Sweet loves salty; salty loves sweet. Together, they give life to a far greater taste sensation than either could achieve individually. Even casual bakers have gotten hip to the fact that an extra pinch of salt really makes their cookies pop and chocolates sing, but what happens when you add a touch of umami into the mix?
Reach beyond the salt shaker and head straight for miso paste for this sticky, sultry caramel sauce.
Pure sodium can do wonders for this burnt sugar syrup, effectively reducing the inherent bitterness created in the Maillard reaction while simultaneously enhancing the impact of its overall sweetness. No wonder why simple salted caramel has taken hold of eaters worldwide- Even those crazy enough to declare themselves unaffected by the siren song of sugar. Now, take those same flavor enhancing properties and bolster them with a seductively savory edge, and you’ve just elevated your dish to an entirely new realm of decadence.
Cara-miso, my miso-infused caramel sauce, has no boundaries when it comes to usage. Chocolate cake pops with every bite when you grace it with a tiny drizzle; black coffee comes to life with a taste that will make you forget all about any pumpkin spice nonsense; whipped coconut cream sparks and pops with just a few drops. Naturally, this endlessly versatile syrup finds itself most at home atop luscious scoops of ice cream, but that alone wasn’t enough to satisfy my sweet tooth during the latest great heatwave. Take it even one step further for the single best milkshake you will ever stick a straw into.
If that photo alone doesn’t have you scrambling into the kitchen, I don’t know what will. Thankfully, once you whip up a batch of the caramel sauce, you’ll have enough for a few more rounds of this crave-worthy nectar made in sweet and salty heaven. Still, it might not hurt to double it, just in case.
Cara-Miso Milkshake
Caramel is best with a pinch of salt, so when you add in a hit of miso paste, you'll create an unbeatable umami combination. Naturally, this endlessly versatile syrup finds itself most at home atop luscious scoops of ice cream, but that alone wasn’t enough to satisfy my sweet tooth during the latest great heatwave. Take it even one step further for the single best milkshake you will ever stick a straw into.
Ingredients
Cara-Miso Milkshake:
- 2 Cups Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Non-Dairy Milk
- 1/4 Cup Miso Caramel Sauce, Plus More for Garnish (see following recipe)
- Whipped Coconut Cream (Optional)
Cara-Miso (Miso Caramel) Sauce:
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 3/4 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk
- 3 Tablespoons Sweet White Miso Paste
- 3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- To make the milkshake, simply combine the ice cream, almond milk, and caramel sauce in a blender and blend until smooth. Divide the mixture between two glasses and top with whipped coconut cream and additional caramel sauce, if desired.
- For the miso caramel sauce, combine the sugar and water in medium-sized saucepan. Place the sugar and water inside before setting over moderate heat. Resist the urge to stir, but rather, gently swirl the pan in a circular motion mix the contents.
- Meanwhile, mix together a few tablespoons of coconut milk with the miso paste. Whisk vigorously to thoroughly incorporate the miso. Make sure that there are no remaining lumps before stirring in the rest of the coconut milk, and set aside.
- Continue to cook the sugar mixture, swirling occasionally, until it turns deep amber in color, but do not allow it to begin smoking or smelling burnt. You want to cook it to a fairly dark shade to give it the most flavor, but if it smells burnt, it’s already too late and you must start again. Once it begins to color, it will progress very quickly, so do not walk away at this point.
- Once deeply colored, very carefully pour in the coconut milk along with the coconut oil. The mixture is likely to sputter and bubble up, so you may want to stand to the side while making this addition, and it’s not a bad idea to wear long sleeves to cover your arms, just in case. The mixture may seize and crystallize slightly, but don’t worry, it’s easy to fix. Continue to cook the syrup over gentle heat until any crystals are dissolved and the mixture is completely smooth again. Stir in the salt and turn off the heat.
- Let cool completely before using or storing in a glass jar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 417Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 45gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 2756mgCarbohydrates: 178gFiber: 4gSugar: 161gProtein: 18g
Oh my – is it possible to “over-salivate”? Well, I think I just did – this sauce looks like a winner to me – thanks for another wonderful, delectable post!
I think salty and sweet go together for the pure yin and yang of it! This sounds delightful, indeed!
Perfect for summer. I will be slathering this on everything when our weather warms up a bit :)
This screams fall deliciousness, can’t wait to have some ice cream after dinner :) Thanks for the sweet tooth cravings.
Ooo, delightful, Hannah. (Good news, too: our AC is back at work…just in time for cooler temps tomorrow, but I’m not complaining!)
janet
Wow, this looks and sounds divine – a true fall treat I can’t wait to try. Thanks!
Yummy !
Miso caramel! Salty and sweet I get, but throw in umami too? That’s just utterly brilliant! :-)
In the instructions, you say to add salt at the end of making the caramel sauce, but you don’t have it listed as an ingredient.
Whoops, sorry for that oversight and thanks for catching it! I’ve amended the recipe to reflect the addition of salt.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this recipe. I have a Halloween popcorn ball recipe I want to make for Halloween and need vegan caramel. This is amazing! So excited!!!
What fun! I’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for that recipe… I forgot all about Halloween, to be honest. I need to get motivated and make some candy, ASAP.