4.9 from 258 votes
All-Purpose Miso Meat Sauce (Niku Miso)
This easy Miso Meat Sauce (Niku Miso) is a tasty, savory-sweet side dish of ground meat seasoned with fermented soybean paste, mirin, and aromatics. Try it on steamed rice and noodles or in a lettuce wrap. As a bonus, it‘s meal-prep friendly! {vegan/vegetarian adaptable}
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 (as
Calories: 368 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- 1 knob ginger (1 inch, 2.5 cm)
- ½ Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) (you can use 2 green onions/scallions)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- ¾ lb ground pork (or use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey; for vegan/vegetarian, use cubed firm tofu)
- 4 Tbsp miso
- 2 Tbsp sugar
For the Seasonings
- 3 Tbsp mirin
- 3 Tbsp sake
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 tsp potato starch or cornstarch
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Grate 1 knob ginger. Chop ½ Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) into small rounds.
- In a bowl, combine the seasonings: 3 Tbsp mirin, 3 Tbsp sake, and 1 Tbsp soy sauce.
- Add 2 Tbsp water and 2 tsp potato starch or cornstarch. Mix it all together until everything is well combined.
Cup of Yum
To Cook the Niku Miso
- Heat a saucepan or frying pan over medium heat. When it’s hot, add 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil and the chopped negi. Coat the negi with the oil until fragrant.
- Add ¾ lb ground pork and break up the meat with a spatula.
- Add the grated ginger and cook the meat until no longer pink.
- Add 4 Tbsp miso and 2 Tbsp sugar. Combine well.
- Add the seasonings and cook on medium-low heat.
- When the cooking liquid is reduced to your liking, turn off the heat. You can leave more or less sauce depending on how you want to use the Niku Miso. Transfer to a bowl or container. Serve hot along with steamed rice, noodles, or lettuce cups (see the post for ideas).
To Store
- You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat only the portion you will serve. You can also freeze it up to 3–4 weeks.
Nutrition Information
Calories
368kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
15g
(5%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
23g
(35%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Cholesterol
61mg
(20%)
Sodium
924mg
(39%)
Potassium
339mg
(10%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
11g
(22%)
Vitamin A
81IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
29mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4(as
Amount Per Serving
Calories 368
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 368kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 23g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 61mg | 20% |
| Sodium | 924mg | 39% |
| Potassium | 339mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 81IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 29mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.