miso

/ˈmɪsoʊ/

Other forms: misos

Miso is a salty, fermented paste that's used in Japanese food. Miso soup and rice is a very common daily meal in Japan.

The most common use for miso is in delicious, brothy soup, but it's also an ingredient in some kinds of ramen, pickles, and a sweet glaze for fish and vegetables. There are even Japanese desserts that call for miso. To make this versatile paste, soybeans are fermented with salt and other ingredients, sometimes including rice, seaweed, or fish. The root of miso is unknown, although it may derive from the Korean myècwú, a similar soybean-based sauce.

Definitions of miso

1. noun

   a thick paste made from fermented soybeans and barley or rice malt; used in Japanese cooking to make soups or sauces
   type of:

   paste, spread

   a tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers or used in preparing other dishes