How Much Miso to Substitute for Fish Sauce
Works for sauteing, slow cook, and steaming. Miso keeps a similar flavor profile to Fish Sauce.
How much miso equals one Fish Sauce?
Use 1 tbsp miso thinned with a little water per 1 tbsp fish sauce.
Health notes
Compared with Fish Sauce, Miso has: more calories (198 vs 35 per 100g in Fish Sauce), more fat (6g vs 0g per 100g in Fish Sauce), more saturated fat (1g vs 0g per 100g in Fish Sauce), more protein (12.8g vs 5.1g per 100g in Fish Sauce), and more carbs (25.4g vs 3.6g per 100g in Fish Sauce).
Using miso as a fish sauce substitute in pan-frying
Stir in 1 tbsp miso per 1 tbsp fish sauce near the end so the paste doesn't scorch or turn bitter.
Other cooking methods
- Slow Cook
Add 1 tbsp miso per 1 tbsp fish sauce in the last 20 minutes to keep its aroma from flattening.
- Steaming
Mix 1 tbsp miso with a little broth per 1 tbsp fish sauce, then stir through after steaming.
- Raw Cold
Whisk 1 tbsp miso into dressings and dips per 1 tbsp fish sauce until fully smooth.
- Drinks
Dissolve 1 tbsp miso fully in warm liquid per 1 tbsp fish sauce before mixing into broths or cocktails.
- Baking
Whisk 1 tbsp miso thinned with a splash of water per 1 tbsp fish sauce into batters or glazes. Skip recipes needing a thin liquid.
Methods to avoid (2)
- Frying
Not recommended: miso burns and turns bitter in hot oil instead of blending in.
- Grilling
Not recommended: miso scorches on direct heat before the paste can dissolve into the dish.
FAQ
- How much miso equals one Fish Sauce?
Use 1 tbsp miso thinned with a little water per 1 tbsp fish sauce.
- Can I substitute miso for Fish Sauce in pan-frying?
Yes. Stir in 1 tbsp miso per 1 tbsp fish sauce near the end so the paste doesn't scorch or turn bitter. Not recommended: miso burns and turns bitter in hot oil instead of blending in.
- How much miso to use as a fish sauce substitute?
Rounder, earthier umami with less sharp funk; add a squeeze of lime to bring back the tang.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
Miso keeps a similar flavor profile to fish sauce.
- How does texture change when substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
Miso adds body and slight graininess instead of a thin, pourable liquid; sauces turn cloudier and thicker.
- What else should I know about substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
For soups, braises, marinades, and dressings. Expect a thicker, cloudier liquid with rounder, earthier umami instead of sharp funk. Skip frying and grilling, where the paste scorches and turns bitter before it dissolves. Stir it in near the end of cooking to protect its aroma. Add lime or a splash of vinegar to bring back the missing tang.
- What still works when substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
Miso still works as a flavor carrier and preservative.
- What won't work when substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
Miso won't work as a acid.
- How well does Miso match Fish Sauce?
Miso is okay on structure, stretch on heat, and okay on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
Miso has about x6 more calories, x601 more fat, x342 more sat. fat, and x3 more protein.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Miso for Fish Sauce?
The flavor shifts toward more bitter and less pungent notes.