Main course
Miso-honey salmon from the oven
Twelve minutes in the oven, a glaze that shines — and nobody's the wiser.
Salmon is easy already, but a miso-honey glaze gives it a caramelised, lacquered finish that looks straight out of an Asian restaurant. Everything in one layer on a baking tray, done in a quarter of an hour.
Method
- Heat the oven to 200 °C. Mix miso, honey, soy, ginger and sesame oil into a smooth glaze.
- Set the salmon on a lined tray and brush generously with the glaze.
- Bake 10-12 min; switch on the grill for the last 1-2 min until the glaze caramelises and shines.
- Finish with sesame seeds and spring onion. Serve straight away.
The bluff
Grill for the lacquer
The glaze brings the flavour, but the bluff is the shine: switch on the grill for the last minutes so the miso-honey caramelises into a glossy lacquer. Serve with the prettiest (caramelised) side up and a swipe of sauce beneath.
Plating — how to make it look expensive
- Set the salmon slightly off-centre, caramelised side up.
- A swipe of extra glaze or soy on the plate for shine.
- Sesame and spring onion for colour and texture; don't overload.
What you say at the table
“That glaze? Just miso and honey mixed together, that's all.”
Make it complete
Lovely with sesame green beans or roasted broccoli and white rice; or a fresh cucumber-sesame salad.
What to drink
A dry Riesling or a light Japanese beer.
Foto via Pexels