Miso Glazed Salmon - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Better than at your favorite restaurant, this miso-glazed salmon is sweet, savory, and full of flavor. It cooks with a delicious caramelized miso glaze on the outside and stays flaky and moist in the middle. You are going to love everything about this recipe!

I think it’s safe to say salmon is my favorite kind of fish. It’s flaky and flavorful, without a super strong fish flavor. You can also flavor it in so many different ways, like this Garlic Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon, and this easy Baked Garlic Herb Salmon, and this amazing and Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon.

Miso Glazed Salmon - The Recipe Critic (1)

Miso Glaze Salmon

This glazed miso salmon is insanely good! It is also super easy to make, so you are definitely going to love this recipe. The real magic in this recipe is the miso glaze. Miso glaze tastes like the best sweet and savory sauce you’ve ever had that pairs perfectly with salmon. Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans that has a deep umami flavor with a hint of funk. If you like soy sauce, you are going to love this glaze. If you do love the glaze, you’ll have to try this homemade hoisin sauce and pot sticker sauce next!

I love seafood, especially with an Asian twist. I feel like the savory flavors in things like sesame oil, rice vinegar, and miso paste just go so well on fish. You can definitely try this glaze on other pieces of fish like snapper or cod. I bet it’s even delicious with scallops and shrimp! No matter what you cook, it’s going to be amazing. I have never had anyone try this miso glaze that didn’t ask me for the recipe.

Ingredients

The salmon is definitely the star of this glazed miso salmon recipe. If you aren’t confident in picking out the perfect piece of salmon, I share my tips below in the tip box. The best part about this recipe in my opinion is that you also get the perfect miso glaze recipe! You can use this glaze on a lot of other protein and veggies (it’s perfect with a stir fry!).

  • Salmon Fillets: I like to buy one half of a salmon which is usually about 2 pounds and slice it into four salmon filets.
  • Salt and Pepper: This is to season the salmon. The glaze is pretty salty already from the soy sauce, so you could choose a low sodium soy sauce to cut down on some of the salt.
  • Miso Paste: Miso paste is a fermented soybean paste. You can use white miso or red miso, I chose red for this sauce.
  • Soy Sauce: This is the perfect pair with miso paste. It pairs perfectly with all of the other flavors and helps the sauce get to the right consistency.
  • Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a sweetness that balances out the savory flavors. You could use honey instead if you would like.
  • Rice Vinegar: This is the perfect way to brighten up the glaze. It’s sweet and acidic kind of like apple cider vinegar. In fact, you can actually substitute rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar in a pinch. Rice wine vinegar could also work.
  • Sesame Oil: This has a nutty earthy flavor that is perfect in addition to all of the other ingredients.
  • Green Onions and Sesame Seeds: This is an optional garnish. I think it makes the dish look complete, and adds a lot of fresh flavor
Miso Glazed Salmon - The Recipe Critic (2)

Miso Glazed Salmon Recipe

Cooking miso glazed salmon is so simple! You will start cooking the fish in a skillet in the oven. Then you will take it out and add a little more of your miso glaze to give it a nice caramel crust and broil it. It makes all the sugars in the sauce nice and sticky, just like they do at a restaurant! This dish is easy and so full of flavor, and a great way to get the whole family to try something new.

  1. Season Salmon: Salt and pepper the salmon.
  2. Whisk Ingredients: In a small bowl add the miso paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Wisk together until smooth. Reserve 1 tablespoon of marinade.
  3. Marinade: In a medium sized bowl add the salmon and the sauce. Let it marinade for 1-3 hours.
  4. Cook Salmon: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet or oven safe frying pan add the salmon and discard marinade. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until fish is almost done and opaque. Brush with reserved glaze and Broil on high for 1-2 minutes until fish reaches 125-130 degrees in the center.
  5. Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Miso Glazed Salmon - The Recipe Critic (3)

Tips for Making Miso Glazed Salmon

I think you are going to love this miso glazed salmon recipe because it is full of unique flavor and still really easy to cook. So if you go to make this recipe and have a few questions, be sure to check out these tips that will help make this recipe a success. I also share a few ideas of what to eat this salmon with!

  • Choosing Good Salmon: When you are looking for salmon at the store, the color of the fish will tell you a lot. If it has a really nice deep pink color, it is going to be flavorful and full of good nutrients. You don’t want a pale, orange, and wet-looking piece. When you poke it, the meat should spring back. If it leaves an indent then the fish is not as fresh as you want it.
  • What to Serve It With: I love miso salmon over some brown rice and a side of edamame. It also goes great with roasted vegetables or even miso soup (never too much miso in my opinion!). You can also serve this salmon on top of a Asian ramen salad for a heartier and more complete meal.
  • Making the Glaze: This glaze is so simple. You just put all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk! I prefer red miso paste, which you should be able to find in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. You can use a low sodium soy sauce to cut down on some of the salt content. If you don’t have rice vinegar on hand, you can use apple cider vinegar as a great substitute. The sesame oil is really strong in flavor, so make sure you don’t overdo it, and you will have the perfect glaze!
Miso Glazed Salmon - The Recipe Critic (4)

Storing Leftovers

Miso glazed salmon is so flaky and tender. It is definitely best enjoyed fresh in my opinion, but if you have leftovers here is how to store them.

  • In the Refrigerator: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Other Asian Inspired Dinner Ideas

I love Asian flavors and definitely make a lot of Asian inspired dinners. They are always a hit at my house and they also make great leftovers. If you are looking for some yummy and easy dinner ideas, these recipes are for you!

