If a recipe is asking for miso paste and you don't have any, don't fret because there's a great miso paste substitute out there for you! We'll run you through the best miso paste substitutes, including gluten free and soy free options too. We'll get that umami taste recreated for you in no time.
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🙋♀️ What is miso paste?
Miso paste is a popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine that adds a rich umami flavor to a variety of dishes, especially in Asian cuisine. It's made from fermented soybeans and sometimes grains like rice or barley. Miso paste is a Japanese ingredient that comes in different types, each with a unique flavor profile.
The three most common types are white (shiro miso), red (aka miso), and yellow (shinshu miso). White miso paste is the mildest and has a slightly sweet taste, while red miso paste is the strongest and saltiest. Yellow falls somewhere in between with a milder taste than red miso paste but stronger than white miso paste.
Miso paste is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of Asian dishes. It is commonly used in soups, marinades, and glazes, and can also be used as a condiment or spread.
Miso soup is a classic Japanese dish made with miso paste, dashi, and various other ingredients like tofu, scallions, and seaweed. Miso paste is also commonly used as a marinade for meats or fish, adding a delicious umami flavor to the dish. It can also be used to make glazes for vegetables, like this miso aubergine or as a spread on sandwiches and in curry pastes, like in this massaman curry.
Despite the popularity of miso paste, it may be tricky to find miso paste in some areas or it may not be suitable for some diets. However, most Asian grocery stores will carry miso paste.
Fortunately, there are several miso paste substitutes that can be used in its place.
In addition, brown miso or brown rice miso is sometimes referenced online, but the only brand selling this is Clearspring. And it's likely that this is a variation on red miso paste.
👩🍳 The best miso paste substitutes
Doenjang (soybean paste)
Doenjang is a Korean fermented soybean paste that is similar to miso paste. It has a rich, earthy flavor that is slightly milder than red miso paste but stronger than white miso paste. It also adds that fermented flavor that you get with miso paste. And offers the same consistency so it's a great alternative with a similar taste.
Doenjang is typically made with soybeans, but it can also contain other grains like rice or barley. It is a popular ingredient in Korean soups and stews and can also be used as a marinade or sauce.
The flavor and texture of doenjang is a pretty great match and is our favourite of all the miso substitutes. It's closer in flavor to yellow or red miso, but will do a good job at replacing white miso too.
1:1 – substitute 1 tablespoon of miso paste for 1 tablespoon of doenjang (soybean paste).
Yellow soybean paste (yellow bean sauce)
We're referring to the Thai soybean paste like the one pictured by Healthy Boy brand. We haven't tried Chinese yellow bean sauce – the ingredients are the same, but we wouldn't want to make an assumption and say that it can also be used without trying it first.
Yellow bean sauce is a thick, gloopy sauce with whole soybeans in it. Like miso paste, it's made from fermented soybeans and has that same salty and funky fermented taste and a kind of tangy flavor.
So, texture wise it's not the perfect match as it's more of a very thick sauce than a paste. Flavor-wise it's definitely in the right ballpark. It won't be a perfect miso paste substitute (nothing will though!), but it's a really great choice and we'd put it up there as one of the best substitutes for miso.
1:1 – substitute 1 tablespoon of miso paste for 1 tablespoon of yellow soybean paste.
Tahini Paste
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds that has a nutty flavor and creamy texture. It's a good substitute for miso paste. It's great for adding creaminess to dishes like tantan ramen, used in salad dressings or dipping sauce, or in the best ever hummus.
While it may not have the same umami flavor as miso paste, it does provide the creaminess and miso has a little nuttiness to it which tahini has too. That's where soy sauce, or tamari, comes in. We recommend mixing a little bit of tahini with some soy sauce as a miso paste substitute even though it's only a liquid and not a paste. It creates more of a complex flavor and adds a great creamy consistency - especially in dipping sauces!
1:1 – substitute 1 tablespoon of miso paste for 0.5 tablespoon of tahini + 0.5 tablespoon of soy sauce.
Soy sauce or tamari
Soy sauce is a common ingredient made from soybeans that can add a salty, umami flavor to dishes. There is both Chinese and Japanese soy sauce. Check out our article about light soy sauce substitutes in case you ever need them!
