If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine, you’ve probably already heard about or even tried some of their most famous dishes. You may have experienced tasting miso soup, and now you’re wondering, does miso ramen taste like miso soup?
Miso ramen does not taste like miso soup. The main difference between the taste of Miso ramen and Miso soup is that Miso ramen has a strong and savory taste, while the taste of Miso soup is more mellow.
Miso ramen is cooked with a variety of meats and vegetables, while miso soup is usually just made with tofu, seaweed, and miso paste. This gives each dish a different flavor profile.
Miso ramen and miso soup are two completely different dishes, made from quite different ingredients. Besides being different dishes, there are also plenty of variations to them, and they all have distinct tastes.
Even though you can try and make them taste the same by using similar ingredients, it won’t be the most authentic version of these meals.
Miso Soup and Miso Ramen Do Not Taste the Same Because They Are Two Different Dishes
Let’s just say that if you asked this question a Japanese person, they would be quite offended. In Japanese cuisine, Miso soup and miso ramen are two different dishes, and they do not taste exactly the same. Soup and ramen can taste similar, depending on how you prepare them.
However, you should keep in mind that there are numerous variations to these dishes. Miso ramen and miso soup can bemade in different ways and with different seasonings. Also, there are various types of miso in Japan, and they all have different flavors.
Let’s Start With the Basics – What Does Miso Taste Like?
In order to explain the answer to our main question as easily as I can, let’s start with explaining some basic Japanese terms. To understand the difference between miso ramen and miso soup, we have to explain what miso is. Miso paste is made out of fermented soybeans with koji and salt.
Miso Is the Base to Every Japanese Broth as Well as Many Other Traditional Dishes
Miso is one of three types of seasonings commonly used in Japanese cuisine to flavor traditional broth, but it’s also used in various salads, dressings, marinades, soups, and pickles. Some of the most famous dishes from Japan are made with this delicious paste.
It has a rich taste and a bit of saltiness from the fermented soybeans. There are a few types of miso paste, and they have slightly different tastes.
| Name | Color | Flavor | How to use it |
| Shinshu miso | Yellow (light brown) | A bit sweet and not too salty | It’s best used in glazes and soups |
| Aka miso | Dark red | Pungent, bitter, and quite salty | Best for braises and marinades |
| Shiro miso | Beige | Light taste, moderately sweet and salty | Best for soups, sauces, and salad dressings |
What Is Exactly Miso Soup and How Do You Make It?
Miso soup is a traditional dish from Japan, quite popular all over the world. This dish is created from a simple combination of dashi and miso. Dashi is a soup stock made out of dried bonito flakes, anchovy, and kelp. The combination of ingredients gives a basic soup a savory flavor with various textures.
It is easy to prepare and requires basic vegetable ingredients, such as mushrooms, covers, ginger, canola oil, miso paste, tofu, and green onions. Besides being a very tasty dish, it also has lots of nutritional benefits. It has been used in Asian cuisine for centuries as a natural probiotic to lower bad cholesterol and strengthen the immune system.
What Is Miso Ramen and What Does It Taste Like?
Miso ramen is a Japanese noodle soup flavored with a miso paste. This dish has quite a few regional and international variations, but the most authentic one is flavored using miso. This ramen flavor comes from the Hokkaido region, located in the northern part of Japan.
It is quite popular in the capital city of Hokkaido and Sapporo. This ramen has a strong flavor, which comes from a thick paste. It is deeply savory, with a funky salty-sweet palate. Its nutty taste makes any soup taste heartier.
What Ingredients Are Miso Ramen and Its Toppings Based On?
Even though this dish can be created in a few different ways, their defining ingredients are almost always the same. Miso ramen is based on wheat noodles (chuka soba), Shiitake or Nameko mushrooms, and certain types of miso.
Usually, in ramen noodles, traditional chefs put Shiro or Shinshu miso, while modern chefs like to be playful with varieties of miso pastes.
While those three ingredients are the base of every miso ramen, there’s quite a long list of ingredients that can be used as toppings. Some of the most usual toppings used in miso ramen include:
- Chashu pork,
- Napa cabbage,
- Green onions,
- Chili oil,
- Sliced daikon radish,
- Nori seaweed,
- Sesame oil,
- Soy sauce,
- Boiled egg,
- Bean sprouts.
Is Miso Ramen the Exact Same Thing as Shoyu Ramen?
Japanese ramen is categorized by the type of seasoning it’s made out of. The seasoning gives the soup a signature flavor, so the flavors of ramen depend on the type of seasoning it contains. While miso ramen is seasoned with miso paste and has an umami-rich flavor, shoyu ramen is primarily seasoned with soy sauce.
Shoyu ramen is known for having a distinguished saltiness to it and a more complex flavor. So the answer to this question is no, these two types of ramen are not the same and simply do not taste the same.
The Final Verdict – Does Miso Ramen Taste Like Miso Soup?
Even though the answer to this question may sound way too obvious, it is actually quite the opposite. Japanese cuisine is known for being rich and diverse, so nothing in it is black and white. On the other hand, you can try and make these dishes taste similar by using the same ingredients, though it still won’t be the exact same dish. However, they are both great dishes that taste amazing and can be made in the comfort of your home. Definitely worth trying out.