Whenever I set out to do my meal prep for the week, I try to make one or two homemade sauces and dressings to keep around in the refrigerator. They are so handy for everyday and emergency meals! And this Negi Miso (ねぎ味噌) or Leek and Miso Sauce is one of my favorite ones to make. I use the sauce as a marinade, dipping sauce, seasoning, or anything that is in need of a flavor boost. With only a few ingredients, you could easily it together in a flash and store for later use.
All-Purpose Negi Miso (Leek & Miso Sauce)
Negi Miso (ねぎ味噌) is a miso-based sweet and savory sauce that contains Negi, Japanese long green onion. It’s kind of similar to a pesto sauce for western cuisine that you would use for a sandwich, pasta, chicken, etc. With a bright herby flavor, negi miso is just as flexible as the beloved pesto!
Negi – Long Green Onions
Negi (ねぎ, ネギ, 葱) in Japanese means long green onions. They belong to the same allium species as scallions (or green onions) but are longer and thicker in size and do not form a bulb at the bottom. It’s somewhere in between leeks and scallions in thickness, texture, and taste. It is the key ingredient that characterizes the sauce. There are several variations of negi depending on regions. In Kanto regions, including Tokyo, Shiro Negi (白ねぎ, white negi) is often preferred. The white part is longer than the green part, and the white and sweet part of Shiro Negi is used for Yakitori and Nabe (hot pot dishes) such as Sukiyaki. In Kansai regions including Osaka and Kyoto, Ao Negi (青ねぎ, green negi) is used mostly for garnish/flavoring and stir fry. Different negi may have a different flavor profile. Some are more pungent and slightly bitter than the other. You can soak these Japanese long onions in cold water to mellow the flavor if needed.
Naga Negi (長ねぎ) or Shiro Negi (白ねぎ) from Kanto regionKujo Negi (九条ねぎ) from KyotoHakata Banno Negi (博多万能ねぎ) from Kyushu regionAsatsuki (あさつき)Wakegi (わけぎ) from west of Japan
Substitutions: If you can’t find negi in a Japanese or Korean grocery store, you can definitely use scallions/green onions or leeks or both (for texture & flavor).
Miso – Japanese Fermented Soybean Paste
Miso (味噌) is a soybean paste that’s an essential condiment in Japanese cooking. There are many different types of miso out there and you can read more on this ‘all about miso’ pantry page. You may want to know one thing – WHICH miso is the best? This slow-aged red koji miso is actually the #1 selling miso from Hikari Miso®. Made of organic soybeans and rice, it is free of additives and preservatives. In terms of taste, this miso has a rich and mature flavor with the full-bodied umami of soybeans and the sweetness of rice. Where can I buy Kodawattemasu by Hikari Miso®:
Japanese grocery stores (Nijiya, Mitsuwa, Marukai, local mom-pop shops, etc)Asian grocery stores (including Chinese/Korean grocery stores)
On a side note, “Kodawattemasu” (こだわってます) in Japanese means “I’m particular (about the quality of miso and the miso-making process).” It may be hard to memorize, so just remember the green label with No.1 on the package! Substitutions: There is no good substitution for miso. Please try your best to find miso at your local Japanese/Asian grocery store.
What Can I Use Negi Miso (Leek & Miso Sauce) for?
This sauce is an all-around sauce in my house. With a complexly sweet and salty flavor, it can really jazz up any bland dish, especially if you do a lot of Japanese or Asian cooking at home. Here are just some delicious examples:
Use as a stir fry sauce.Flavor onigiri as a filling or apply with sauce (See Yaki Onigiri recipe).Apply on tofu, eggplant, daikon, and konnyaku (See Dengaku recipe).Dip vegetable sticks (cucumbers, carrots, and daikon) in the sauce.Eat with steamed rice. Serve a teaspoon of Negi Miso sauce on the rice.Marinate meat and fish.Use as a seasoning (Shrimp Egg Rolls above – recipe coming soon).
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