Tamari is a sauce that is like soy sauce, but unlike soy sauce, it's naturally gluten free, so it's a great option for celiacs or the gluten intolerant. Check out our article about tamari substitues - in case you ever need them!
Coconut aminos are another alternative that is both gluten free and soy free but is still like soy sauce.
While they may not have the same thickness or texture as miso paste, soy sauce, tamari and coconut aminos can all be used in similar ways, such as in marinades or dipping sauces.
We expect a lot of people will choose soy sauce as their miso paste substitute as it's a very common cupboard ingredient. Just know that it won't be the perfect miso paste substitute.
Tip: in addition, you can actually substitute miso paste (mixed with water) for soy sauce or tamari!
1:1 – substitute 1 tablespoon of miso paste for 0.5 tablespoon of tahini + 0.5 tablespoon of soy sauce.
Vegan fish sauce
Lots of people would recommend fish sauce as a substitute for miso paste, it's kind of like soy sauce. It has a salty, funky, savory flavor and is great for using in curries, stir fries and many other dishes in southeast Asian cuisine.
Fish sauce is made from fermented fish, so it's not something that we'd recommend. However, there are some amazing vegan fish sauce alternatives out there, which we'd strongly recommend!
Vegan fish sauce is perfect for adding that salty flavor to dishes and comes complete with a fishy flavor thanks to it being made with seaweed. It can be used in a very similar way to soy sauce, but it's much saltier so we always suggest halving the amount of vegan fish sauce that you use.
It won't add the creaminess that miso paste adds to dishes (as it's not a fermented bean paste) but it will provide some salty umami flavor.
1:1 – substitute 1 tablespoon of miso paste for 0.5 tablespoon of vegan fish sauce.
The best white miso substitute
If you're looking for a white miso paste substitute, we'd suggest either doenjang or the combination of tahini and soy sauce that we mention above. They have a smooth texture, thick consistency and savory notes similar to miso paste.
The doenjang will have a stronger flavor than white miso, but is still the closest match. Tahini + soy sauce is a good substitute too.
The best red miso substitute
As with white miso, we'd suggest that a good substitute for red miso paste is doenjang. It will have a slightly milder flavor than red miso but is still a very good miso substitute.
The best yellow miso substitute
You guessed it, we're going to throw doenjang out there as the best substitute for yellow miso too.
But in a close runner-up position, we can't discount yellow bean sauce from the competition, as the clue is in the name. It's the second best option and has a great savory taste.
🤨 Substitutes we wouldn't recommend
We're not going to go into much detail here, but there are a couple of substitutes that we wouldn't recommend:
Vegetable broth - there's nothing similar about vegetable broth (or vegetable stock) and miso paste. Not the taste, consistency, color or ingredients.
Anchovy paste - it does pack in a lot of salt and an umami rich flavor, but we personally think it's too salty and fishy (plus, we're out here writing vegan recipes, where there's no place for anchovy paste).
💭 FAQs
Yes, miso paste is vegan. Athough it's always a good idea to double check the packet in case anything unexpected has been added. It's made by fermenting soybeans with salt and a few other plant-based ingredients. It's used to add umami flavor to many dishes.
Miso paste is often gluten free, but not always. Sometimes grains are used which can lead to it containing gluten, so it's always best to check the packet. It's not a great substitute for miso paste.
🍛 Recipes using miso paste
If a recipe calls for miso paste, like these various dishes below, now you know the best substitute for miso paste to use in these recipes. So, even if you haven't got any in the cupboard, you can still make them!
🌟 Summary
In conclusion, miso paste is a versatile ingredient that can add a rich umami flavor to a variety of savory dishes (and sometimes sweet!), but there are quite a few substitutes that can be used in its place.
Doenjang (the best miso substitute, in our opinion), yellow bean sauce, tahini (made from sesame seeds), soy sauce and vegan fish sauce are all great options to consider. When using these substitutes, it's important to keep in mind that they may have a slightly different flavor profile to miso paste.
In addition, they may require some adjustments to achieve the desired flavor and consistency. However, with a little experimentation, you can find the perfect miso substitute for your favorite dishes.
So there you have it - we've listed all the best substitutes for miso. We hope this article helps you to see that there are lots of great substitutes for miso paste out there, and hopefully it's allowed you to cook a recipe you had your eye on!
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