This Japanese Miso Salmon is 4ย ingredient magic at its best. A family recipe, this whole or side of salmon with a classic Japanese miso marinade is a stunning EASY centrepiece for a special occasion. I joke that Nobu, the worldโs most famous Japanese restaurant, stole my motherโs recipe. ๐
Growing up in the 80โs as a child in Australia, the food my mother made was not normal by Australian standards. I was that kid who was sent to school with sushi rolls and bento boxes, when all I wanted was Vegemiteย sandwiches (Australiaโs answer to Americaโs PB&J).
Little did I know โ I was ahead of the pack. Dining every night on food that is now โall the rageโ.
Ramen, sushi, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), tonkatsu (Japanese pork schnitzels), to name a few of the better known meals.
Our Christmasโ werenโt normal either. While most of my friends were enjoying traditional Christmas feasts ย of ham and turkey at home, we were dragged out for a beachside BBQ for something like this.
THIS being a Japanese Seafood BBQ feast. Looks good, no? ๐
Japanese seafood beachside BBQโs wereย something we used to do quite frequently. Most weekends,ย we wouldย head out to a beach with our portable weber. Our most frequented spot was Balmoral beachย which, back then, was relatively โundiscoveredโย butย today itโs one of the most expensive places to live in Sydney.
Weโd scavenge for sticks forย the BBQ while my parents went spear fishing.ย Seriously. Sydney-sidersย reading this wonโt believe it, but we used to catch octopus, abalone and fish atย Balmoral beach and eat it for lunch. You could NEVER do that now โ besides being illegal, all the marine life is gone! (Not because we ate it all, because of environmental changes!).
We fired up theย BBQ and cooked freshly caught fish along with other marinated meats my mother brought. The smell was so enticing that, I kid you not, passer byes would stop and ask what on earth we were cooking. Weโd give them a sample and (as a KID) I would think how weird it was that they would exclaim so enthusiastically about how AMAZING it was!
Thatโs me on the right there.ย Helping out with the BBQ!
So this Miso Marinated Side of Salmon Iโm sharing today is a very special family recipe. It reminds me of my Christmasโ growing up.ย Back then, I wasย envious of my friends sitting in a dining table with a ham centrepiece. But as an adult, while I LOVE ham and turkey, to me, a seafoodย spreadย like this is what I think of as a very special feast.
The miso marinade for this salmon is my mumโs recipe โ a very classic Japanese marinade. Itโs only got FOUR ingredients in it โ seriously!!! Miso, sugar,ย sake (Japanese rice wine) and mirin (Japanese sweet riceย wine). Just mix it together, slather it on, marinade then barbecue OR bake the salmon.
I know half the world is smack bang in the middle of winter, but for those of us in the southern hemisphere, we have summer Christmases!ย So rather than spending hours roasting a turkey, many Aussies will splurge on a seafood spread for Christmas Day.ย And this side of salmon is just about the easiest centrepiece that I can think of.
A seafood feast just screams of summer, doesnโt it? Beach, sun, summer fun! ๐
In case you are curious, here is a list of what you see in the seafood feast below, clockwiseย from the top left. ๐
Oysters with lemon wedges (PS You see how some of them are eaten? Thatโs because my MOTHER ate them before I finished shooting! BA HA HA!!!)
Barbecued Onigiri (Japanese rice balls with soy sauce. LOVE the charcoal flavour! Recipe below)
Miso Marinated Side of Salmon (barbecue or bake it)
Asian style coleslaw (I used myย Asian Vermicelli Noodle Salad recipe but left out the noodles)
Japanese pickled cucumbers (recipe below)
I mentioned above that I joke that Nobu stole my motherโs marinade recipe. Do you knowย the Nobu restaurants?ย Very expensive, very elite, and located in major cities around the world from New York to London, Dubai to Hong Kong, there is no doubt that Nobu isย theย most famous Japanese restaurant in the world.
And one of the signature dishes is the Nobu Miso Marinated Black Cod. I swear. Itโs my motherโs marinade recipe. ๐
โ Nagi x
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Japanese Miso Salmon Side (BBQ or bake)
Ingredients
- 1.6 โ 2.4 lb / 0.8 โ 1.2kg side of salmon , skin on (Note 1)
- Oil , for barbecue
Marinade
- 5 tbsp miso paste (Note 2)
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 1 2/3 tbsp sake (Japanese rice wine)
- 1 2/3 tbsp mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
Garnishes
- Sesame seeds
- Scallions/shallots , finely sliced
Instructions
- Mix together the marinade ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
- Place the salmon skin side up on a work surface and slather with just under half the marinade.
- Turn the salmon so it is skin side down onto a large piece of cling wrap. Slather the remaining marinade on the flesh side.
- Wrap the salmon in cling wrap. Marinade for 24 to 48 hours.
- Scrape the marinade off (do not rinse with water) and leave the salmon to come to room temperature <- KEY for perfectly cooked salmon.
