From Miso, Tempeh, Natto & Other Tasty Ferments by Kirsten & Christopher Shockey
These formulas are designed to serve as a guide for modern miso experimentation. While a more modern guide, it honors the traditional fermentation principles of the four basic miso ingredients: cooked legumes, koji, salt and time. You'll notice the shorter fermentation times call for more koji and less salt, where as the longer you age your miso, the more salt is needed to keep it fermenting properly. Experiment with different legumes (chickpeas, cranberry beans, etc) and koji (like barley koji or rice koji)
SWEETEST AND SWEET MISO FORMULAS
DRY LEGUMES: 1 pound per about 3 quarts of finished miso KOJI: 3 times the amount of legumes SALT: 4.5% of the total weight of legumes + koji (for sweetest);
6% of the total weight of legumes + koji (for sweet) TIME: Age for 2–3 weeks for sweetest, or 2 months for sweet
Example: For about 3 Quarts of Sweet Miso
1 pound (450 grams) dry legumes
3 pounds (1,350 grams) koji
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (108 grams) salt
Let’s do the math:
Sweetest: 450 (grams of legumes) + 1,350 (grams of koji) = 1,800 grams ---> 1,800 × 0.045 = 81 grams of salt
Sweet: 450 (grams of legumes) + 1,350 (grams of koji) = 1,800 grams ---> 1,800 × 0.06 = 108 grams of salt
MELLOW MISO FORMULA
DRY LEGUMES: 1 pound per a little over 2 quarts of finished miso
KOJI: 2 times the amount of legumes
SALT: 10% of the total weight of legumes + koji
TIME: Age for 6 months
Example: For about 1 1/4 Gallons of Mellow Miso
2 pounds (900 grams) dry legumes
4 pounds (1,800 grams) koji
1 cup (270 grams) salt
Let’s do the math: 900 (grams of legumes) + 1,800 (grams of koji) = 2,700 grams ---> 2,700 × 0.10 = 270 grams of salt
MEDIUM MISO FORMULA
DRY LEGUMES: 1 pound per about 2 quarts of finished miso
KOJI: Same amount as legumes
SALT: 12% of the total weight of legumes + koji
TIME: Age for 12 months
Example: For about 2 Gallons of Medium Miso
4 pounds (1,800 grams) dry legumes
4 pounds (1,800 grams) koji
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon (432 grams) salt
Let’s do the math: 1,800 (grams of legumes) + 1,800 (grams of koji) = 3,600 grams ---> 3,600 × 0.12 = 432 grams of salt
SALTY MISO FORMULA
DRY LEGUMES: 1 pound per about 1 3/4 quarts of finished miso
KOJI: Half the amount of legumes
SALT: 16% of the total weight of legumes + koji
TIME: Age for 24 months
Example: For about 2 1/2 Quarts of Salty Miso
1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) legumes
3/4 pound (340 grams) koji
1/2 cup plus 2 scant tablespoons (163 grams) salt
Let’s do the math: 680 (grams of legumes) + 340 (grams of koji) = 1,020 grams --->1,020 × 0.16 = 163 grams of salt
