How to Use Miso in Sauces for Wagyu Dishes

Wagyu beef makes for an upscale meal all on its own. Sometimes, it is enjoyable to experiment with unique flavor combinations to enhance the natural flavor of premium A5 Wagyu. One of the best ingredients to use with Wagyu is miso. With its unique and complex flavors, it serves as a delightful complement to the buttery richness of Wagyu beef. Learn more about why these flavors work so well together and get recipes for using miso in sauces for a Wagyu dish.

Wagyu Meets Miso

The delectable quality of Wagyu makes it a highly sought-after ingredient in fine dining. The tender juiciness is unmatched, and the exquisite, even marbling results in a wonderfully rich flavor that permeates every bite. The taste of Wagyu is distinctive and can be enhanced with a select few ingredients - one of which being miso.

Miso is a thick paste made from fermented soybeans. It's commonly used in Asian cooking, which makes it a natural complement to Japanese Wagyu. The flavor of miso is complex, having salty, sweet and savory notes all at once.

Combining miso with Wagyu adds more complexity to the dish. It creates an earthy and savory effect while still highlighting the rich, authentic flavor of the beef.

Miso Sauce Recipes for Wagyu Beef

Ready to elevate your Wagyu experience with miso? Sear your preferred Wagyu steak and top it with a generous drizzle of one of these sauces.

Classic garlic miso sauce

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup miso paste
  • 3 tsp sesame oil
  • 4 tbsp lemongrass paste
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 lime, zested and juiced

Directions:

  1. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
  2. Test the sauce and add salt and/or pepper to taste.

Fig miso sauce

Ingredients:

  • 6 large fresh black Mission figs
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, divided
  • 1/4 cup leeks, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp sake
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 1/2 cup miso paste
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Combine figs with 1 tbsp of oil and 1/4 tsp of salt. Place the figs on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
  2. Add the remaining oil to a saucepan on medium heat. Add the leeks and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add sake and miring to the pan and cook until reduced by half (2-3 minutes).
  4. Reduce heat to low and stir in miso. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
  5. Break the figs apart and remove the stems. Add figs, miso mixture and balsamic to a food processor and blend until smooth.