Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation (Soy Sauce, Miso, Sake, Mirin, Amazake, Charcuterie) Contributor(s): Umansky, Jeremy (Author) , Shih, Rich (Author) , Katz, Sandor Ellix (Foreword by)

"Koji Alchemy guides readers through the history and diverse application of koji, the microbe behind the delicious, umami flavors of soy sauce, miso, mirin, and so much more. Devoted authors Jeremy Umansky and Rich Shih share processes, concepts, and recipes for fermenting and culturing foods with this magical ingredient. Then they take it to the next level by describing how they rapidly age charcuterie, cheese, and other ferments, revolutionizing the creation of fermented foods and their flavor profiles for both chefs and home cooks. Readers will learn how to grow koji, including information on equipment and setting up your kitchen, as well as detailed concepts and processes for making amino sauces and pastes, alcohol and vinegar, and using it for flavor enhancement with dairy, eggs, vegetables, and baking. With the added tips and expertise from their friends, Umansky and Shih have developed a comprehensive look at modern koji use around the world"--

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

James Beard Foundation Book Award Finalist for Reference and Scholarship

"The perfect next step."--NPR's "Science Friday"

For viewers of "Salt Fat Acid Heat," the first book devoted to processes, concepts, and recipes for fermenting and culturing foods with koji, the microbe behind the delicious, umami flavors of Japanese cuisine

In Koji Alchemy chefs Jeremy Umansky and Rich Shih--collectively considered to be the most practical, experienced, generous educators 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, revolutionizing the creation of fermented foods and flavor 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
• Information on equipment and setting up your kitchen
• More than 35 recipes for sauces, pastes, ferments, and alcohol, including stand-outs like Popcorn Koji, Roasted Entire Squash Miso, Korean Makgeolli, Amazake Rye Bread, and more

"Koji Alchemy is empowering and does much to open the door to further creativity and innovation. . . . I can't wait to see and taste the next wave of koji experimentation it inspires." --Sandor Katz

"Next level fermentation fodder."--The Boston Globe

Jeremy Umanskyis a chef/owner of Larder: A Curated Delicatessen & Bakery in Cleveland, Ohio, nominated by the James Beard Foundation as the Best New Restaurant in America in 2019. He has been featured in numerous publications likeBon AppetitandSaveurand was named "The Deli Prophet" byFood & Winein the March 2019 Makers Issue.

Rich Shih is one of the leading culinary explorers of koji and miso in the United States and an in-demand food preservation consultant. He is also the Exhibit Engineer for the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) based in New York City. Find out more on his blog at OurCookQuest.com.

Sandor Ellix Katz is a fermentation revivalist. A self-taught experimentalist who lives in rural Tennessee, his explorations in fermentation developed out of his overlapping interests in cooking, nutrition, and gardening. He is the author of four previous books: Wild Fermentation, The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, The Art of Fermentation--which won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2013--and Fermentation as Metaphor. The hundreds of fermentation workshops he has taught around the world have helped catalyze a broad revival of the fermentation arts. The New York Times calls Sandor "one of the unlikely rock stars of the American food scene." For more information, check out his website: www.wildfermentation.com.

"Koji Alchemy opens up a whole new world of endless gastronomic possibilities. Koji will be the next great wave for fermentation enthusiasts, and these authors are its heralds. I have watched from the sidelines with great anticipation and am now ready to dive in myself with this book as my guide."--Ken Albala, professor of history, University of the Pacific

"Like a magician revealing their tricks,Koji Alchemyhas lifted the veil on the complex nature of some of the world's most beloved foods. The authors brilliantly demystify the 'alchemy, ' giving the reader a straightforward view into the world of koji's secrets. Never before has a book broken down the building blocks of koji and its products so completely and in such a useful way in the kitchen."--Kyle Connaughton, chef and owner, SingleThread Farms