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    The Heirloom Pantry » Dressings and Sauces

    Miso Garlic Butter Paste

    Published: May 13, 2023 · Modified: Oct 8, 2023 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain paid links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    Miso garlic butter paste for pasta, steak, chicken, fish, veggies, and more Pinterest pin.

    Miso Garlic Butter Paste is an umami-packed compound butter rich with roasted garlic, fragrant herbs, and savory miso. In just a few simple steps, enhance your favorite dishes, like meat, pasta, veggies, garlic bread, and more!

    Miso herbed roasted garlic butter paste for pasta, steak, veggies, garlic bread, fish, chicken, and more.

    We love to keep some of this miso butter on hand to add a rich distinct flavor to dinners like steak, chicken, pasta and noodles, fish, and mashed potatoes. We also love to spread the butter on bread to make a unique garlic bread appetizer. The best part? It is incredibly easy to make and adds big flavor to the simplest of dishes.

    Make a log for everyday cooking, or to wow your guests at your next dinner. It makes a fantastic host gift along with a fresh loaf of bread.

    Jump to:
    • About Miso Garlic Butter Paste
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Instructions
    • What to Serve with Miso Garlic Butter
    • Storage
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Top Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Did You Like This Recipe?
    • Miso Garlic Butter Paste

    About Miso Garlic Butter Paste

    • Taste - The combination of ingredients create a rich umami flavored butter. It's both sweet and savory and will add depth to any dish.
    • Texture - The butter is thick and creamy yet light.
    • Effort - You just need to roast the garlic, mix the ingredients together, then roll it into a log.
    • Time - It takes about 45 minutes to roast the garlic then a few minutes to mix the ingredients and form them into a log.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make miso garlic butter paste, butter, fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, white miso, and black pepper.
    • Garlic - Roasted garlic provides the classic flavor that doesn't overpower the miso and other ingredients.
    • White miso paste - White miso paste gives the paste a savory and lightly sweet flavor. We like Hikari miso paste because it is high-quality yet affordable.
    • Olive oil - Olive oil is a rich fat to cook the garlic bulbs in.
    • Unsalted butter - Salted butter is the rich base of the garlic butter.
    • Freshly ground black pepper - Black pepper adds a little spice.
    • Green onions - Green onions add a mild oniony flavor.
    • Fresh herbs - Add fresh herbs like Italian flat leaf parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, and chives for extra pizzazz.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Red miso - Use red miso instead of white miso for a stronger miso flavor.
    • Spicy - Add togarashi or red chili flakes to make the butter spicy.
    • No garlic - Omit the garlic for a more pure miso butter.
    • Dried herbs - Use dried herbs if you don't have fresh herbs.
    • Unsalted butter - You can also use unsalted butter for this recipe if you want to better control the level of salt.

    Instructions

    Steps to make miso garlic butter paste, cut garlic, place in foil, and drizzle with olive oil, then roast.

    Roasted Garlic

    • Prepare oven - Heat oven to 400°F. Tear off a square of aluminum foil that is large enough to wrap a whole bulb of garlic.
    • Remove paper - Remove the paper on the outside of the garlic bulb to reveal the individually-wrapped cloves. (Photo 1)
    • Cut garlic - Slice off about a quarter inch off of the top of the garlic bulb so the raw cloves are exposed. (Photo 2 and 3)
    • Wrap garlic - Then place the garlic cut side up on the aluminum foil and drizzle the cloves with olive oil. Wrap the garlic tightly in the aluminum foil. (Photo 4)
    Steps to make miso garlic butter paste, remove roasted garlic from foil, squeeze out softened garlic, add herbs, roasted garlic, and miso to butter, then mash.
    • Roast - Place the aluminum foil-wrapped garlic on a baking sheet and place it on the middle rack in the oven. Then roast for 40-45 minutes. (Photo 5)
    • Remove roasted garlic - Allow the garlic to cool then use a small fork, chopsticks, or your hands to remove the cloves. To use your hands, pinch the bottom of the bulb with your fingers and squeeze in an upward motion to push out the garlic. (Photo 6)

    Miso Garlic Butter

    • Mix ingredients - Add the butter, roasted garlic, and white miso to a bowl. Fold in freshly cracked pepper and finely chopped green onions and fresh herbs, if desired. Use a fork to mash the ingredients together until smooth. Alternatively, use a mixer with a paddle or a food processor until smooth. (Photo 7 and 8)
    Steps to make miso garlic butter paste, add butter to parchment paper, roll into a log, and serve.
    • Roll butter - Transfer butter to a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper. Then form the butter into a log, wrap tightly, and twist the ends. (Photo 9, 10, and 11)
    • Chill and serve - Refrigerate until chilled, then use to serve or cook with. (Photo 12)

    Pro tip - Be sure to use room temperature butter so it will mash easily and blend well with the other ingredients.

    What to Serve with Miso Garlic Butter

    This miso herb butter perfectly compliments so many different dishes! We love it with a protein like steak, fish, or chicken. But we also love it to make a uniquely flavored pasta or garlic bread. Finally, you can toss it with veggies like Brussel sprouts, asparagus, corn on the cob, and carrots.

