Miso-Butterscotch Twinkies

These are not your father’s Twinkies. From Portland ramen shop Boke Bowl, these delicate beauties come with obsessive touches like vanilla beans scraped into the batter, thanks to pastry gal Elizabeth Green. Miso paste, of all things, lends a dulce de leche flavor profile to the filling. Secure a nonstick éclair pan in advance, available online and at kitchen shops. Save leftover pudding for a bonus dessert, best topped with whipped cream.

For the Twinkies

• Vegetable oil, for greasing the pan
• 3⁄4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1-1⁄2 tsp. baking powder
• 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
• 5 eggs, separated
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1⁄4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 Tbs. sour cream

For the miso-butterscotch pudding

• 3 eggs
• 1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup plus 2 Tbs. cornstarch
• 1-1⁄2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tbs. light corn syrup
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 1⁄2 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 Tbs. molasses
• 6 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 3 Tbs. light miso paste
• 1 cup whole milk

• Powdered sugar for topping

Make the Twinkies

Generously coat a nonstick 8-cup éclair pan with the vegetable oil. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl. Set aside.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks and 1⁄2 cup of the sugar on medium-high until pale yellow and doubled in volume, 4 to 5 minutes. Using the dull side of a knife, scrape the vanilla bean seeds from the pod into the mixture. (Reserve the pod for another use.) Reduce the speed to low, add the vanilla extract and sour cream, and mix until incorporated. Scrape the mixture into a large bowl and set aside.

Wash and dry the mixer bowl and whisk attachment. Using the stand mixer with the clean bowl and whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites with the remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar on medium-high until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently fold half of the dry ingredients into the yolk mixture, and then fold in the remaining dry ingredients. Gently fold in the egg whites just until combined, being careful not to deflate the batter.

Fill the éclair cups just a bit more than half full. Bake until springy to the touch and light golden brown, 9 to 12 minutes. Cool in the pan for 1 minute only, and then remove from the pan, using a knife to loosen the sides. Wipe out the pan, oil again, and repeat, using the remaining batter. Cool the cakes completely before filling.

Make the pudding

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla, cornstarch, and 1⁄2 cup of the cream together. Set aside.

In a large nonreactive saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, water, and lemon juice and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the molasses, butter, and miso. Simmer for a few minutes, and then add the milk and remaining 1 cup cream. Increase the heat to medium, add the egg mixture, and bring back to a boil, whisking vigorously. Reduce the heat to low and continue whisking until the mixture is bubbly and thick, about 5 minutes.

Remove the pudding from the heat, and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a glass bowl. Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming, and let cool at least 30 minutes.

To serve

Fill a squirt bottle or piping bag with the pudding. Turn the cakes over and carefully insert the bottle or piping tip into the flat underside of the cake. Squeeze in three equal squirts to distribute the filling evenly. Turn over and sift powdered sugar on top before serving.

Hanger Steak with Spicy Miso Glaze

Known for its intensely beefy flavor, hanger steak is also sometimes called “butcher’s steak” because butchers often keep it for themselves. If you can’t find it, you can use sirloin tip steak, but it will cook more quickly.

• 1/2 cup mirin
• 2 Tbs. minced shallots
• 2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. grapeseed oil
• 2 tsp. light miso
• 1/4 tsp. Asian hot sauce, such as Sriracha
• 1 1-3/4- to 2-lb. hanger steak, trimmed
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F.

Simmer the mirin, shallots, ginger, and garlic in an 8-inch skillet over medium heat until the mixture is syrupy and large bubbles start to form, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in 1 Tbs. of the grapeseed oil, the miso, and the hot sauce. Set aside.

Season the steaks generously with salt and pepper. Heat a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over high heat until very hot. Add the remaining 2 tsp. oil, swirling it until the pan is well coated. Cook the steaks, flipping once, until browned, about 4 minutes total. Using a pastry brush, spread the glaze evenly over the steaks, transfer to the oven, and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the steak reads 130°F to 135°F for medium rare, about 4 minutes.

Transfer the steaks to a cutting board, let rest for 5 minutes, and then cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Pour any juice remaining in the pan over top and sprinkle with the scallions.

Miso Mushroom Soup

You can make miso soup with any type of miso, but we prefer darker types for their richer, more savory flavor.

• 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, rinsed
• 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup medium diced silken tofu
• 2-1/2 Tbs. miso (preferably red or brown)
• 2 Tbs. thinly sliced scallion greens
• 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

In a medium saucepan, combine the mushrooms with 3 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and use a fork or tongs to transfer the mushrooms to a cutting board. As soon as the mushrooms are cool enough to handle, trim off and discard the stems and slice the caps very thinly. Return the sliced mushrooms to the pan of water. Bring back to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low. Let the mushrooms steep for 15 min. (the water needn’t be simmering, but it’s fine if it does). Taste one of the mushroom slices. If you like the texture, leave the mushrooms in; otherwise, fish them out and discard them.

Bring the mushroom broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add the spinach and tofu and simmer for 1 min. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, combine the miso with 2 Tbs. of the broth and mix well. Stir the thinned miso into the soup. Sprinkle each serving with 1 Tbs. of the scallion greens and 1/4 tsp. of the sesame oil.

Miso Mushroom Soup

You can make miso soup with any type of miso, but we prefer darker types for their richer, more savory flavor.

• 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, rinsed
• 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup medium diced silken tofu
• 2-1/2 Tbs. miso (preferably red or brown)
• 2 Tbs. thinly sliced scallion greens
• 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

In a medium saucepan, combine the mushrooms with 3 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and use a fork or tongs to transfer the mushrooms to a cutting board. As soon as the mushrooms are cool enough to handle, trim off and discard the stems and slice the caps very thinly. Return the sliced mushrooms to the pan of water. Bring back to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low. Let the mushrooms steep for 15 min. (the water needn’t be simmering, but it’s fine if it does). Taste one of the mushroom slices. If you like the texture, leave the mushrooms in; otherwise, fish them out and discard them.

Bring the mushroom broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add the spinach and tofu and simmer for 1 min. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, combine the miso with 2 Tbs. of the broth and mix well. Stir the thinned miso into the soup. Sprinkle each serving with 1 Tbs. of the scallion greens and 1/4 tsp. of the sesame oil.

Miso Mushroom Soup

You can make miso soup with any type of miso, but we prefer darker types for their richer, more savory flavor.

• 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, rinsed
• 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup medium diced silken tofu
• 2-1/2 Tbs. miso (preferably red or brown)
• 2 Tbs. thinly sliced scallion greens
• 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

In a medium saucepan, combine the mushrooms with 3 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and use a fork or tongs to transfer the mushrooms to a cutting board. As soon as the mushrooms are cool enough to handle, trim off and discard the stems and slice the caps very thinly. Return the sliced mushrooms to the pan of water. Bring back to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low. Let the mushrooms steep for 15 min. (the water needn’t be simmering, but it’s fine if it does). Taste one of the mushroom slices. If you like the texture, leave the mushrooms in; otherwise, fish them out and discard them.

Bring the mushroom broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add the spinach and tofu and simmer for 1 min. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, combine the miso with 2 Tbs. of the broth and mix well. Stir the thinned miso into the soup. Sprinkle each serving with 1 Tbs. of the scallion greens and 1/4 tsp. of the sesame oil.