Miso Beyond Soup: Miso Butter Pasta in 15 Minutes

Miso has long been a soup ingredient, but cooks around the world are now using it in sauces, dressings, and pasta. A spoonful adds savory depth, which is why it works so well with butter and garlic.

Ingredients for 2 servings

• 180 g spaghetti or linguine
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon white or yellow miso
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons pasta cooking water
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce (optional)
• Sliced green onion and toasted sesame seeds to serve

Steps

1. Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve half a cup of the cooking water before draining.
2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute until fragrant.
3. Lower the heat and stir in the miso with the pasta water until smooth.
4. Add the drained pasta and toss well. Add a splash more water if the sauce is too thick.
5. Serve with green onion and sesame seeds.

Tips

• White miso is milder and works well for a delicate sauce. Red miso is stronger.
• Do not boil miso, because high heat can dull its flavor.
• Those watching salt should reduce the soy sauce or skip it, since miso is already salty.

Once you try this sauce, you will find more uses for miso on roasted vegetables and in salad dressings.