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Give BBQ Sauce An Umami Makeover With This Japanese Staple (It's Not Soy Sauce) By Ellery Weil Oct. 20, 2025 10:00 am EST

Barbecue sauce can be a contentious topic. The regional variations in barbecue sauce are legendary, from vinegar-kissed Carolina barbecue sauce to the sweet and smoky variety found in Texas. However, there's a secret ingredient that can give barbecue sauce a rich burst of umami flavor, and it's not part of any American barbecue must-have list. Miso paste, the Japanese staple that many know from eating (or even cooking) miso soup, is actually a great ingredient to take your homemade barbecue sauce recipe to the next level.

Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans , salt, and koji fungus, and is rich in savory umami flavor, which you

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