Clam chowder is a delicious creamy soup that's relatively easy to make, but because it doesn't use very assertive or potent ingredients — plus dairy, which can drown out flavors — your homemade chowder might end up bland. Luckily, you can perk it up into something scrumptious by adding this umami-rich condiment.

All sorts of miso pastes make a great savory and salty addition to chowder, though the type of miso you use depends on the flavor you want. White miso is mild, sweet, and will mostly keep your chowder tasting classic, while red miso is known for a potent flavor, soy miso is very rich in umami, and rice miso adds a light and delicate flavor.

To make a miso-infused clam chowder, simply use a 1:1 ratio of stock to miso paste as your base, not including any milk or cream. You can even use miso in place of seasonings or herbs to make your chowder extra simple, and if you’re feeling skeptical, start with a small amount of miso, taste the soup, then add more as needed.