Shio Koji Powder, 1.58 oz
Marukura’s Shio Koji Powder is an innovative seasoning that has all the great qualities of shio koji (a savory paste made with rice koji and salt) and solves all the inconveniences of the traditionally pasty seasoning. Shio Koji Powder, made only from house-crafted rice koji and salt from Okinawa, contains active enzymes that help break down proteins and starches and turn them into amino acids and sugar respectively, just like the typical paste or liquid versions of shio koji. It effectively draws out the sweetness and umami from any ingredient while tenderizing it at the same time. Since it’s a powder, it’s easy to handle and has a long shelf-life, unlike paste or liquid shio koji. When using Shio Koji Powder, you can simply coat meat, fish, or vegetables with it, and only wait for 15 minutes to extract more umami and improve texture. If you use paste or liquid shio koji, you have to marinate for multiple hours to achieve the same effect. Also, you can use it as a flavor enhancer and add it to batter when making cakes or muffins, as well as soups and drinks.
Since the powder has an amazing ability to tenderize meat while extracting umami and sweetness, it’s commonly used for making karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken). Sprinkle 15g (about 1 tablespoon) of powder over 300g (about 0.7lb) chicken, massage it, let it sit for 15 minutes before deep-frying it. You’ll have a delicious karaage, with a crispy outside and juicy inside. You can also apply this method to fish and vegetables, instead of marinating, before sautéing or grilling. The powder is also good for making pickles. It has a slight sweetness itself, so you can use it to season soups or simmered dishes. You can even add it to pancake batter, cakes, and muffins. It’s a versatile seasoning, but it also a healthful ingredient that is rich in enzymes. So you can just sprinkle it over rice, mochi, ice cream, yogurt, or drinks to enjoy the benefit.
Rice-Koji, Salt.