Miso Maple Nut Butter Food

MISO MAPLE NUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the butter is mostly blended.
• If you want a creamy butter, keep pulsing and blending, but I think the chunks of Marcona almonds in this recipe really make it special.
• Scrape into a lidded container and refrigerate.

MISO-MAPLE WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Combine the miso, ghee, maple syrup, and salt in a small mixing bowl and stir to create a paste. Add the walnuts and toss until the nuts are well coated.
• Spread the walnuts on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 to 13 minutes, or until caramelized.
• Cool to room temperature before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

PEANUT BUTTER-MISO COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and baking powder, and whisk until incorporated. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Add miso and peanut butter to the mixing bowl, and continue to mix at medium speed, about 1 minute. Scrape down sides of the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated, and mix a bit more if needed. Add egg and vanilla extract, and mix until just combined.
• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl, and mix on low speed until flour mixture is incorporated. Repeat with remaining flour mixture in two batches until all of it is incorporated.
• Place 1/2 cup Demerara sugar into a small bowl. Working with one piece at a time, scoop out about 2 heaping tablespoons of dough (about 50 grams per cookie), and roll each portion between your hands until it is nice and round. (If the dough is too soft to roll, you can pop the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes to firm the dough up slightly.) Drop the piece of dough into the bowl of Demerara sugar and turn to coat. Transfer each ball to a parchment-lined baking sheet, arranging them about 3 inches apart. Repeat with all of the dough.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours and up to overnight. (Even 15 minutes of refrigerator time will help the dough firm up, and the flavors meld. The longer the dough is refrigerated, the more mellow the flavors will be.)
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake cookies for about 15 minutes, until crisp at the edges and slightly puffed in the middle. They should still be a bit underdone in the center. Pull out the baking sheet and hit it against a counter. Place back into the oven to finish for about 3 to 4 minutes. When cookies are firm at the edges and slightly puffed in the center, pull them out and again hit the baking sheet against the counter. The cookies should appear flat and crinkly at the center.
• Let the cookies cool on a baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container; they should retain their chewy texture for a few days.

MISO-BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Cook shallot, garlic, and ginger, stirring often, until shallot is softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add miso and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add squash, salt, maple syrup (if using), and 4 cups water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover pot. Cook until squash is very tender, 20-25 minutes.
• Carefully purée squash and cooking liquid with an immersion blender until smooth. (Alternatively, you can carefully use a standard blender and work in 2 batches, keeping a towel over the lid and transferring to a medium bowl as you go.) Do ahead: Purée can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.
• Bring squash purée to a simmer over medium heat (return to same pot if you puréed in a standard blender). Stir in lemon juice; taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Divide soup among bowls and top with cilantro, chili crisp, and peanuts. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over.

MISO-PEANUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Place the roasted peanuts in a plastic bag or a pastry bag and place on your work surface. Roll over the bag with a rolling pin until the peanuts are crushed.
• Combine the crushed peanuts, peanut butter, miso, honey, mirin and orange zest in a bowl and stir together until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.