Miso Glazed Salmon—Healthy and Easy

This Miso Glazed Salmon recipe is a perfect blend of flavors and a snap to prepare.

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Miso Glazed Salmon—Healthy and Easy — It’s healthy, easy, and supremely delish! Using the broiler creates fantastic flavor in a short amount of time. Courtesy of Amy Dong

By Amy Dong

2/15/2024Updated: 2/15/2024

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Why This Recipe Stands Out

We all want a recipe that’s easy, healthy, and packed with flavor. That’s exactly what this Miso Glazed Salmon is:

Easy: This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients, making it a breeze to prepare, just like our Easy Baked Salmon.
Healthy: Salmon is a superfood, rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, this recipe uses white miso paste, well known for its health benefits.
Flavor-packed: The combination of miso, sugar, Sake, and Mirin creates a flavor combination that’s simply irresistible.
Quick: With just 8 minutes of broiling time, this is the perfect recipe for busy weeknights.
Perfectly Cooked: By following our tips, you’ll achieve salmon that’s perfectly browned on the outside and tender on the inside.

Key Recipe Ingredients

(Courtesy of Amy Dong) — Courtesy of Amy Dong

Salmon Fillets—The star of our dish, these fillets, when cooked correctly, are tender and flavorful.
White Miso Paste—This is where our dish gets its distinct umami flavor. It’s packed with bold, salty-sweet flavors.
Japanese Rice Wine (Sake) and Sweet Rice Wine (Mirin)—These add depth to the marinade, and their sweetness balances the saltiness of the miso paste. We also use Mirin in our Grilled Teriyaki Chicken recipe.
Toasted Sesame Seeds and Green Onions—These garnishes add a beautiful crunch and a fresh, aromatic finish to our dish.

Substitutions and Variations

This Miso Glazed Salmon recipe is a winner, but there’s always room to make it your own. Here are some tasty variations and substitution ideas:

Sweetener: If you prefer, substitute the granulated sugar with honey for a touch of natural sweetness. We use honey in our Honey Glazed Salmon for that very reason.
Gluten-Free: If you need a gluten-free option, ensure the rice wines and the sweet rice wine are gluten-free. Some brands add wheat for fermentation.
Protein: While salmon is our protein of choice, this miso glaze works beautifully with other fish too. Try it with steelhead trout or a flaky white fish like cod or halibut.
Spices: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinade. It pairs beautifully with the sweet and salty flavors.
Garnishes: Feel free to get creative with your garnishes. Try chopped cilantro or even a squeeze of fresh lemon for a tangy twist.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Towel-dry salmon fillets thoroughly and set aside. Mix miso, sweetener, Sake, Mirin, and pepper until smooth. Dip each salmon fillet into the miso mixture to coat both sides evenly. Place fillets in a large pan, cover, and chill overnight.

Preheat broiler and set a wire rack on a baking sheet. Line rack with foil and place the salmon fillets on it. Broil the salmon until the top and sides are brown and the center is somewhat firm. Garnish with sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions.

How To Prep Ahead

This miso glazed salmon is a perfect make-ahead dish that not only tastes better when marinated overnight but also allows you to do most of the work in advance. Take a look at our favorite prep-ahead tips for this recipe:

Miso Marinade: The miso glaze for this salmon can be prepared up to 3 days in advance. Simply mix together the miso paste, sugar, Sake, Mirin, and pepper, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to cook, just take it out and let it come to room temperature before using.
Marinate Overnight: The salmon can be marinated in the miso glaze a day ahead. We recommend marinating the salmon fillets overnight, up to 24 hours, for the best flavor. This is a great way to save time and let the flavors really soak into the salmon.
Freeze: You can also freeze the miso glazed salmon after it’s been cooked. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat, just let it thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat it in the oven or microwave. It’s a great way to have a delicious meal ready to go at a moment’s notice.

What To Serve With Miso Glazed Salmon

Rice

A simple bowl of steamed white or brown rice is a perfect accompaniment to miso glazed salmon. The rice can soak up the delicious flavors of the salmon and miso glaze, making every bite a treat.
For a more adventurous rice dish, try our Asian Sticky Rice. It’s packed with flavor and pairs wonderfully with the salmon.

Vegetables

Healthy, leafy greens like bok choy or gai lan (Chinese broccoli) are perfect for balancing the rich flavors of the salmon. You can stir-fry them, steam them, or even grill them for a tasty side dish.
Air fryer broccoli is one of our favorite healthy vegetables to pair with salmon.

Salad

A light, fresh salad can be a great side dish for miso glazed salmon. We recommend a Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad that’ll work beautifully with the flavors in this dish.
For a heartier salad, try adding some quinoa or couscous. They’ll both complement the salmon nicely and make your meal more filling.

Miso Glazed Salmon—Healthy and Easy

Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 fillets salmon, 6- to 8-ounce, approx. 1-inch thickness
½ cup white miso paste
3 TB granulated sugar
3 TB Japanese rice wine, Sake
3 TB Japanese sweet rice wine, Mirin
¼ tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
toasted sesame seeds, garnish, or thinly sliced green onions

Instructions

Thoroughly towel-dry salmon fillets to remove excess moisture. Set aside.
Using a hand-whisk, gently mix together the miso, sugar, Sake, Mirin, and pepper until smooth and fully incorporated. Dip each salmon fillet into miso mixture to evenly coat both sides of each piece of fish. Place salmon fillets in a single layer in 9×13 or other large pan; gently spread remaining miso mixture evenly on top of each fillet. Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight, up to 24 hours.
Preheat broiler on high, with rack 8 inches from heat source. Set a wire rack on a large baking sheet. Line wire rack with foil. Gently remove excess miso mixture from fillets (do not rinse) and place fish on foil-lined wire rack. Do not overcrowd the fish (should be at least 1 inch space in between each piece.)
Broil salmon until browned on top/sides and centers feel somewhat firm upon lightly pressing down with a spatula (roughly 8 minutes, depending on thickness and temp of fish to begin with.) If tops/side brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil and cook until fish is just done (take care not to over-cook.) Garnish as desired. Serve while warm, with white or brown rice.

Notes

For the best results, make sure to choose salmon fillets of even thickness. This will help the fish cook evenly and prevent some parts from becoming overcooked while others are still underdone.
Thoroughly towel-dry the salmon before applying the miso glaze. This allows the glaze to stick better and also helps the salmon develop a beautiful caramelized crust when broiled.
Always try to marinate the salmon overnight, up to 24 hours, before broiling. It’ll ensure you get the most flavorful salmon dish.
Don’t have Sake and Mirin? No problem! You can easily substitute them with dry sherry and sweet marsala or dry white wine and sweet vermouth, respectively.
Be mindful of the broiling process. If the top and sides of the salmon fillets brown too quickly, simply cover them loosely with foil to prevent them from burning.
Always serve the miso glazed salmon while it’s warm. It’s at its juiciest and most flavorful right out of the oven. Serve it with white or brown rice.
Love a stronger miso flavor? Feel free to use a darker miso paste. We used white miso for a milder flavor, but any color miso paste can be substituted.

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