If you can’t have any ingredients, use alternatives! That’s how I have been inventing new food. When I tried to make ‘Shiso’ flavoured miso paste and couldn’t find it, I used fresh Basil leaves. Thinking of ‘Pesto Genovese’, I used Pine Nuts instead of Walnuts. OMG!!! Miso, Basil and Pine Nuts created a new flavour. What would you use this paste for?


Ingredients

1/4 to 1/3 cup Toasted Pine Nuts
*Note: Walnuts and Almonds are also good.
2 tablespoons Miso *dark colour type recommended
1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons Mirin
Handful of Fresh Basil Leaves *finely chopped

Method
  1. Using a sauce pan or toaster oven, toast Pine Nuts until aromatic and golden brown. Allow them cool, then coarsely crush using Suribachi or mortar & pestle. Alternatively you can place toast Pine Nuts in a plastic bag and crush them using a rolling pin.
  2. Add other ingredients and mix well. The amount of Basil Leaves is up to your preference. You can add as much as you want.