How to Make Chickpea Miso - Full of Plants (2024)

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Learn how to make your own chickpea miso from scratch! It requires just 3 ingredients and a simple process to make this slightly sweet and salty Japanese condiment! Aged for 6 months, this miso has a rich and buttery flavor!

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Making miso is something I have been wanting to try for a long time, but I was always pushed back by the long aging time (6 months!). Well, I finally decided to take the plunge, and I’m sharing the process with you!

It’s not only easy but also requires very little preparation time. The rest is patience! Let’s do it!

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📔 What is Miso?

Miso (味噌) is a traditional Japanese condiment made from beans, rice, salt, and a mold that is fermented from a few months to a few years. It is used to add umami and flavor to soups like miso-shiru, but it can also be used in marinades, dressings, stews, ramen, and more.

The miso we are making here is prepared using chickpeas and aged for 6 months. It has a delicate and complex flavor with a good balance of sweetness and saltiness. It is not as intense as red miso and is much less salty. If you are a miso connoisseur, this one is very close to shiro miso (my favorite!).

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🥣 How to Make Chickpea Miso

Preparing miso is not only easy, but it’s also quick. The hardest part is waiting!

You only need 3 ingredients to get started:

  • Koji – Koji is cooked rice that has been inoculated with a culture called Aspergillus oryzae. It is then dried and can be kept at room temperature. It is a key ingredient for making miso, mirin, sake, and other fermented products! You can get koji here.
  • Chickpeas – Start with dried chickpeas. I went with chickpeas to keep the miso soy-free.
  • Salt – To prevent bad mold from growing, and obviously for flavor.
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First, you want to cook soaked chickpeas until perfectly tender. I used my Instant Pot, but you can cook the chickpeas in a pressure cooker or in a large pot.

Next, soak your koji rice in warm water (at a temperature of about 122°F/50°C) to soften it. Make sure the water is not hotter than this temperature, or it could kill the cultures of the rice.

Then, all you have to do is process the chickpeas, soaked koji rice, and salt until you get a smooth paste.

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The miso is almost done! Transfer the mixture to clean jars and let it age in a dark place at room temperature for 6 months.

Important note: make sure to pack the mixture very tightly into the jars to have the least amount of air inside as possible. You also want to add a weight on top so the fermentation doesn’t create too much air bubbles. If you have air inside your jar, there is a high chance some mold will grow, and your miso will turn bad within a few weeks (I had that issue once).

One more thing, do not fill your jar as much as I did below. Only fill to the 3/4; otherwise, some liquid will overflow.

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I opened the jar after 6 months, and I was incredibly surprised by how delicious this chickpea miso tasted! It’s sweet, salty, and packed with umami and buttery notes. Yes, it’s THAT good!

You could probably let it age for a few extra months, but I found that 6 months is already enough to get very high-quality miso, especially if you like sweet white miso. And if you are wondering, you can’t even taste the chickpeas. It’s pure miso flavor.

Can this work with other beans? Probably, but I have not personally tried.

💬 FAQ

How can I substitute the chickpeas?

While I haven’t tried it yet, I think this recipe will work with white navy beans as well.

Is koji essential to this recipe?

Yes, koji rice is essential. It contains cultures that help the miso paste ferment and develop flavors.

How long does miso keep?

Miso will keep for easily over a year in the refrigerator. The high salt content acts as a preservative.

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I hope you will love this recipe, it’s a super fun project to do, and you will have miso available for weeks if not months! It’s much more cost-effective than buying it if you are patient enough, of course!

🧀 More Fermented Recipes

  • Fermented Tofu (Chao)
  • Vegan Camembert
  • Chickpea Tempeh!

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

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How to Make Chickpea Miso - Full of Plants (9)

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Recipe

How to Make Chickpea Miso - Full of Plants (10)

How to Make Chickpea Miso

5 from 3 votes

Author: Thomas Pagot

Learn how to make your own chickpea miso from scratch! It's buttery, a bit sweet, and packed with umami! Plus, it is soy-free!

Print Pin Review

Prep Time : 30 minutes mins

Aging Time : 182 days d

Total Time : 182 days d 30 minutes mins

Servings 2 large jars (about 3.5lb)

Calories 34 kcal

Ingredients

  • 18 ounces dried chickpeas soaked overnight
  • 18 ounces koji rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup coarse salt

Instructions

Preparation

  • Drain the dried chickpeas and add to an Instant Pot (or pressure cooker). Cover with about 8 cups (2L) of water and pressure cook for 5 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes before opening the Instant Pot and draining the chickpeas. Set aside and let it cool at room temperature.

    Note: you can also cook the chickpeas in a large pot of water over the stovetop, but it will take much longer.

  • Add one cup of water to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Do not bring it to a boil. Remove from heat and let it cool until it reaches about 122°F (50°C).

  • Add the koji rice to a medium mixing bowl and pour in the warm water. Stir and let it sit for one hour.

Processing

  • Next, transfer the cooked chickpeas, koji (and the water), and salt to a food processor. Process for 1-2 minutes or until it forms a paste. It should be almost smooth, and all the chickpeas should be puréed. If you have a small food processor, work in batches.

  • Prepare two 1-quart (1L) glass jars: make sure your jars are perfectly clean. I recommend baking your empty jars at 300°F (150°C) for 20 minutes to kill possible bacteria and then let them cool completely.

  • Using gloves or really clean hands, shape balls of the mixture and pack them very tightly into each jar, working one layer at a time to make sure there are no air holes. Repeat until your jars are 3/4 full.

