This is a simple recipe, but it is incredibly good. It also uses miso paste, which is something I don’t cook with nearly enough. After making and tasting this dish, I vow to remedy this and cook with more miso. It is partially responsible for the culinary buzzword, umami, but for good reason. Umami is a word meant to describe savory, complex, full-bodied flavors, and miso (along with soy sauce, mushrooms, and worcestershire sauce, to name a few) certainly lends that quality to food.
If you haven’t cooked with miso, don’t worry. It is much easier than you think to incorporate into dishes and it’s becoming a lot easier to find in stores too. It ranges from white or yellow miso, which is white to light beige in color, all the way to black miso, the strongest in flavor. White or yellow miso is great for all purpose cooking. It’s great whisked into dressings and marinades, stirred into broth for soup, or folded into butter for topping grilled meats. This recipe uses yellow miso, but a stronger red miso would work just as well and lend a bolder flavor. Start keeping miso on hand in the fridge, and you’ll be surprised at how many uses you’ll find for this delicious paste. Let’s start with this pasta:
Miso Browned Butter Pasta
*Makes Two servings- Can easily be doubled!
4 ounces Spaghetti
3 Tablespoons Butter
1/4 small yellow or red Onion, sliced thinly
2 Tablespoons Miso Paste (Yellow or Red)
1 cup baby Arugula
Cracked Black Pepper
Grated Parmesan
Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until it stops foaming and the solids on the bottom of the pan begin to turn golden brown. The butter should smell nutty and delicious. Add in the onion and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the miso paste and drizzle a little of the reserved pasta cooking water to make a sauce. You may not need the whole amount, so add just a little at a time until the miso is smooth.
Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to combine, adding a little more pasta cooking water if it seems dry. Add in the arugula and some cracked black pepper to season. Miso is usually salty, so you may not need to add any additional salt. Top with grated parmesan cheese and serve. Delicious!
Inspired by this video by Jen Phanomrat
Eclectic Yellow House 
It looks amazing, Kathrina. ❤
Thank you so much! 🙂
This looks so simple yet so delicious! I also love miso, but I hardly use it because I never know what I’d put it in. I think I’ll go pick up some yellow miso and start incorporating it in more dishes 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks, Danya! I felt that way about Miso too, but after making this pasta, I’m going to have a lot more uses for it!
This is such a quick n healthy meal – I would definitely make it soon.
It is super quick! On the table in under 15 minutes…my favorite part! 🙂
This dish looks wonderful and I love miso — I don’t know why I don’t do more with it. Thank you for the reminder!!
Thanks, Marisa! I hope you enjoy it!
This looks so nice and simple, which is totally just what you need sometimes! Saving this 🙂
Absolutely, Dana! I hope you enjoy it!
i really like the clean and fresh look of this meal.
Thank you!
This is a really creative way to use miso. It’s so versatile and shouldn’t be limited to the soup.
I agree, Christine! Miso soup is great, but it can really shine in so many dishes!
Looks so delicious yet easy!! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks, Sam! Easy and delicious is my favorite combination!
Looks so delicious yet so easy!! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely! 🙂
You’re photos are BEAUTIFUL! Totally loving your blog. And miso paste…I’ve been obsessed lately.
Thank you SO much, Victoria! Your comment gave me a huge case of the warm fuzzies! 🙂
This recipe looks yummy! I love pasta dishes like this perfect for a light meal!
Thanks, Diane! It is a great, light meal!
love this idea for a quick weeknight meal.
It is so fast and so flavorful!
I would have never thought of using Miso on regular pasta…but it works on rice noodles so why not…great idea!!
Thanks! 🙂
Simply delicious!! This is a great weeknight dinner idea! so easy to make, definitely my kind of meal! 🙂
Thank you! It is perfect for a busy weeknight!
Yum, this sounds fantastic! I have only ever really used miso in asian inspired dishes, would never have thought to pair it with brown butter and arugula – but this sounds all kinds of amazing!
Thanks! I hope you’ll like it!