Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation
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Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation
This is a must have if you work with or are thinking about working with koji. Jeremy is super knowledgeable and Rich's passion & creativity for this stuff knows no bounds. I've been fermenting for years but these guys but these guys take things to a new level.
Product Description The first book devoted to processes, concepts, and recipes for fermenting and culturing 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 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 Review “Koji Alchemy unveils the magical mold that pushes culinary boundaries far beyond Japanese tradition.”―Forbes "[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 “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 “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 “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. They have opened my mind to koji’s limitless uses and will do the same for you. Jeremy and Rich, thank you for always pushing culinary boundaries and reminding us all that there is something new to learn and be inspired by every day.”―Chef Michael Symon “Science is a very useful resource for understanding food, and, very importantly, it shows us how to make better food. This book succeeds in ‘translating’ the language of science and its practical applications to everyday users. Exploiting and harnessing the effects that microorganisms have on food is a great tool that any cook can add to their repertoire, and Koji Alchemy will show you how. I hope Merriam-Webster adds the word ‘kojify’ to the dictionary soon.”―Francisco Migoya, head chef, Modernist Cuisine “Koji Alchemy is the most in-depth study on the subject that I’ve ever seen. As someone basically starting at zero, I’m inspired to dig in and learn from the masters.”―Jeremy Fox, author of On Vegetables “Rich and Jeremy have dedicated years to researching and experimenting with both traditional and utterly novel uses for koji. With Koji Alchemy, they open their notebooks to the rest of us, sharing their deep knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for this remarkable mold. This book, at once comprehensive and approachable, will prove invaluable to any curious cook looking to make more flavorful food, reduce kitchen waste, or experiment at the frontier of an exciting world of fermentation.”―Dan Souza, editor-in-chief, Cook’s Illustrated “Alchemist, chef, and master charcutier, Jeremy Umansky is the Albert Einstein of koji. Koji Alchemy―his book with Rich Shih, a first-rate koji explorer―is fascinating, hunger-inducing, and the final word on the spore responsible for miso, soy sauce, sake, and so much more.”―Steven Raichlen, host, PBS’s Project Fire and Project Smoke “Like a magician revealing their tricks, Koji Alchemy has 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 About the Author Jeremy Umansky is 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 like Bon Appetit and Saveur and was named “The Deli Prophet” by Food & Wine in 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 overlapping interests in cooking, nutrition, and gardening. He is the author of two best-selling books: Wild Fermentation and The Art of Fermentation, which won a James Beard Foundation award in 2013. 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.
