Miso Favourites

Miso paste is the jar that turns hot water into soup and marinades into something special, and this collection brings together miso pastes from Hikari and other Japanese makers.

White (shiro) miso is the mild, slightly sweet all-rounder — the one for everyday miso soup, dressings and delicate fish. Red (aka) miso ferments longer, turning deeper, saltier and more robust: the right choice for hearty soups, braises and glazes that need to stand up to strong flavours. Blending the two is what many Japanese home cooks actually do. The dashi-flavoured versions have the stock built in, which means good soup with nothing but a kettle.

Beyond soup, miso paste earns its fridge space weekly: whisked into salad dressing, rubbed on aubergine for nasu dengaku, stirred into butter for corn or noodles, or as the base of a proper miso ramen.

Everything is sent from our Manchester store, with free UK delivery on orders over £75. If you are buying one jar, make it white miso with dashi — the easiest route to soup at home.