If you’re craving a simple yet flavorful dish, my Miso Butter Salmon is the perfect choice! This recipe is incredibly easy to make in under 10 minutes, and the rich miso butter glaze gives the salmon that restaurant-worthy taste right at home! Trust me, once you try this, you’ll want to make it again and again!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
What I love about this Miso Butter Salmon is how simple yet flavorful it is! This recipe uses my homemade Japanese-inspired Miso Garlic Butter to glaze a perfectly seared salmon fillet, delivering a creamy, savory, and umami-packed taste in just 10 minutes! It’s the perfect main course for anyone who wants a restaurant-quality meal at home using a fuss-free recipe, just like in my Soy Ginger Salmon and Salmon with Miso Sauce dishes!
I crafted this recipe for those who love quick, delicious meals using real ingredients and simple techniques, and it’s ideal for busy nights when you want to impress. Plus, the Miso Garlic Butter can also be used for Asian Steamed Vegetables, making this a super versatile dish. so if you’re craving a salmon dish that’s tender, flavorful, and easy, you’ve got to try this!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Salmon – fresh or properly defrosted salmon. You can use skin on or skin off depending on your preference, but make sure to use the correct cooking times.
- Salt – sea salt preferred.
- Black Pepper – ground.
- Neutral Oil – no taste or flavor with high cooking temperature. Some choices are sunflower oil, peanut oil, sallower oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil.
- Green Onions – fresh and chopped used for garnish and pairing with the sauce.
- Miso – awase brown Miso works best but can sub with white miso or red miso. Used as the base flavor of the sauce.
- Butter – unsalted, melted.
- Garlic – freshly grated garlic.
- Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine, found at local grocery stores or Asian markets. The sake adds umami notes to the sauce and helps with the consistency.
- Sweetener – use your preferred sweetener.
🥢 Miso Paste Note
You have three miso paste options: White Miso, which is mild and sweet; Red Miso, known for its robust and salty flavor; and Brown Miso, or Awase Miso, offering a balanced blend of salty, sweet, and umami. We recommend using Awase Miso for this sauce.
🍶 Mirin Note
While Mirin, can be used to make miso sauce, we’ve modified this recipe to accommodate areas where mirin might not be readily available by adjusting the amounts of sake and sweetener used instead.
Essential Kitchen Equipment
Directions
Step 1 Start by boiling out Japanese sake in a skillet for 15-20 seconds.
🍶 Boiling Sake Pro Tip
For a quicker alternative to boiling sake, you can simply Microwave for 30-45 Seconds.
Step 2 Combine boiled sake, melted butter, sweetener, grated garlic, and miso paste. Mix until the miso paste is melted and set aside.
🧈 Melting Butter Pro Tip
To melt butter quickly, simply place it in the Microwave for 15-20 Seconds.
Step 3 Pat the salmon dry if needed, then season it with salt and black pepper.
🧂 Seasoning Pro Tip
For even seasoning, try Sprinkling from a Higher Above. Allow the salmon to Rest for 20-30 Minutes after seasoning. This time will enable the salmon to absorb the seasoning and reach an even temperature, ensuring a perfectly cooked steak.
Step 4 Heat cooking oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until it’s hot. Add the salmon and cover. Cook for 1-2 minutes for skinless salmon or 2-3 minutes per side for skin-on ensuring the skin side is faced down. Carefully flip the salmon, cover again, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until it’s seared. Cooking times may vary depending on thickness of the salmon fillets.
🌡 Internal Temperature Check
For an accurate internal temperature check, aim for 145°F. Using a meat thermometer ensures precise cooking and allows you to achieve safe and prefect level of doneness.
Step 5 Transfer the cooked salmon onto a serving plate. Brush the miso butter sauce over the top and garnish with freshly chopped green onions. Serve with your choice of sides.
🥢 Sauce Pro Tip
If the butter in the sauce has solidified, just Microwave it for 10-15 Seconds to return it to a liquid state.
🌿 Garnish Pro Tip
For an added touch of presentation, sprinkle Toasted Sesame Seeds over the salmon.
Recipe Variations
A simple yet beautiful variation is swapping the salmon for Chilean seabass to create my Miso Butter Chilean Seabass dish! This variation adds the tender, creamy flavors of seabass, perfectly complementing the rich miso butter sauce!
You also can easily switch up this recipe by using my Yuzu Butter Sauce for a lighter, citrusy flavor that complements the salmon beautifully. Alternatively, try drizzling some of my Hibachi Ginger Sauce for a delicious Hibachi Salmon twist. Both variations keep the dish in line with the Japanese-style baked salmon, offering simple yet flavorful changes to enjoy!
Pairing Recommendations
For a complete meal, pair the salmon with lighter Asian style side dishes like my Japanese Spinach Salad or Garlic String Beans Stir Fry. Add a bowl of rice to round out the meal, and serve with a comforting soup, such as Egg Drop Miso Soup or Cream Corn Soup!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen salmon for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen salmon. Just be sure to thaw it completely before cooking for even cooking.
Can I use a different type of fish?
While this recipe was designed to work with salmon, other fishes like baked Chilean seabass or black cod would be an excellent pairing.
Can I make the miso butter sauce ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the miso butter sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 14-21 days. Just reheat it slightly before using.
Can I make this recipe in the oven instead of the stove?
Yes, you can bake the salmon in the oven at 425°F for 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness, then top it with the miso butter sauce once it's baked.
Storage Tips
To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5-7 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds to melt the butter sauce back to a liquid state.
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Watch How To Make It
Miso Butter Salmon
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1/2 lbs Salmon Fillet skinless or skin on
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil neutral high temp
- 1 Stalk Green Onion chopped
Miso Butter Sauce
- 1 tbsp Miso
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 Clove Garlic grated
- 1 1/2 tbsp Japanese Sake
- 1/2 tbsp Sweetener your preferred sweetener
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Add Japanese sake to a skillet and let it boil for 15-20 seconds.
- Combine boiled sake, melted butter, sweetener, miso, and grated garlic in a mixing bowl.
- Pat the salmon dry if needed, then season it with salt and black pepper.
- Preheat cooking oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the salmon, cover and cook for 1-2 minutes for skinless and 2-3 minutes for skin on (skin side down). Flip the salmon over, cover and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes. Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets.
- Place the cooked salmon on a serving plate. Drizzle the miso butter sauce over the salmon and sprinkle with freshly chopped green onions. Pair with your preferred sides and serve.
