I’m obsessed with this Broiled Miso Salmon, it’s perfectly charred on the edges with crispy skin and the sweet miso marinade is delicious!
Miso Salmon
When I go out for Japanese, I love ordering Miso salmon, a popular Japanese dish that combines the rich flavors of miso paste with the delicate taste of salmon. But when I’m craving it at home, I whip up this Miso Salmon which I’ve been making for years! The salmon fillets are marinated with a mixture of miso, mirin, garlic and ginger overnight, before broiling the fish. I serve it with Asian chopped salad but this is also great with hot steamed rice, edamame fried rice, quinoa or even cauliflower fried rice.
Why This Works!
- Quick Dinner: Once marinated this takes 10 minutes to cook!
- Nutrient-Rich: Salmon is a great source of high-quality protein, essential omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins such as Vitamin D and B12. It’s also rich in minerals like selenium and phosphorus.
- Easy: Simply combine marinade ingredients, marinate overnight, then broil the next day.
- Anti-inflammatory: The omega-3s help with heart health and inflammation.
- Gut Health: Miso provides beneficial probiotics for gut health.
- No added sugar: many recipes add honey, maple syrup or brown sugar to the marinade, but I find the sweet and tangy flavor of the mirin is all this needs.
Ingredients for Miso Salmon
- Fish: Skin-on wild salmon fillets, or you can use cod, sea bass, black cod, trout or arctic char.
- Miso Paste: Adds deep umami flavor. I used white miso paste, which you can purchase on amazon, or Asian markets.
- Mirin: Contributes a mild sweetness and helps caramelize the surface during cooking without the need to add sugar like most recipes.
- Aromatics: Garlic and fresh ginger, for flavor.
- Scallion greens or green onions, for garnish. Sesame seeds can also be added.
How To Make Miso Salmon
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl combine miso, mirin, garlic and ginger and mix.
- Marinate the Salmon: Coat the salmon fillets evenly with the miso marinade. Place them in a dish and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight for better for deeper flavor.
- Preheat the broiler and adjust the racks: Preheat your oven’s broiler second rack from the top.
- Cook the Salmon: Broil 6-7 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Top with scallions.
Variations
- If you don’t want to use salmon filets, substitute with another fish like cod, sea bass, black cod, trout or arctic char.
- Play around with this dish by swapping white miso for red miso.
- A little sesame oil can be added to the marinade if you want a slightly nutty flavor.
- Some people add a little soy sauce to the marinade, I left it out to keep the sodium down. If you want to add it, use 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce, coconut aminos or tamari.
What To Serve with Japonese Salmon
- Serve the miso salmon hot, with steamed rice and vegetables for a complete meal.
- If you want to keep it light and low-carb, try it with this Asian chopped salad.
- Or serve it with edamame fried rice, quinoa or even cauliflower fried rice.
- Serve it with stir fry veg of broccolini, carrot and bok choy.
Notes about Miso
Miso, a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (a type of fungus), gives the salmon a deep umami flavor. I use this White miso which will keep for several months in the refrigerator. It’s also great used in soups, salad dressings and marinades.
Leftovers
Refrigerate leftovers 2 to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave a few minutes.
More Salmon Recipes
Miso Salmon Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound skin-on wild salmon, cut into 4 equal portions, or you can use cod, sea bass, black cod, trout or arctic char
- 1/4 cup white miso, available at amazon, or Asian, gourmet markets
- 1/2 cup mirin
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 scallion, green parts only, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine miso, mirin, garlic and ginger.
- Pour 1/4 of the marinade in a shallow dish or glass pie plate, place fish flesh-side down, and top with remaining marinade. Cover with plastic and place in refrigerator, allow to marinate at least 6 hours or as long as overnight.
- Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat oven to broil on high.
- Transfer salmon to a sheet pan lined with foil. Discard excess marinade.
- Place fish on the second rack from the top and broil 6-7 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
- If you wish to serve the fish without the skin, carefully slide a fish spatula between the skin and flesh.
- Garnish with scallions and serve.