It’s been several years since Shio Koji (塩麹, 塩糀) experienced a huge resurgence in popularity as a versatile seasoning in Japan. This page is about shio koji, its benefits in cooking, and how to make it at home.
What is Shio Koji?
Shio koji (塩麹, 塩糀) is a natural seasoning used to marinate, tenderize, and enhance the umami, or richness (one of the five basic tastes) in foods. It’s made of just a few simple ingredients: salt, water, and rice koji. Rice koji (米こうじ, 米糀, 米麹) is steamed rice that has been treated with koji mold spores (Aspergillus oryzae, koji-kin 麹菌, or koji starter). Koji is a specific strain of mold that has been cultured over the centuries. You may feel hesitant to eat it and wonder why we make rice moldy on purpose. But you have most likely eaten it already! Koji has been the key ingredient to make miso, soy sauce, sake, mirin, rice vinegar, amazake, shochu, and shio koji. It’s a live food that is rich in enzymes that break down starches and proteins in food into sugars and amino acids. You can use shio koji to marinate meats, make pickles, flavor your vegetables or use it as a salt substitute. In a recipe that calls for one teaspoon of salt, you can substitute with 2 teaspoons of shio-koji. Shio-koji is really versatile and can be used in any kind of cooking (See Shio Koji recipes)!
Benefits of Shio Koji:
Because it is a fermented ingredient, shio koji is known for its many health benefits, which includes (source):
A natural pro-biotic seasoning Tenderizes food Brings out the umami and sweetness in foods Reduces the intake of salt Aids for digestion Clear the skin Anti-aging Contains minerals, fiber, and vitamins
How to Make Shio Koji at Home
Yes, you can make shio koji at home as it only involves a few ingredients. You can check out my quick video that demonstrates the process. For a step-by-step recipe, read on in the recipe section below. I hope you have fun making Shio Koji at home and discover more ways in flavoring your dishes with this amazing ingredient!
Watch How to Make Shio Koji
Video tutorial on how to make shio koji, a traditional Japanese ingredient, at home.
Recipes with Shio Koji:
Grilled Mackerel with Shio Koji Simmered Kabocha with Shio Koji
Where Can We Find Rice Koji? Rice koji can be found in Japanese grocery stores or online. I found the following Japanese brand in a Japanese grocery store.
Resources To read more about koji, please read here, here, here (Japanese), and here (Japanese). Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
