How to Use umami in a Sentence

umami

1 of 2 noun
  • The shiso adds a bright pop of citrusy mint and the konbu a boost of umami.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2023
  • The oily heat, the crunch of chile flakes and fried peanut, and the blast of umami from granules of MSG are all here for you.
    Max Falkowitz, Saveur, 4 June 2018
  • Some of the best bites come first, where the scalloped edges offer crunch and a punch of umami.
    Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2023
  • And the earthy and umami-packed turmeric is my favorite of all.
    Amber Gibson, Bon Appétit, 26 Feb. 2021
  • Sweet caramelized onions and rich miso butter add loads of umami to the gruyere cheese in the sandwich.
    Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022
  • The meat falls off the bone at first tug, and the sauce is rich and full of umami with a hint of star anise and earthy white pepper.
    Leena Trivedi-Grenier, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Dec. 2017
  • It's all topped with dried kombu chips adding up to a surf-and-turf umami bomb.
    Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 18 June 2017
  • The fresh herbs kept the dish light and bright, and the sesame soy vinaigrette gave an element of umami.
    Birmingham Magazine, AL.com, 18 Aug. 2017
  • The umami of the mushroom melds with smoky spice from the chiles and plays beautifully against the corn.
    Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2022
  • And those oysters lend tons of umami and rich savoriness to the sauce.
    Alex Delany, Bon Appetit, 4 June 2018
  • The noodles are always fresh and the dashi is always dense with umami.
    Bon Appetit, 19 Mar. 2018
  • The chef also adds kombu, dried seaweed, to the sauce for more umami.
    Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2020
  • And then, out came the voice—that voice, the old umami and gravel, with all its fragile grandeur intact.
    Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 7 Dec. 2021
  • Joo said the vegetables that get mixed in with the broth pack sundubu with umami.
    Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 3 Jan. 2017
  • Each sip from a bowl of the Hokkaido miso ramen ($9.70) is an umami bomb of salt and meat.
    Nick Kindelsperger, chicagotribune.com, 22 July 2019
  • Miso is a great way to add flavor and umami to a vegetable, as is roasting.
    Milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2018
  • Very refreshing, with a pickly kind of flavor and some umami and the spice will hit you on the back.
    Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2019
  • The fries come with a kim-chi ketchup sauce that adds another layer of umami.
    Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 20 Sep. 2017
  • As a result of this breakdown, amino acids are released that can enhance the umami of a dish.
    Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023
  • These burgers are all about umami—the savory, meaty taste found in foods like mushrooms and soy.
    Atlanta Life, ajc, 30 May 2017
  • This kitchen is going for a little fun, with spiked tastes and plenty of umami.
    Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2018
  • The botanticals emerged with a light, briny quality and a bit of umami.
    Josh Noel, chicagotribune.com, 24 Sep. 2019
  • Nutty and umami-packed (thanks to that miso) this dressing might just become one of your new faves.
    Audrey Bruno, SELF, 15 Dec. 2017
  • Mirin produced this way has a complex and rich flavor with loads of umami.
    Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 25 Oct. 2019
  • To boost the savory kick, umami-blasting Maggi seasoning laces the mayo that’s spread over the pork in a thin slick.
    Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022
  • The tang from stewed tomatoes, sweetness from caramelized peppers and onions, brininess from the green olives, and umami from braised beef.
    Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit, 13 Oct. 2017
  • Nor does the kitchen try to lard extra umami into every dish.
    Pete Wells, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2018
  • The umami is everywhere, in the bottarga, in the tomato.
    Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Miso provides the umami that would have otherwise been added by meat while the vinegar perks up the flavors.
    Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2021
  • At Alta, Corbin adds soy sauce and miso to his oxtail gravy, which bolsters its umami.
    Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2020
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umami

2 of 2 adjective
  • Chefs from all corners of the globe use it for an umami kick.
    Jess Eng, Washington Post, 20 July 2022
  • So, the umami flavors are right and center with the savory cheese and the right dose of pork fat.
    Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
  • Ketchup: Amp up the umami flavor with a hint of sweetness.
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 21 June 2023
  • Worcestershire sauce: For more umami and a load of tang.
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 21 June 2023
  • Ever the chef, de Leon will play by adding miso or dashi or tomatoes for more umami.
    Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 3 Oct. 2022
  • But, the real MVP here is fish sauce, which adds umami and a little saltiness, too.
    Christian Reynoso, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2022
  • Grated tomato adds freshness to the rice as well before it’s cooked in the umami broth.
    Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2023
  • Tomato paste: Adds rich flavor and umami to the meat mixture.
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2023
  • To me, this salad is about the heft of the cabbage, the cool of the lettuce, the crunch of the cashews and wonton chips, the brightness of the citrus and the umami bass note of the sesame-soy dressing.
    Jim Webster, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2023
  • The stock adds welcome umami richness and depth of flavor.
    Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024
  • The drink’s amino acids account for an umami flavor, and some sake types even have fruity flavors.
    Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2022
  • Mẹ’s Way differs from the others in its use of fish sauce, which lends a deep umami note to the hot peppers and fried garlic.
    Bon Appétit, 15 Nov. 2021
  • There’s no need for an initial sear on the meat either; that sauce packs more than enough umami flavor.
    Inés Anguiano, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2024
  • Level up your ice cream by tossing in some chili crisp to give it a sweet, salty, and umami flavor, Gao says.
    Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 25 July 2023
  • Stir the grated mound of Parmigiano-Reggiano into the soy-heavy sauce bathing the ravioli, and the umami sparks fly.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023
  • The earthy mushrooms pair beautifully with the umami flavor in the green tea.
    Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
  • In fact, as Ando advised, a splash of sake and mirin to the soup itself can add just the right hint of sweetness to round out all the salty, smoky, umami flavors of the dashi.
    Eric Kim, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2022
  • The umami flavor of the miso counters the squash’s natural sweetness.
    Magdalena O'Neal, Sunset Magazine, 25 Mar. 2022
  • For lighter stock, that means just salt, a touch of sugar, and some mushroom powder for umami flavor.
    Naomi Tomky, Saveur, 3 Jan. 2023
  • Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese: For a punch of cheesy flavor, and tons of umami flavor.
    Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023
  • Cooked with onion, garlic and jalapeño balancing sweet, umami, spicy and salty.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2021
  • Worcestershire sauce: Adds deep umami notes to the meatloaf.
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2023
  • Each tank of the base sake has a unique profile of the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and importantly, umami.
    Akiko Katayama, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023
  • Below are some of our favorite recipes from our archives that get spicy, umami twist from one of our favorite pantry items.
    Anna Rodriguez, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Dried porcini mushrooms add their umami depth to the broth, while fresh mushrooms give the dish plenty of texture and meatiness.
    Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2023
  • It’s topped off with crispy provolone, which adds a nice crunchy contrast and extra umami layer.
    Omar Mamoon, SFChronicle.com, 19 Aug. 2020
  • Tomatoes pack umami flavor, while feta adds tang and a little bit of salt.
    Women's Health, 28 Aug. 2023
  • Hailing from the birthplace of parmesan, this bulky gift is worth the price as the freshness and umami flavor are both astounding.
    Mark Stock, Men's Health, 27 Oct. 2022
  • Black garlic has a rich, umami flavor that also contains sour, sweet, and tangy notes.
    Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2023
  • Sit back and enjoy the creamy texture and the shroomy umami flavors with your organic Avaline red wine.
    Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 Nov. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umami.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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