The Unexpected Ingredients That Make Literally Everything Better

Why it's good: I can't say enough good things about the dishes I've cooked with miso paste. A friend of mine recently made me a ridiculously good chicken soup and I was gobsmacked to find she'd sauteed the vegetables in miso paste first. It's silky, salty, and gives every dish the subtle funk it was desperately lacking.

Use it in: Soups, bean stews, marinades, dressings.