Miso Butter Salmon

If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner that feels a little indulgent, this miso butter salmon hits the sweet spot. Inspired by the classic pairing of miso and fish in Japanese cooking, this recipe uses simple ingredients with a mixture of sweet chickpea miso and butter to create a rich, nutty glaze that melts into the salmon and vegetables. It’s a one-pan meal that comes together in under 30 minutes, with tender potatoes, mushrooms, and green beans soaking up every drop of flavor. Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a crowd on a busy weeknight, this salmon with miso butter delivers comfort and umami in every bite.

Why This Recipe Works

Steaming the salmon over a bed of vegetables cooks it gently with indirect heat, keeping it moist and tender.

As the salmon cooks, the miso butter melts, seasoning the vegetables underneath.

You can easily swap in other vegetables, making this a flexible, low-effort salmon recipe that doesn’t require much planning.

Ingredients

Chickpea Miso – Our ORGANIC MISO CHICKPEA MISO is naturally sweet, with a mellow nutty flavor and fruity aroma that complements the richness of salmon without overpowering it. You can substitute our ORGANIC MISO SAIKYO SWEET MISO, or if you want to use red or white miso paste, you can follow our Miso Butter Recipe. 

Unsalted Butter – Butter helps baste the salmon and keep it moist while creating a sauce to season the vegetables. Miso contains salt, so be sure to use unsalted butter.

Salmon – Rich salmon works beautifully with miso butter, staying moist as it steams and soaking up the savory glaze. This method also works well with other high-fat fish like black cod, yellowtail, or Chilean sea bass.

Small Potatoes – Potatoes add substance, and their creamy texture pairs perfectly with the miso butter that trickles down during steaming. For a lower-carb option, try cauliflower or cabbage instead.

Shimeji Mushrooms – These mild, slightly nutty mushrooms hold their texture well and absorb flavor like sponges. You can swap any mushroom you like, such as maitake, cremini, or shiitake mushrooms.

Green Beans – Green beans add a fresh green element. Asparagus, broccoli, or snap peas will also work. However, you may want to add them during the last few minutes of steaming to avoid overcooking them. 

Scallions – Using both the white and green parts separately, you get sweetness from the whites while the greens provide a fresh herbal garnish. You can also garnish this with toasted sesame seeds or freshly cracked black pepper.

Sake – Sake gently steams the miso salmon while infusing the dish with additional umami. If you don’t have sake, vegetable broth or white wine will work.

How to Make Miso Butter Salmon

Start by combining chickpea miso paste and softened butter in a small bowl. Stir them together until the mixture is smooth and uniform in color. This miso butter will act as a glaze and a seasoning, infusing the salmon with rich umami flavor as it cooks. If your butter isn’t quite soft, give it a few seconds in the microwave—just enough to make mixing easier without melting it.

Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and place them skin-side down on a tray. Spread the butter miso mixture evenly over the top of each fillet. This can be done up to a day in advance and be stored in an airtight container.

Next, prepare the vegetables. Cut the potatoes into small cubes so they cook quickly and evenly. Trim the base off the shimeji mushrooms and separate them into individual stems. Cut the ends off of the green beans, then slice them into bite-sized lengths. Slice the scallions on the bias, separating the white parts from the greens so you can cook them at different stages.

Heat a large, deep frying pan over medium heat. Once it’s hot, add a splash of neutral oil and pan-fry the potatoes. They should be halfway cooked and browning on the edges. Add the mushrooms, green beans, and the white parts of the scallions. Stir everything together so the vegetables are evenly distributed across the bottom of the pan.

Place the salmon with miso butter on top of the bed of vegetables. Pour in the sake and immediately cover the pan with a lid to trap the steam. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and let everything steam for about 10 minutes, or until the salmon is just cooked through. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets. If you notice the liquid has evaporated before the salmon is done, just add a splash of water and continue steaming.

Once the salmon is fully cooked, scatter the scallion greens over the top. Cover the pan again for another 10 to 20 seconds—just long enough to soften the greens. This dish is also delicious garnished with a crack of black pepper. Serve this miso butter salmon recipe straight from the pan with a bowl of white rice (or brown rice) and a miso soup for a satisfying and balanced meal.