Taste #5 Umami Paste Laura Santini 3 pk 2.46 oz tubes

by Laura Santtini

• Can be used as a spread or rub on meat or poultry before cooking
• With flavors of tomato based with olives, vinegar, mushrooms, cheese and spices
• A natural food enhancer
• Made In Italy
• By Laura Santtini

Product Description

Taste No.5 Umami Paste Laura Santini is a natural food enhancer. It can be used as a spread or rub on meat or poultry before cooking. With flavors of tomato based with olives, vinegar, mushrooms, cheese and spices.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B003XKKCO8
• UPC: 013933533958
• Country of Origin: Italy
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,949 in Grocery & Gourmet Food (See Top 100 in Grocery & Gourmet Food)
  • #28 in Grocery & Gourmet Food > Pantry Staples > Herbs, Spices & Seasonings > Mixed Spices & Seasonings > Gourmet Rubs

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars umami has changed my life. February 4, 2011

By Joseph E. Dombrowski

oh my gosh - great for meatballs (put some in your meat mixture) no more than a tablespoon per pound of beef/pork/veal.
also verrrry good with scrambled eggs- just a 1/2 teaspoon mixed in with the eggs as you scramble them.
good for soup also - great in a plain tomato soup- just a dab in your bowl, stir it in and smargk!
it adds a little dimension of flavor, you can't taste the component parts (mushrooms, vinegar, tomatoes, etc) when mixed in with your food - but you will notice that the flavors seem deeper when you use it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! September 7, 2011

By Mary Young

Amazon Verified Purchase

My sister gave me a tube after hearing about it on a NYC radio show. She really didn't know what to do with it so she gave it to me. I use it to rub on steaks before grilling them and it gives them a certain magic taste that you just can't put
your finger on. The package has a website where you can go and see a video of different ideas about using the product. Recipes at: [...]
Be brave, try it you will like it. Just don't use it as ketchup.

By the way I went to the website and umami paste does not contain MSG as one
reviewer stated. That's a good thing.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Yummy - makes a fun gift January 12, 2012

By Anonymous

Amazon Verified Purchase

I can't remember where I first read about the Umami No 5 paste but when I did, the cook/foodie in me immediately wanted to try it. I first found it at a chef's store in L.A. but it wasn't reliably in stock - which is when I started turning to my friend Amazon. Anyone bringing the product home for the first time should start by giving it a taste on its own - it is surprisingly quite pleasant straight out of the tube. Then I recommend heading over the to product website for some suggestions on how to use it. I use mine mostly to make super easy tomato sauce: sauté a clove of minced garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until it just starts to color, throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes and salt and and stir in 8 oz of crushed tomatoes and a squeeze of the umami paste. Simmer and salt to taste. You can mix in some dried herbs like oregano or whatever else you feel like. So easy! I tend to reach for the paste when cooking savory Mediterranean style meals that could use an extra something. It's also good mixed in ground meat patties. The paste makes for am inexpensive, fun & unique gift for any foodies in your life. I've given away several tubes at this point. I usually buy the pack of three, keep one for myself and give the other two away (don't give it to a vegetarian though unless they make an exception for fish).

For those of you worried about MSG in the paste - the ingredients are all pretty basic - parmesan, anchovies, olives, mushrooms... I am pretty sensitive to MSG (I first get really thirsty, then hot, then my mind starts racing and I can't sleep and finally I get a headache). I have never had any problems after using this. The product website says there is NO MSG in it in big letters and I am inclined to believe them since it doesn't bother me.

If anyone wants a good recipe to try the paste out on - check out the baked farro risotto recipe on the 101 Cookbooks blog (you can get farro on Amazon too if you can't find it at the store and don't want to substitute). That recipe is where I picked up the simple tomato sauce recipe that I now use.

The paste is something fun to play around with in the kitchen, like a flavored oil. I don't know that it is really worth the cost (which is why I deducted one star) but if you like fooling around with different spices and flavors it is a fun toy.