Basic Cabbage Is 10x More Flavorful When You Add This Umami Mixture

A head of cabbage is an investment in the future, more so than virtually any other item in the produce aisle. A whole one can last in the refrigerator for weeks or more, and many recipes call for using less than half a head — meaning there is an entire cookery category devoted to what you can do with leftover cabbage. Introducing some miso butter right before you begin simmering your usual braise, for example, is one such quick trick to make it seem like you've conceived an elaborate cabbage creation, though, in reality, it requires very little effort.

Butter is already a no-brainer for adding silky richness to your cabbage with, let's be honest, almost autopilot ease. The tiny extra step of combining that butter with miso easily dials up the side's savory umami quality, largely thanks to the fermented soybean paste's naturally occurring glutamates. Miso butter can also be even easier to make than it is to buy, and you'll likely have some leftover paste to add to other dishes. Choose a versatile yellow miso or the milder white rather than the bolder red for a wide variety of applications, including this one.

While miso and butter are great on their own, you want them fully combined for the best distribution across the cabbage. Some miso varieties can be a bit grainy, and mixing the paste with the butter creates a more congruous consistency that makes it easier to coat the leaves.

A ratio of two parts butter to one part miso is pretty common for miso butter, and it also works brilliantly for giving your cabbage that notable umami nudge. You can easily combine them with a fork after you've brought the butter to room temperature. The compound is typically mixed in with something like braised cabbage after it's been browned a bit and is ready to simmer in its cooking liquid. You really don't need much more, but some sliced garlic can also bring its own fragrant warmth to the pan. It should only take another 20 minutes or so to finish once the miso butter joins the veg. Miso butter cabbage is terrific with our roasted miso maple salmon, or any other main that could benefit from an extra savory kick.