Miso is fast becoming a vital ingredient for the health-conscious foodie. The fermented soybean paste, which originates from Japan, is prized for its rich, complex umami flavour alongside its health-giving properties. Despite being used by the Japanese for hundreds of years, miso has been experiencing a new found popularity as top chefs, cooks and food writers champion miso as an essential yet exciting everyday ingredient.

In Miso Tasty: The Cookbook Bonnie Chung, founder of the UK’s only dedicated miso brand and a self-taught miso expert, explores the great versatility of this exciting paste, and demonstrates the depth that it can bring to everyday cooking. Her book shares 60 recipes on how to enjoy this ingredient in both Japanese and non-Japanese dishes.

The recipes are a mix of well-loved classics and new discoveries: swirl it into a hot stock for miso soup, mix it with a drop of olive oil and a spoon of mustard for a deeply satisfying salad dressing, or baste it on to steaks for a quick but deeply flavoured barbecue marinade. The book will also include simple cooking tips on how to make the most of miso, an in-depth exploration of the many different types of miso and even how to make your own miso at home.

Miso is full of possibilities – as diets become more focused on being wholesome and nutritious, this ancient soybean paste is fast becoming a vital ingredient in every cook’s kitchen.