  • Flatten the top of the mixture and sprinkle with about 1/2 tablespoon of fine salt. Cover with plastic film to touch. Now, you want to place something very heavy inside the jar on top of the miso. I didn't have anything heavy that fitted inside, so I filled a plastic bag with coarse salt and placed it inside the jar, on top of the miso. It must be heavy enough to prevent the miso from creating air bubbles due to the fermentation.

Aging

  • Close your jars with the lid and store them in a dark place at room temperature. Your miso will be ready in 6 months, you don't have to do anything else but wait! Do not open the jar in the meantime, or mold could grow.

  • After 6 months, transfer the miso to smaller jars and store in the refrigerator. Miso will keep for months! Use in soups, marinades, sauces, dressings, etc!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 tbsp | Calories: 34 kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.8 g | Protein: 1.7 g

Course : Condiment

Cuisine : Asian, Japanese

Did you make this recipe? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants

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How to Make Chickpea Miso - Full of Plants (12)

About the Author

Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.

Learn more ➜

How to Make Chickpea Miso - Full of Plants (2024)

FAQs

How long does chickpea miso last? ›

Whether opened or unopened, South River Miso will keep almost indefinitely – even for years. Indeed, we have kept some miso for as long as 20 years without spoilage, even without refrigeration. As with all foods, let your nose be the final judge.

Can you make miso without soybeans? ›

You can use any pulse, be it lentils, chickpeas, fava beans, black eye peas, anything, to make miso. You don't need soybeans. The only potentially difficult ingredient to get is Koji rice, but most asian grocery stores can order it in for you already cultured. You can also make it at home with a bit of dedication.

Is chickpea miso healthy? ›

Just like soybean miso, chickpea miso is fermented. That means it contains all the gut-healthy probiotics that naturally occur in fermented foods. These good bugs help to heal and balance the microbiome, which we continually hear is a really good thing.

What is chickpea miso made of? ›

Chickpeas and brown rice koji give this miso a sweet, nutty flavor. When making miso, it is recommended that all ingredients be measured by weight. Salt especially will vary dramatically depending on coarseness.

What is the shelf life of homemade miso? ›

Miso paste can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a year after opening, as long as it's stored in an airtight container. However, for best quality and flavor, it's recommended to consume it within 6 months to a year.

How to tell if miso has gone bad? ›

When miso goes bad, its flavor also changes. It becomes more sour and astringent. If the taste has changed from when you purchased it, it is evidence that it has gone bad and you should stop eating it. To avoid food poisoning, do not eat miso that has a sour smell, sour taste, or mold growth.

Why is miso not vegan? ›

Unfortunately for vegans, the majority of miso soups use fish-based stocks, rendering them inedible. Luckily, both in restaurants and in grocery stores, there are vegan miso soup options. Learn more about what goes into miso and ways you can make sure your next order is vegan-friendly.

Is it worth making your own miso? ›

Unlike pasteurized store-bought miso, homemade miso is still "alive", and will continue to ferment. As the years pass, your miso will darken in colour. This means more nutrients and more anti-oxidants, says Takeuchi.

What is a good substitute for soybeans? ›

Chickpeas, lentils, lupine, sorghum, broad beans and many other legumes can replace soy in many formulations. Some of these are rich in high-quality protein and fiber and contain low levels of fat compared to soy.

Is it okay to eat miso every day? ›

Miso soup is low calorie, low fat, and high in nutrient content, so it is safe to eat daily. However, it does have a high salt content. So, those on blood thinning medication or who have heart problems (including high blood pressure and heart disease) may want to limit their consumption of miso soup.

Which type of miso is the healthiest? ›

If you want to avoid sodium, your choice should be White. If you don't need to avoid sodium intake, then Red is the most nutritious. The site says that White Miso makes you relaxed and gives you a good night sleep.

Is too much miso soup unhealthy? ›

It depends on how much and which kind of miso paste is used to make the soup. If you buy packaged miso soup, compare and read labels to see how much sodium is in a single serving. Eating too much sodium can raise your risk of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

How to make miso soup without killing the probiotics? ›

Avoid high heat when cooking with it, as it will kill off the good bacteria. When making miso soup, turn off the heat and dissolve (using a muddler like this will help avoid clumps). Rather than making a big batch of miso soup and repeatedly reheating the pot, prepare it for each meal.

Is miso anti inflammatory? ›

Miso possesses anticancer, antihypertensive, antiobese, and anti‐inflammatory properties, as well as the ability to eliminate gastrointestinal diseases.

Is chickpea miso keto? ›

Yes, miso soup is keto-friendly. You can enjoy miso soup on a ketogenic diet by avoiding high-carbohydrate ingredients such as rice and barley.

How long does chickpea liquid last in the fridge? ›

Frozen-then-thawed aquafaba whips just as well as fresh aquafaba. You can also defrost the aquafaba cubes in the microwave to speed the process along. Fresh chickpea liquid can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

How long does miso keep in the fridge? ›

Miso paste is fermented, and its high salt content protects it from mold. Depending on whom you ask, miso paste will last in the fridge for anywhere between six to 18 months. I've used some far older than that, and I'm still here to write this newsletter.

How long does chickpea puree last in fridge? ›

Carefully transfer chickpea mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth. The puree will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How long does an open container of miso last? ›

Once opened, miso paste should be stored in the refrigerator and used within a couple of months to a year. Since miso paste can still ferment and spoil quickly if not refrigerated, the best way to store miso paste is in an airtight container or jar with as little air space as possible so it won't dry out.

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