It’s no secret that the sweet and savory taste of shio koji can add awesome umami to any cooking, especially protein-based cooking. Try out shio koji and add the nice salty-sweet delight to an already delicious piece of steak.
Other than flavor-enhancing, shio koji can also help tenderize meat. The enzymes in shio koji can break down protein and will make any meat more tender. Thanks to the amino acids that are produced when the protein breaks down, the meat will be more delicious.
In Japan, shio koji is very common to be used as a marinade. Usually, all you need to do is slather your protein with it and let it sit overnight. For red meat, it’s also a great idea to let it marinate longer.
Steak With Shio Koji Marinade
Ingredients
- 100 gr Beef thigh
- 1 tbsp Shio Koji
- 1 tsp Ponzu
Instructions
- Marinate the beef with shio-koji and leave it for 1/2-1 day.
- Pre-heat the frying pan for 10 minutes and then pan-fry Step 1 according to your preferences. Cut into bite-sized pieces and pour on the ponzu.
- Serve with vegetable side or salad. Enjoy!
A Little Bit About Shio Koji
Shio Koji, also known as salt koji, is a seasoning made by fermenting a mixture of water, salt, and koji. The taste is salty and sweet with a distinct fruity fermented scent of koji. Shio koji truly is a useful all-purpose seasoning.
Here are some ideas on how to use shio koji:
- Pour and mix as a condiment
Utilize the thick creamy texture and umami of shio koji and use shio koji as an addition to dressings and sauces. Just mix it with your sauce and pour over your preferred ingredients like veggies, meat, or fish.
2. Add To enrich various dishes
Shio koji is a flavor bomb so you can add a little bit of it to a broth, curry, stew, or even mix it in a hamburg steak. Adding shio koji will make your cooking tastes richer and more complex.
3. Use to pickle and marinate
When protein ingredients like meat and fish are soaked in shio koji, the enzyme will work to create a soft, rich-tasting finish.
Recommended Products to Make Shio Koji
Marinating meat with Shio Koji is our most recommended recipe you’ll need to try. So we really hope you can make Shio Koji at home and use it for many recipes. You’ll need only dried rice koji/dried rice koji powder + salt + water. Check the best products to make shio koji below.
