Banana bread is a humble baked good that’s easy and fast to make, resulting in a loaf that’s mild, moist, and sweet. Some bakers like to keep their banana bread simple, but others like to add extra embellishments, and if you fall into the latter category, you should add this ingredient to your next loaf for a surprising complexity.

Try stirring miso into your banana bread dough, since this fermented soybean paste adds a savoriness that works with fruity bananas. Cookbook author Andrea Slonecker tells Food & Wine that miso works even better in banana bread in chocolate chips, adding "depth and umami, an almost buttery quality, and saltiness".

While miso is usually reserved for savory dishes, it’s the perfect way to elevate the comfort of banana bread to the next level; just make sure to use a mild, sweet white miso instead of a darker kind. Besides miso, other great banana bread additions include chocolate chips, raisins, maple syrup, pineapple, and peanut butter.