Miso Butter Salmon for One

Table of Contents

Miso butter salmon is a great 4 ingredient main dish for one. The umami, salty, and sweet flavors in miso butter sauce pair well with salmon and vegetables. It’s ready in 20 minutes and goes great over rice with vegetables, like cabbage.

A bit About miso

Miso isn’t an ingredient I’ve bought much before, but have always enjoyed restaurant dishes with it. Luckily there are lots of great dishes you can make with miso, and it’s flavorful on it’s own, so you don’t have to add lots of ingredients to it to taste good.

Tahini Miso Covered Cauliflower Steaks

Pascale Yamashita a Japanese recipe developer and food photographer gave a great intro to miso on Food Network. Here’s her interview.

This miso butter salmon recipe I came up with, was loosely based off of 3 delicious recipes I found online. Easy Miso Butter Salmon from Ketch-up with Linda, Miso Butter Salmon Recipe from No Recipes, and Miso Salmon from Just One Cookbook.

While this recipe isn’t traditional Japanese, it incorporates a traditional Japanese ingredient: miso.

How will this salmon make your life easier?

Aside from cooking the rice, you can make the salmon and veggies all in one pan. Steam the salmon and veggies to keep the salmon tender, and prevent the miso from burning.

Individually packaged salmon filets are great in miso butter salmon recipe. They can be thawed in the fridge overnight or in a hot bowl of water in about 5-10 minutes (in packaging). I don’t recommend microwaving salmon, because it’ll get tough.

Sustainable Seafood

Buying seafood that’s more eco-friendly isn’t usually the least expensive option, or always available. If you have the money, access, and desire to choose sustainable seafood, go for it. If not, no problem at all.

For years, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has been at the forefront of providing recommendations/information about sustainable sourcing seafood through Seafood Watch. They have resources on their website and app.

Other good salmon recipes:

What makes this salmon with miso butter so good?

salmon, miso, butter other ingredients on baking sheet

Salmon: Use your favorite type of salmon for this recipe. Frozen salmon is a great option for most people, it’s less expensive, and is often frozen quickly after being caught, so it’s kind of more fresh than fresh for most people.
Butter: Softened butter adds a nice sweet and rich flavor to your dish. It mixes well with miso and just melts into the salmon in this miso butter salmon recipe.
Miso: White miso, in particular, has a slightly nutty, umami (savory) flavor. White miso is the most mild type of miso, then yellow and red is the most umami and strongest flavor. I recommend white or yellow to not overpower the salmon.
Garlic: Minced garlic adds a nice sweet flavor to this easy dish.
Rice: A more traditional Japanese side, simple rice is great with miso butter salmon and veggies.
Vegetables: I really enjoy cooking cabbage with my miso butter salmon, but sliced carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and other vegetables would be good with it too.

How do I make it?

Start your rice, cook according to package directions. Chop vegetables, if applicable.

Pat salmon dry with towel or paper towel. Individually frozen salmon filets often have lots of water/liquid in the package after they’re thawed.

To start your miso butter salmon, mix together room temperature butter, miso paste, and garlic. If butter is a bit cold, and not incorporating well, microwave the mixture for 5-10 seconds, and stir.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add about ½ of miso butter to pan.

Place fish in center of skillet, skin side up, if there’s skin. Add vegetables around salmon. Spoon remaining on vegetables.

salmon, skin side up and cabbage cooking in pan

Cook your miso butter salmon and cabbage for 3 minutes. Add water if needed, like if it seems like anything is burning. A little brown on your salmon is ok, but you don’t want to burn the miso.

salmon and wilted cabbage cooking in pan

Flip, and cook until fish is cooked, about 5-6 minutes, or once it reaches about 140/145 degrees F. Stir vegetables occasionally.

Serve miso butter salmon and vegetables over rice. Enjoy. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days, or until it starts to smell funny. Reheat, covered in the microwave or eat cold.

How to Cook in Air Fryer

You can make your miso butter salmon in an air fryer, just follow the directions for this Air Fryer Salmon from Frozen.

Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 390 degrees. Then cook salmon 5 minutes. Then add ½ miso butter and vegetables, if desired. Cook another 5-7 minutes, until salmon is cooked. Top salmon and vegetables with remaining miso butter.

Cabbage would get dry and burned in the air fryer. You can pan fry it with some water, or cook carrots or another vegetable in the air fryer.

Substitutions/Tips

You can use whatever type of miso you have access to, but I recommend using white or yellow miso for a more delicate flavor, and so it doesn’t overpower the salmon flavor.
Serve your salmon with whatever vegetables you have, or without. Either works.
Steaming the salmon and vegetables helps keep your salmon tender, and prevents the miso from burning. If you don’t like soft vegetables, you can cook those separately or not cover the salmon and veggies. Don’t cook it over too high heat.
Other great toppings: sesame seeds, sliced green onion or cilantro.

FAQ

Is it safe to cook salmon by adding nothing but butter and oil and frying it?

It’s safe if the salmon reaches 145 degrees F before eating it. But adding some seasoning to your salmon might make it taste better. This miso butter salmon recipe is easy, takes about 20 minutes, and is very flavorful.

What goes well with miso salmon?

Rice and cabbage are great with this miso butter salmon. But you can substitute the cabbage for carrots, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc.

How can I repurpose?

Serve leftover miso butter salmon over greens and rice with a simple dressing made of miso, neutral oil, garlic, and lemon or lime juice.

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

Did you make this Miso Butter Salmon? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

close up of salmon with a bite taken out of it

Print
Pin