- Preheat barbecue plate side on MEDIUM LOW. Leave it to heat up for a good 10 to 15 minutes โ another tip for cooking salmon perfectly.
- Add oil just before cooking. Place the salmon on the BBQ skin side down. Cook for 3 minutes, then use two spatulas to turn it. Cook the flesh side for 2 โ 3 minutes or until caramelised, then flip it again so the skin side is down then transfer to a tray.
- Cover loosely with foil to rest for 5 minutes before serving. It will continue cooking while resting.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and finely sliced shallots.
Recipe Notes:
6. This Miso Marinated Side of Salmon is a great centrepiece for a feast. Here is a list of the dishes you see in the feast.
a) Oysters with lemon wedgesb) Barbecued Onigiri โ recipe below
c) Asian Grilled Shrimp / Prawns
d) This Miso Marinated Side of Salmon
e) Asian style coleslaw (I used my Asian Vermicelli Noodle Salad recipe but left out the noodles)
f) Japanese pickled cucumbers (recipe below) 7. To make Onigiri, the rice balls you see in the feast: Place 2 cups of medium grain rice in a saucepan with 3 cups of water over medium high heat. Cover, bring to boil then turn down to medium low. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes until the liquid is just absorbed, then set aside to rest for 10 minutes. While the rice is still warm, measure out 1/2 cup of rice and use your hands to shape it into triangles (or other shape), pressing very firmly. Brush with soy sauce and cook on the barbecue until crispy, or you can even cook it on the stove. 8. To make the quick pickled cucumbers: Cut 3 cucumbers into triangle pieces and mix together with 2 tsp grated ginger, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp white vinegar and 1 tsp soy sauce. Chill for 1 hour so the cucumber absorbs the flavour.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Thank you to Woolworths
When Woolworths approached me, asking if Iโd be interested in doing a Christmas recipe for them, I must admit I was not overly enthused about doing a ham or yet another turkey because I just shared one (this Genius Dry Brined Turkey) a couple of weeks ago for my American readers for Thanksgiving.
But then Woolworths explained that they didnโt want โjust another Christmas recipeโ, they wanted something that reminded me of my Christmases growing up.ย Now THAT got me super excited!!!
So thank you to Woolworths, for giving me this opportunity to share a family recipe. ๐
You can find all the ingredients for this recipeย at Woolworths,ย including the side of salmon! (I know,ย awesome, right?! No need to fight the insane crowds at the fish markets โ YAY!!!)
Woolworths are inviting families to share their favorite Christmas, food moments. The ones that โmake it famousโ with friends and family.
Share yours and tag it so I can see it!
#MakeYourChristmasFamous #recipetineats
Hi Nagi! No, I didnโt get the message on Kevinโs blog โ donโt know whyโฆsend again? ๐
This post is so BEAUTIFUL!!! Not only the food and the photography but the story behind it. Thank you for sharing your special family recipe with us and a little about your past. Iโm suddenly craving salmonโฆ.
Thank you so much Emme! I appreciate the kind words very much, itโs a very special post!! ๐ N x
Everything looks so yummy, but you know what I zoomed in on? The yaki onigiri! I love when rice develops a crust, so when itโs grilled over charcoal with a brush of flavor? OH MUH GAWWWDโฆโฆthe humble rice ball just doesnโt get much better than THAT! :-9
I KNOW!!! Isnโt it the BEST??? N x
Nagi this recipe sound great . Can you tell me what kind of miso you used int his recipe.
Thank you
Hi Jenny! Thank you for the question, I should have specified! Any miso will work but the one I specifically used is called Hikari White Miso which is from Woolworths! Hereโs a link to the online store so you can see a picture of the label. -> https://www.woolworths.com.au/Shop/Search/Products?searchTerm=miso&name=hikari-japanese-paste-white-miso&productId=313546
Oh Nagi, I love your story and thanks for sharing pictures from your childhood, so cute! The salmon looks delicious, will be trying it soon! The video is awesome and so nice that your mom took part in it. ๐
Thank you Mira!! Really appreciate your kind words! N x
Nagi, you know how much I love all your recipes, photography and your blog. This post is my favourite of them all, because it was all about you and your family and I loved the anecdotes about BBQs on the beach and spear fishing (in Sydney!!!). Such lovely photos of you and your parents, too. Youโve brought tears to my eyes (hormones โ not much needed to set me off!). I bet it was an emotional post to write.
Awww, thank you so much Mel!!! This post means a great deal to me, remembering my childhood Christmases! ๐ Thank you for your wonderful message, very touched by it! N xx
Hi Nagi! WOW what feast! Iโve been anxiously awaiting this post all week! Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, despite the fact no kid would trade lunches so that you could have a Vegemite sandwich! ๐ Now Iโm thinking of incorporating some of these dishes into the Christmas Eve menu โ it all looks SO good!
