Koji Alchemy (rediscovering The Magic Of Mold-based Fermentation (soy Sauce, Miso, Sake, Mirin, Amazake, Charcuterie))

By (author) Jeremy Umansky; By (author) Umansky, Jeremy; By (author) Shih, Rich; Foreword by Katz Sandor Ellix
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Koji Alchemy is the first book devoted to processes, concepts, and recipes for fermenting foods with koji, the microbe behind the delicious, umami flavors of soy sauce, miso, mirin, and so many of the ingredients that underpin Japanese cuisine.
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Featured in The Independent’s 7 best fermentation books 2020

This book is remarkable. David Zilber, co-author of The Noma Guide to Fermentation

Koji: the next fermentation game changer

Koji Alchemy is the first book devoted to processes, concepts, and recipes for fermenting foods with koji, the microbe behind the delicious umami flavors of soy sauce, miso, mirin, and so many of the ingredients that underpin Japanese cuisine. 

Chefs Jeremy Umansky and Rich Shih leaders on the culinary power of this unique ingredient deliver a comprehensive look at modern koji use around the world. Using it to rapidly age charcuterie, cheese, and other ferments, they take the magic of koji to the next level, revolutionising the creation of fermented foods and flavour profiles for both professional and home cooks.

Koji Alchemy includes: 

• A foreword by best-selling author Sandor Katz (The Art of Fermentation)
• Cutting-edge techniques on koji growing and curing
• Extensive information on equipment and setting up your kitchen
• More than 35 recipes for sauces, pastes, ferments, and alcohol

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“Koji Alchemy unveils the magical mold that pushes culinary boundaries far beyond Japanese tradition.”—Forbes

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"[Koji Alchemy] offers next level fermentation fodder. . . . Part biology textbook, part celebration of the fungus, part explanation of flavor, and part recipe book and how-to guide for pastes, sauces, cheeses, brewing, and aging meat."—The Boston Globe

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“They say a gram of koji contains millions of spores. Shih and Umansky equal that with insights, bringing scientific understanding to koji’s magical powers of transformation (without spoiling any of the magic). Koji Alchemy is an immensely informative read.”—Dan Barber, chef/co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns; author of The Third Plate

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“I have always been intrigued by the technical and thoughtful fermentation practices of many cultures. Reading Koji Alchemy has opened my eyes to how simple working with koji can actually be, while remaining incredibly innovative and exciting. This book is not only full of information, it’s scientific, and most of all thrilling. It’s a great reminder that we all have a lot to learn about the art of fermentation.”—Daniel Boulud, chef and restaurateur, Daniel

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“Before this book, what Jeremy and Rich have done with food I would’ve thought impossible. As someone who has always had a deep love for the curing, brining, aging, and smoking of meat, I would have never thought these time-honored processes could be sped up without producing lesser results. Well, was I ever proven wrong. To take an ingredient like koji, which has been available and used for hundreds of years, and use it to speed up processes like pastrami and still maintain its integrity is truly astonishing. In Koji Alchemy, they show you what to me feels like magic, and guide you through every step so you can now make dishes at home or at your restaurants that would have previously taken not only lots of time but also space. Th