Cooking Techniques & Preparation

How To Use Umami Paste

Alice T Breeze
By Alice T Breeze. Updated: February 25, 2021
How To Use Umami Paste

The craze of Umami Paste is arriving, but though you're well aware that it can be absolutely delicious and enhance your dishes amazingly, you may be asking yourself how to use it, especially as there are several varieties of Umami Paste on the market. Don't exactly know what it is? Umami is known as the fifth basic taste found in several foods that have a component rich in Glutamate in common, which gives dishes a flavor that can be described as a rich and tangy flavor that will boost your dishes. In fact, this delicious paste will turn your meals into five star cuisine. This is why at OneHowTo we'd like to show you how to use Umami paste properly.

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Steps to follow:
1

To know how to use Umami paste properly we should firstly ask ourselves what Umami is. As we've mentioned before, Umami is the fifth sense that is found in our mouths as well as sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness and was described by the Japanese as a pleasant or delicious taste that can be narrowed down to ingredients that have high amounts of Glutamate and several other specific components. This is why the characteristic Umami taste can be found in a variety of foods, especially in fermented foods, such as the following:

  • Anchovies
  • Fermented cheeses (Parmesan, Emmental, Cabrales...)
  • Soy sauce
  • Miso
  • Kombucha
  • Tomato
  • Cured ham
  • Fermented cabbage
  • Spinach
  • Shiitake mushrooms
How To Use Umami Paste - Step 1
2

Umami paste as a condiment. Umami paste is great on a burger, burschettas, paninis and sandwiches. Just spread a teaspoonful on the bread of your choice and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook if necessary and taste the difference! A great way of adding Umami paste is to mix a teaspoonful of the paste in your regular ketchup. Mix well and voilà!

This is also a great option to add some extra flavour to canapés too!

How To Use Umami Paste - Step 2
3

Umami paste in sauces. This versatile paste is also a great addition to many pasta sauces such as bolognese, mushroom sauce or Neapolitan pizza sauce.

Umami paste will also taste if added to several sauces for meat such as barbecue sauce, port sauce or red wine sauce.

If you want to cook your own Umami sauce from scratch with the paste, we advise you to mix a teaspoonful with white wine or stock and heat the mixture in a pan for a light and tasty sauce.

How To Use Umami Paste - Step 3
4

Umami paste as garnish. If you feel that something is missing with a boring plate of meat, tofu or grilled vegetables, then add half a teaspoon of Umami paste to it and boost its flavor to make the dish more exciting and appetizing.

Umami paste is also great to add to several soups, risottos and purees. While cooking, add half a teaspoon and stir well until it has melted with the rest of the ingredients.

How To Use Umami Paste - Step 4
5

If you are vegetarian or vegan, then check the ingredients of the paste as many contain anchovies and/or Parmesan cheese. Read the labels carefully and make sure you purchase one that is suitable for vegans or be adventurous and make your own Umami paste!

However, at OneHowTo we'd like to give you the opportunity of cooking your own Umami paste at home. Take a look at how to make Umami paste here!

If you want to read similar articles to How To Use Umami Paste, we recommend you visit our Food & drink category.

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How To Use Umami Paste