Miso Salmon

Glazing fish with a miso-based marinade is one of my favorite quick and easy ways to have a sophisticated fish dinner at home. The sweet and salty umami-rich flavor of miso complements salmon and other firm, fatty fish perfectly. And if you have the ingredients on hand, this glaze comes together in about 5 minutes of hands-on time. 5 minutes! The marinating time is totally hands-off and very flexible. Then all you have to do is plan some easy sides, broil your fish, and dinner is served.

Salmon is a rich, firm, fatty fish, perfect for pairing with this miso marinade (but other fish are also great options). 

Try to make sure the fish you choose is raised and harvested sustainably. The Seafood Watch site, run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, is a great source of information about seafood sustainability. You can also look for Alaskan salmon, which is fished and processed using very sustainable methods.

Miso Salmon: Not counting a flexible marinating time, this take 5 minutes to pull together, and 10 minutes to cook. The miso glaze is a perfect pairing with the rich salmon.

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Miso Marinade Ingredients

If you have a good basic Asian pantry, this marinade is available at any time! Keep some miso on hand in the fridge (it lasts for a year, so don’t worry about having to use it up too quickly), as well as some toasted sesame oil. Fresh ginger lasts for a while in the refrigerator, and I use it constantly — pick up a nice knob to make Asian food whenever you like. Also, check out How to Cook with Ginger and How to Peel Fresh Ginger with a spoon.

Mirin and sake are two versions of rice wine that are included in this marinade. There are a gajillion types of sake out there, and while you can use a fine one in this recipe, you can also use a lower-priced option with perfect results. Mirin is a sweet rice wine used almost exclusively in Japanese cooking. Both will last for months and months, so if you buy them for this recipe, you can again not worry about having to use them up before they spoil.

How to Make Miso Salmon

In a large-rimmed dish, whisk together the miso, mirin, sake, sugar, ginger, and sesame oil. Add the salmon and turn the filets so they are well coated with the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours; if you can plan to marinate the fish overnight, all the better.

Preheat the broiler. Oil a metal or other non-glass baking dish or rimmed baking sheet, or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the salmon from the marinade. Place them on the baking sheet, with at least ½-inch between each piece. Broil for 7 to 10 minutes, until golden brown. Sprinkle the salmon with the scallions and serve hot. Some Shishito Peppers would be nice alongside as well!

What to Serve With Miso Salmon

• Rice
• Sautéed Broccoli
• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Soy-Glazed Sugar Snap Peas
• Japanese Cucumber Salad

Other Asian Fish Recipes

• Simple Asian Salmon
• Honey Ginger Salmon
• Honey Hoisin Salmon

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