What Miso Paste Is-- and Where to Buy It

Question: On June 27, you published a recipe for eggplant with ground beef. I like the recipe, but I have no idea what miso paste is, or even chile paste. Where can you buy these?

Answer: An important staple in Japan, miso paste (sometimes called fermented bean paste) is a thick, sweet-and-sour and fairly salty paste that is used as a soup base, as seasoning for vegetables and grilled foods and for pickling. It is made by crushing cooked soybeans, then adding rice, wheat or barley and injecting the mixture with a yeastlike mold. According to the type of cereal used, miso pastes vary in color, thickness and saltiness, but they all have that yeasty aroma. They are carried in the refrigerator section in Japanese food stores and health food stores. Refrigerated, it will keep as long as one year.

Chile paste is a bottled hot red chile condiment that’s available in Asian markets. Basically made of pureed hot red chiles, the paste could include seasonings or vinegar. For instance, the Chinese chile paste may be mixed with garlic or beans, whereas the Indonesian can include some shrimp concentrate and-or vinegar. Check the ethnic origin of the recipe, and buy your chile paste from Indonesian, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese or Japanese markets.

Q: I live in the city of Upland and have a passion fruit vine growing in my backyard that is producing ripe fruit. My problem is that I do not know what to do with the ripe fruit.

I know that the juice of the fruit is sometimes used in tropical fruit drinks. I would be most grateful if you can give me some ideas for using the fruit. How do you extract the juice? What can be done with the fruit in addition to using the juice in drinks?

A: Pick passion fruit when it becomes wrinkled in appearance, which indicates ripeness. This is when it becomes sweet and juicy. For juice, cut the fruit in halves and spoon the pulp into a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Twist the cloth to squeeze out juice, then discard the dry pulp and seeds. It takes about six passion fruit to make half a cup of juice. This may be diluted and sweetened, if desired.

To prepare the fruit for puree, cut in halves and spoon the pulp into the blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth and the seeds are chopped to about the size of poppy seeds. It will take about four passion fruit to make one-third cup puree. For a seedless puree, use a food mill to separate out the seeds. Depending on the size of fruit used, it should take about five fruit to produce one-third cup of seedless puree. Use the puree in cake batters.

Scoop out passion fruit pulp and use for mousses, cake or tart fillings or toppings, parfaits, cheesecakes and crepe fillings. The pulp and seeds may also be added to fruit salads or compotes.

Q: Having gone to the strawberry festival and enjoyed it, I am interested in attending other harvest festivals. Is there a number to call for a listing of various local and out-of-state festivals? I heard there are artichoke and Brussels sprouts festivals. Can you please print the dates and locations for these events?

A: For festival information check a local library for “The International Directory of Special Events and Festivals” or “Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events.” Other sources are calendar listings of events in newspapers and directories published by the American Automobile Assn. and Mobil Oil Corp.

The Artichoke Festival is held every year in Castroville, Calif. This year it will be Sept. 7 and 8. For more information, write to Julie Bernardi, 1719 Merritt St., Castroville, Calif. 95012, or call (408) 633-CHOK. From Oct. 12 to 13, the Brussels Sprouts Festival will be held at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif. For more information, contact Glenn LaFrank, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060, or call (408) 423-5590.

Q: How many mangoes should I buy to make three cups of puree?

A: Use three large or five small-to-medium mangoes to make three cups of puree.

Address questions on food preparation to You Asked About, Food Section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. Personal replies cannot be given.