    Storage

    Refrigerate this miso compound butter in parchment, wax paper, or in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze miso butter in a freezer safe air tight container for up to 2 months.

    Recipe FAQs

    Is miso sauce the same as miso butter?

    No, miso butter is a type of condiment consisting of butter, miso paste, and other seasoning. On the other hand, miso sauce consists of miso paste, sugar, sake, and mirin and is often used as a glaze or marinade.

    What type of miso paste should I use for miso butter?

    You can use either red or white miso paste, but we prefer white because it has a milder and lighter flavor.

    Is miso butter vegan?

    No, miso butter is not vegan because butter contains dairy. However, it can be made vegan by using a non-dairy butter substitute.

    Is miso butter gluten-free?

    Yes, the only ingredient that may contain gluten is miso paste. It is important to check the miso paste label to ensure it does not contain any gluten.

    Is miso butter healthy?

    While we wouldn't consider this butter healthy due to the saturated fat in the butter, the miso is packed with probiotics and healthy vitamins and minerals.

    Close-up shot of miso garlic butter paste rolled in fresh herbs for pasta, veggies, fish, chicken, shrimp, steak, and more.

    Top Tips

    • Make the garlic butter the night before you want to use it to streamline your recipes.
    • If rolling into a log, use a large enough sheet of parchment paper to make forming the log easier.
    • Roll the log in fresh herbs for a festive, decorative accent.

    Related Recipes

    • Creamy miso sauce (glaze and marinade) in a bowl with a spoon, for vegetables, fish, chicken, and more.
      Miso Sauce (Glaze and Marinade)
    • Pumpkin scones (better than Starbucks!) with maple vanilla paste glaze on parchment paper with decorative white pumpkins and cinnamon sticks.
      Buttery Pumpkin Scones with Miso Glaze
    • Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso sliced on plate with butter and honey.
      Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso
    • Roasted garlic herb butter with lemon zest and pressed herbs rolled into a log with parchment paper and used for steak, chicken, veggies, and more.
      Garlic Herb Butter (For Steak, Veggies, and More)

    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love this miso butter recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below & consider leaving a comment below. Thanks!

    Sign up for THP's newsletter and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, tag #theheirloompantry so we can see your homemade miso butter!

    Miso herbed roasted garlic butter paste for pasta, steak, veggies, garlic bread, fish, chicken, and more.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Miso Garlic Butter Paste

    Miso Garlic Butter Paste is an umami-packed compound butter rich with roasted garlic, fragrant herbs, and savory miso. In just a few simple steps, enhance your favorite dishes, like meat, pasta, veggies, garlic bread, and more!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 111kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Ingredients 

    • 1 garlic bulb
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • ½ cup high-quality salted butter room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon white miso
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • green onions optional
    • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs of choice chopped (Italian flat leaf parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, chives)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Roasted Garlic

    • Prepare oven - Heat oven to 400°F. Tear off a square of aluminum foil that is large enough to wrap a whole bulb of garlic.
    • Prepare garlic - Remove the paper on the outside of the garlic bulb to reveal the individually-wrapped cloves. Slice off about a quarter inch off the top of the garlic bulb so the raw cloves are exposed. Place the garlic cut side up on the aluminum foil and drizzle the cloves with olive oil. Wrap the garlic tightly in the aluminum foil.
      1 garlic bulb, 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • Roast - Place the aluminum foil-wrapped garlic on a baking sheet and place it on the middle rack in the oven. Roast for 40-45 minutes.
    • Remove roasted garlic - Allow the garlic to cool then use a small fork, chopsticks, or your hands to remove the cloves. To use your hands, pinch the bottom of the bulb with your fingers and squeeze in an upward motion to push out the garlic.

    Miso Garlic Butter

    • Mix ingredients - Add the butter, roasted garlic, and white miso to a bowl. Fold in freshly cracked pepper and finely chopped green onions and fresh herbs, if desired. Use a fork to mash the ingredients together until smooth. Alternatively, use a mixer with a paddle or a food processor until smooth.
      1 garlic bulb, ½ cup high-quality salted butter, 1 tablespoon white miso, freshly ground black pepper, green onions, 1 tablespoon fresh herbs of choice
    • Roll butter - Transfer butter to a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper. Form the butter into a log, wrap tightly, and twist the ends. Refrigerate until chilled, then use to serve or cook with.

    Video

    Notes

    Top Tips
    • Use room temperature butter so it will mash easily and blend well with the other ingredients.
    • Make the miso butter the night before you want to use it to streamline your recipes.
    • If rolling into a log, use a large sheet of parchment paper to make forming the log easier.
    • Roll the log in fresh herbs for a festive, decorative accent.
    Storage
    • Refrigerate this miso butter in parchment, wax paper, or in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze miso butter in a freezer safe air tight container for up to 2 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 356IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Keyword: miso butter, miso butter recipe, miso butter sauce, miso paste, recipe for miso butter
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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    Alec and Kat with Paisley and Peeps on the beach

    Welcome! We're Kat and Alec, the recipe developers, food photographers, and food writers behind The Heirloom Pantry. Here you'll find approachable elevated recipes and tips for weeknights and entertaining.

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