Blend of white and red miso, balanced and versatile.
Substitutes
Miso — 1:1 (dissolve in broth before adding to dish). Generic miso is the closest match for awase, which blends white and red varieties. All miso undergoes aspergillus oryzae fermentation, producing 200-700mg/100g glutamic acid for deep umami [McGee]. Any miso variety works as a direct swap.
Red Miso — 1:1 (reduce slightly for less intensity). Red miso (aka miso) is fermented longer than awase blend, producing a more intense, saltier, and more complex umami flavor. Awase combines white and red miso for balance. Use slightly less red miso and consider mixing with a touch of sugar to approximate awase's mellower profile.
White Miso — 1:1 (add pinch of soy sauce for depth). White miso is milder than awase. Adding a splash of soy sauce compensates for the missing red miso depth.