Japanese Recipes, Sushi and what's the heck is Miso?

I am a huge Japanese cuisine fan and have always been fascinated at their skill and discipline on how they make their dishes. One thing that amazes me a lot is their Miso soup. If you don’t know what this is, it is the typical free soup that is being served when you order a Japanese meal. I was really fascinated by it and wanted to learn more about it so I asked my Japanese friend for its history.

The Japanese has long been making and using miso for their dishes. In fact, they have been using it for more than a thousand years already. This is because the Japanese believes that miso has gastronomic and therapeutic values.

In some cases, miso is even being called as the “wine of the Orient.” This is due to the fact that there is a much needed care and patience when making miso as compared to the finest beers and wines throughout the world. Miso is a fermented liquid which contains an art and science that only a few are capable of mastering.

Since I mentioned that miso is a fermented liquid, it is actually a slow fermented soybean paste which is an indispensable ingredient in most foods found in Japanese cuisine. The exotic taste of Japanese dishes is because of their usage of miso as important ingredient to many of their recipes. As a result, a combination of flavors like malty, rich, savory, and salty tastes.

A typical day in Japan is one where people start off eating miso. This is because the soup contains alkaloids that are able to attract heavy metals and remove them from the body. Miso has also been learned to neutralize the effects of environmental pollutants and even smoking. As scientists have discovered, the soup also has the capability to lower cholesterol, aid digestion, and prevent heart disease. This is most truthful when miso is unpasteurized.

The Nara era of Japan was when miso was most controversial. This was because the soup was reserved for the court and the aristocrats. During those days, wealth bought health. And this is why miso was only available to those who can afford it.

It was the 1500s when miso was served to the public and was even recognized as an ideal military palate. Miso was then thought of as a significant survival food. Aside from the fact that it is highly nutritious, miso is also easy to prepare and transport. This is why it was recommended for the military. In addition, miso contains salt, which is important for survival during hot climes. Personally I like the seafood variation with mussels best.