Easy Miso Pasta (5 Ingredients) (2024)

Miso pasta is a simple and delicious dish that only requires 5 ingredients and a few minutes to throw together. It is salty, rich, and ooh so creamy!

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. I’m obsessed with miso. The flavor is just so unique yet so versatile (which means it’s destined for more than just miso soup!). So, when I tried miso pasta in a favorite restaurant, I obviously was going to recreate it at home.

This pasta relies on methods commonly used to make cacio e pepe. This requires you to whisk pasta water into the sauce to create a smooth and luscious sauce without cream.

So, let’s get that water boiling so we can start eating this creamy miso pasta!

Ingredients for Miso Pasta

This pasta only takes 5 ingredients to throw together. Plus, besides the miso, I bet you already have everything else in the pantry!

• Bucatini Pasta: This type of pasta is very similar to spaghetti pasta, except it is a little thicker and has a hole running down the center. It is great for this pasta because the shape allows it to soak up lots of the sauce! With that said, use any type of pasta you like or have on hand.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is a must for this miso butter sauce since miso is already quite salty.
• Miso Paste: Miso paste comes in three main categories based on how long it has been fermenting. For this recipe, I recommend using white miso paste because it is slightly sweeter and much milder (don’t have miso? here are my favorite miso substitutes)
• Black Pepper: Black pepper is a must for creamy pasta to break up the richness.
• Parmesan: To bring this pasta back to Italy, I knew I needed parmesan. I prefer to use freshly grated parmesan but pre-grated will work too!

How to make Miso Pasta

Making this miso pasta is stupid easy. Just mix, mix, and mix!

Step 1: Cook Pasta
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook bucatini according to instructions on the package until al dente. When finished, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, and drain the rest.

Step 2: Make Sauce
In a large saute pan over medium heat, combine butter, miso, and pepper. Cook until butter is melted and pepper is fragrant about 2 minutes.

Step 3: Assemble
After draining the pasta and dumping it back into the large pot, add 1 cup of reserved pasta water, sauce, and parmesan. Stir vigorously for 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and the noodles are coated with sauce. Serve hot!

Recipe tips

Storage: Unfortunately, this pasta does not keep well in the fridge because the sauce becomes gluey. If you do have leftovers and store them in the fridge, reheat them in a pan with a little cream or water to smooth out the sauce again.

Mix-ins: While this recipe has limited ingredients, the sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can add! Try adding roasted garlic, red chili flakes, or veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant!

Why this Recipe Works

This recipe may seem like an impossible feat, but here is exactly why it is just perfect!

• Miso is packed with umami, meaning you need less ingredients to make a killer sauce.
• Bucatini is a fun noodle that’s like spaghetti (but thicker), making for a slight twist on a classic pasta dish.
• Pasta water is gold and allows you to make this super creamy sauce without adding cream. It emulsifies into a luscious sauce when mixed with miso and parmesan.

FAQs

Can I use other kinds of pasta?

Yes, of course! If you cannot find bucatini pasta, I recommend using a similarly shaped pasta or another one that can hold a lot of sauce. This could be as miso spaghetti or miso rigatoni. Gluten-free or vegan pasta could also be used. Feeling adventurous? You could even try using cooked spaghetti squash!

Can this recipe be made vegan?

Maybe – this recipe uses parmesan and butter and while there is some great vegan parmesan out there now, I have not tried them in this recipe. If you do try it, please let us know how it works! Just make sure your pasta is vegan. Vegan butter would be an easy swap to make.

You could also substitute the parmesan with Silk vegan heavy whipping cream which mixes wonderfully in pasta sauce. This will result in a similar texture but will not have as much flavor so adding some garlic could help add flavor.

Does miso contain soy?

Yes. Miso is dervided from soy. Some miso paste is made of soy and a grain while others are pure soy.

More Pasta-licious Recipes

Pasta on pasta on pasta. Just how I like it!

• Pasta with Radicchio and Goat Cheese is a delicious and easy pasta, perfect for summer nights!
• Zucchini Pasta with Creamy Avocado Pesto is another great summer pasta packed with aromatic herbs and veggies.
• Butternut Squash Pasta with Gorgonzola Sauce is one of my favorites for the fall pairing that classic butternut squash with bold gorgonzola!
• Kyaw’s Porcini Pasta is a crowd favorite that sounds fancy but comes together quickly.

Did you make this recipe?Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @liveeatlearn onFacebook orInstagram!