While thinking about the process of fermentation might make your stomach churn a little bit, all of those pickled burger toppings, kombucha, and sauerkraut on your brat are actually good for you. The fermentation process involves millions of types of bacteria that, due to research, have been found to be beneficial to your health.
What is miso?
Miso is a traditional Asian condiment that is made by grinding soy beans (or other beans), adding salt, and letting that mixture sit and ferment. This not only gives you a lot of the benefits of eating soy, such as the amount of protein in soybeans, but also gives you all of the probiotics that you get from the fermentation process.
Why you should be eating it:
A quarter of a cup of miso paste contains 8 grams of protein, which is almost twice as much as your average Kind bar. Probiotics are known to help with digestion, protection for your immune system, and other good stuff. And not only is miso good for you, but it’s tangy and its unique taste adds an Asian side to your dishes and a totally new and delicious flavour.
While you may not be protected from allergies forever or never have to eat protein again by eating a lot of miso soup, there are dozens of other less boring ways to use that huge white tub other than soup.
Nobu’s Black Miso Cod
Photo by Amanda Wahlstedt
The two best things about this? It’s only $8 to make, and it was created by one of our very own Spoon writers.
Warm Apple Cobbler with Miso Streusel Topping
Photo by bonappetit.com
Don’t knock it ’till you try it.
Miso Ginger Chicken
Photo by Elizabeth Baxter
What better way to use the two best condiments around to make a (usually boring) protein-filled dish special?
5-Minute Citrus-Miso Salad Dressing
Photo by Helena Lin
This salad dressing not only goes great with dark greens, or sauteed veggies, but it saves you cash and calories since you’re making it yourself.
Miso Glazed Chickpeas
Photo by theskinnyfork.com
The perfect healthy on-the-go snack for class or while studying at the library.