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Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

6 hrs 15 mins

Dinner

Cashew Chicken (Way Better than Takeout!)

30 mins

Side Dishes

Better than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice

40 mins

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Miso Glazed Salmon

5 from 3 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Better than at your favorite restaurant, this miso-glazed salmon is sweet, savory, and full of flavor. It cooks with a delicious caramelized miso glaze on the outside and stays flaky and moist in the middle. You are going to love everything about this recipe!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Marinade: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 28 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Salt and pepper the salmon.

  • In a small bowl add the miso paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Wisk together until smooth. Reserve 1 tablespoon of marinade.

  • In a medium sized bowl add the salmon and the sauce. Let it marinade for 1-3 hours.

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet add the salmon and discard marinade. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until fish is almost done and opaque. Brush with reserved glaze and Broil on high for 1-2 minutes until fish reaches 125-130 degrees in the center.

  • Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 8ouncesCalories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 48gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 1245mgPotassium: 1171mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 106IUCalcium: 42mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Asian American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Miso Glazed Salmon - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is miso glazed salmon made of? ›

Whisk together miso, sake, soy sauce, oil, and sugar. Rub mixture over every surface of salmon fillets. Transfer to a plastic zipper lock bag or sealable container. Proceed immediately to next step, or for best results, marinate for about 30 minutes or up to 2 days.

Is miso glaze the same as miso paste? ›

A miso glaze is made up of miso paste and other ingredients that combine to make a sweet and savory glaze. It is perfect on salmon fillets, and a great dipping sauce for air fryer chicken legs or wings.

How long does miso glaze last in the fridge? ›

The Best Miso Sauce

The sauce is the guarded secret to many of your favorite Japanese dishes. Super easy to put together & only 4 simple ingredients needed! Long shelf life. Make once and store well in the fridge for up to 2 months.

How to glaze with miso? ›

1. In a medium saucepan bring sake and mirin to a boil then switch to low heat. 2. Add miso and brown sugar and whisk until well combined and sugar has melted.

Why is miso so good? ›

Rich in nutrients: Miso contains many healthy vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, manganese, zinc, protein and calcium. Many of these nutrients support essential structures like the bones and nervous system. Improves digestion: Because miso is high in probiotics, it helps the body maintain healthy bacteria levels.

What is the white gooey stuff on salmon when you cook it? ›

The white stuff that oozes out of salmon is called albumin, a type of protein in the fish (other foods with albumin include eggs, beef and milk). You can't see albumin when the fish is raw—it only appears when the salmon is exposed to heat. As salmon cooks, the albumin turns from its liquid state into a semi-solid one.

What is the secret ingredient in miso paste? ›

Miso, a fermented soybean paste, is a culinary staple in Japan, says Sonoko Sakai, chef, cooking teacher, and author of Japanese Home Cooking. It's made using just four ingredients: cooked soybeans, grains (typically rice), salt, and koji mold, a type of fungus scientifically known as Aspergillus oryzae.

Is miso healthy? ›

Miso soup contains several beneficial vitamins, minerals, and components that may improve your gut and heart health and may lower your risk of cancer. If you are on a low-salt diet, read the label on packaged miso soup to choose one that's low in sodium. What the heck is miso? Miso is a fermented soybean paste.

Is miso paste healthy? ›

Eating fermented foods such as miso may improve digestion, reduce gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Research suggests that the fungal strain found in miso may reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel disease as well.

How to know if miso went bad? ›

When miso goes bad, its flavor also changes. It becomes more sour and astringent. If the taste has changed from when you purchased it, it is evidence that it has gone bad and you should stop eating it. To avoid food poisoning, do not eat miso that has a sour smell, sour taste, or mold growth.

Why is my white miso turning brown? ›

This also causes the flavor to change. This phenomenon is the result of the ingredients in the miso reacting with each other, and can occur even in an unopened pack of miso. When you store miso in a hot place, the color gets darker, and when it gets too dark, it's a sign that flavor may have been lost.

What temperature kills miso? ›

Boiling miso can harm the probiotic bacteria. At temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit these delicate bacteria are destroyed. We recommend adding miso paste to soups just prior to serving.

Can I just add miso paste to water? ›

In a saucepan on the stove or in a mug in the microwave, heat water just before boiling. Stir the white miso paste into hot water until it dissolves completely. Enjoy with a spoon or sip straight from the cup!

Can you add too much miso? ›

Made from soybeans fermented with bacteria and fungi and preserved using a large quantity of salt, miso is naturally packed with both umami and salty flavors. But when you add too much miso to a dish, what you're going to notice, predominantly, is excessive saltiness.

Why can't you boil miso? ›

The number one mistake! The aromatic qualities of miso – as well as some of the nutritional benefits – are damaged when boiled. This is why miso is traditionally stirred in at the final stage of cooking, either over a gentle simmer or heat with turned off.

What is miso glaze made of? ›

Japanese miso is a savory, salty paste usually made with fermented soybeans or rice and barley.

What is miso made of? ›

Miso paste is a fermented soy bean paste that's used a lot in Japanese cooking. It's made by fermenting steamed soy beans with salt, grains (usually rice or barley) and koji, a type of fungus. But don't let that put you off – it's a phenomenal way to add flavour to meat, fish and more.

What is miso and what does it taste like? ›

What Does Miso Taste Like? Savory is usually the word used to describe the flavor of miso. Different types of miso paste vary in intensity, but in general, you can compare the flavor of miso paste to a rich soy sauce. It's salty and concentrated with fermented hints of tanginess.

What is miso sauce made of? ›

Miso sauce is made of white miso, fresh ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and water.

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