30 umami recipes

Italian-style tomato sauce simmered with kelp seaweed (alaria or laminaria), garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire. A mineral-rich, umami-packed sauce for spaghetti, meatballs, or browned meat.

Stuffed Chinese black mushrooms filled with seasoned crushed tofu, ginger, garlic, sesame, and scallion, then grilled or broiled. A vegan-friendly appetizer with earthy, umami-rich mushroom caps.

Miso sauce for pasta made with yellow miso, sauteed scallions, garlic, and vegetable stock. A savory, umami-rich vegetarian pasta sauce ready in minutes with just six ingredients.

Rotini with marinated shiitake mushrooms, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, pine nuts, and Parmesan in a white wine broth. An Italian pasta with deep, layered umami flavor.

Golden vegetable noodle soup: a turmeric-tinted vegan broth with split peas, noodles, carrots, and nutritional yeast for cheesy umami. Fat-free, plant-based comfort in one bowl.

Fresh pesto pasta with basil, sauteed garlic, pine nuts, miso paste, and lemon juice. A dairy-free, vegan pesto that gets its umami depth from miso instead of Parmesan.

Authentic miso soup made from scratch with homemade dashi, kombu, bonito flakes, wakame, tofu, and barley miso. A nourishing Japanese staple ready in 40 minutes with real umami depth.

Italian tomato and anchovy antipasto with ripe tomato wedges draped with anchovy fillets, dressed in anchovy oil, lemon juice, and fresh oregano. Simple, no-cook, and bursting with umami.

Vegan French onion soup built on deeply caramelized onions, garlic, and tamari for rich umami depth. No beef broth needed, just patience and good browning for a soul-warming bowl.

Mushroom ketchup, a Victorian-era umami bomb of salted fresh mushrooms and dried boletus simmered with vinegar, warm spices and sherry. A shelf-stable savory condiment worth the two-day project for real depth.

Mushroom stroganoff layers fresh mushrooms with rehydrated dried mushrooms in a sour cream sauce spiked with brandy and sherry, served over buttery egg noodles. A meatless take with serious umami.

Kalbi Kui is a classic Korean grilled short rib recipe marinated overnight in sesame oil, olive oil, bouillon, and scallions. Simple ingredients, bold umami flavor, and just 10 minutes on the broiler.

Miso pesto pasta swaps Parmesan for savory miso, blending basil, toasted nuts and garlic into a creamy, umami-rich vegan pesto tossed with hot pasta. Dairy-free and ready in the time it takes to boil noodles.

Thick seitan steaks baked until firm, then simmered in a savory tamari broth with kombu and fresh ginger for deep umami flavor. Brushed with sauce and broiled until lightly charred, these vegan steaks have real chew and satisfying meatiness.