Thank you SO MUCH Dorothy!! And I was waiting anxiously to hear what you thought! Did you get my message I sent you on Kevinโs blog?? ๐
What a feast! That shot by the water is paradise!
Thanks so much Christina!!! ๐ N x
Perfect โ and only 4 ingredients! And you can tell your mom that I thought her hand were lovely in the video ๐
Aww thanks Allison! My mum will no doubt be scouring the comments about her so sheโll read this โ ba ha ha!!
I think Nobu ha to give your mom credit too! ๐ Funny how when we are kids we have a hard time appreciating what we have โ I grew up with curry and yellow rice or biryani for Christmas and missed what everyone was eating too.
This is one heck of an awesome salmon recipe! And ooh โ thatโs some flipping technique your mom displayed in that video! Believe it or not, miso is new to me โ if I were to leave out the sugar โ would this work still? The reason I ask is my mom is diabetic and I know she would love to try something different to my usual spicy garam masala salmon around the holidays.
Hi Shashi! See, I read that you had curry and biryani for Christmas and I think YUM!!! Biryani is a special treat for me because it has so many ingredients in it!! I watched a โspecial occasionโ biryani being made on Food Safari once, it was incredible! Made with goat, so many layers, it was so beautiful!!!
Yes it will work if you leave the sugar out BUT be aware that there is a bit of sugar in the Mirin. Do you think she will be ok with that? Iโm sorry, I donโt know enough about diabetes!
*Ears perk up* garam masala salmon? Helloโฆ..recipe ideaโฆ.off to find something on your site! N x
I came for the recipe and got inspired by the story. What a lovely memory.
Thank you so much Peter, thatโs so kind of you to say! <3
Well, now I have Down Under by Men at Work stuck in my head. You put growing up in the 80s and vegemite sandwiches in the same paragraph and thatโs what happens to 80s song fanatics like me. Anyway, about the salmonโฆAMAZING! Not only does it look insanely delicious in your beautiful photos, but the video is incredibly helpful in showing the steps to making this awesome dish! Love it! ๐
MEN AT WORK! Ba ha ha!!! That is SO 80โs!!! Now youโve got it stuck in MY head โ thanks a lot!!! ๐
Iโm in awe of this fabulous spread. Love the photos of you as a kid, and I canโt wait to make this marinade for the salmon I took out for dinner tonight! Thank you, thank you!
Thank you so much for your lovely message Lisa!! N x
Awesome post, Nagi! I love seeing you in your childhood photo. Youโre so cute! Youโre so focused on looking after the BBQ as well, which tells me that you are born to be a cook. ๐ Also Iโd love to work with Woolworth. What a honour! ๐
Thank you so much Sue!! I bet my bro and sister will kill me for putting up that photo of them โ ba ha ha!!
Oh Nagi!!! I am in love with everything you have written!!!
Seriously IN LOVE!
Your family Christmases sound AWESOME!
Growing up we did the traditional, Turkey and all the trimmings. And shall I let you into a little secret, I didnโt enjoy it. I loved the starters, as they always involved prawns and/or smoked salmon. But I wasnโt a fan of the main event, I loved the stuffing and yorkshire puddings and would eat a little turkey leg. But for me Christmas day was about Christmas breakfast (my Mum rocked breakfast!), salmon and prawn cocktail and all the coffee creams you could eat ๐
I am not a fan of roast dinners, even now a roast with all the trimmings doesnโt fill me with joy. I cook it because other loves it but I always try and twist it up and add something I love.
The year I was pregnant with Mr 8 I made a turkey crown with parsnip and bacon risotto. Then I was so sick I had to pour pickled onions over it all anyway!!! LOL
I want to come to your Mums house for Christmas!!!! I am so totally happy to see your Christmas spread. Especially as I have already cooked the family a Christmas dinner (so I can blog it) so now I can cook an alternative Christmas dinner on the 25thโฆ..seafood BBQ extravaganza!!!! YES!!!!
And my boys adore salmon (and rice) so this is 100% perfect.
Love your Mum and you.
xx
Awww, I LOVE reading this! Thank you so much for sharing your story with me!!!! I bet your mum made a seriously good Christmas breakfast! What kind of things did she make? I would LOVE to see her recipe!! N xx
I LOVE miso marinated salmon! This looks so juicy and full of flavour!
Thank you so much Marsha!! This really IS incredibly juicy when itโs perfectly cooked! <3
Your photos look so incredibly good, I want to eat my laptop screen. Youโre a big inspiration for me! I love your new YouTube channel and Iโm trying to improve my videos after seeing yours. Perhaps you can share how you filmed your video on FBC or in your Facebook Group.
And now I have to leave and buy Mirin and Miso because Iโm craving your salmon!
Thank you so much Julia! Yes, I will share about how I made this video!! N x
Now you know I made a mistake when writing your name. Nagi,Iโm really sorry.
Ba ha ha! I didnโt even notice!!!
You totally deserve it Naji. What an awesome spread !
Thank you so much Shernell!! N x