste saltier – more umami. Miso paste can be used in a great variety of dishes, right from adding to, say, garlic bread and even scrambled eggs, pumpkin and other soups, to lemon ramen broths and a variety of vegetables that you want to add some special flavour to.

It is easy to store miso paste in your fridge. Just add a piece of baking paper to your opened miso and it gives you an extended shelf life. It is an easy paste to use in addition to those that you have known for so many years and which you have added to all your favourite foods.

By adding this paste to meals, regardless of how strong or mild you prefer, you open yourself up to a whole new experience. Some people do not mind where they buy their miso paste, as long as it is the product they are after. To others, again, it matters that they use only organically grown and harvested miso. This means everybody is offered the choice that they prefer, regardless of whether it is organic – or not.

About Us

At King Soba, we are a family-owned and operated business that ships our organically grown noodle products which we guarantee meet the demands of sustainable agricultural processes to ensure our customers are offered healthy, organically grown whole foods to support good health and general wellbeing. We are UK-based and aim our products and services at vegetarians, vegans, those with gluten intolerance and individuals and families looking for an alternative to less healthy options. We ship all over the country and are happy, too, to consult with retailers, distributors and other services that are interested in our range. We are compliant with all USDA/NOP, COR and EU standards For more about our company please visit https://kingsoba.co.uk.