This quick 5-minute miso glaze recipe is ideal for enhancing salmon, tofu, and vegetables! My favorite sauce instantly imparts savory richness to weeknight dinners.
There’s something truly enchanting about a sauce that has the power to elevate an ordinary weeknight meal into something exceptional. This straightforward miso glaze has become my secret advantage: it’s so brimming with savory, zesty, and salty notes that you’ll instantly crave another taste!
I was experimenting with how to enhance the flavor of my miso salmon when I discovered this blend of ingredients. The first taste was eye-opening! It was so delightful that we quickly tried it with pan-fried cod and sautéed vegetables (also delightful). Even more impressive: it only takes 5 minutes to prepare.
Ingredient spotlight: miso
Miso is a fermented soybean paste from Japan renowned for its potent umami flavor—the fifth taste. Umami is what gives meat and cheese their satisfying taste. As a result, miso is perfect for vegetarian and vegan recipes, mimicking the richness of meat.
You can locate miso in the international foods section near Japanese ingredients. There are numerous varieties of miso, each with its own flavor! We used yellow or light miso here. If it’s unavailable, any type you find—red or dark miso—will also work.
One important note: miso is high in sodium! Therefore, it’s best to use it in small quantities, much like a seasoning such as salt. For more miso inspiration, check out our top easy miso recipes.
Ingredients in miso glaze
This miso glaze is made with just a few ingredients that deliver significant flavor to any meat, seafood, or veggies. It’s an Asian-inspired sauce featuring elements commonly found in Japanese cooking. Here’s what you’ll need for this glaze:
– Miso: Light miso is preferable for its creamy texture and mild taste, but any variety works
– Soy sauce: Use tamari or coconut aminos if needed
– Rice vinegar
– Sugar: Maple syrup or honey can be used as a substitute
– Sriracha hot sauce
– Salt
Simply whisk the ingredients together and voilà: instant miso glaze! One note is that you might find a few lumps of miso that haven’t dissolved: that’s alright! Just aim for a smooth consistency.
Substitutes for soy sauce
This miso glaze also contains soy sauce: another wonderful way to introduce umami into a sauce! If you are gluten-free or soy-free, there are several excellent alternatives. Consider these substitutes for soy sauce:
– Tamari (gluten-free): The primary distinction between soy sauce and tamari is that tamari has little to no wheat. Be sure to check the label! Tamari is slightly less salty than soy sauce, so you may want to adjust the amount to your liking.
– Coconut aminos (gluten-free and soy-free): Looking for a soy-free soy sauce? Coconut aminos contains no soy and shares a similar flavor profile with soy sauce. You can use the same quantity as specified in the recipe, but it’s less salty, so you might need to add a pinch of salt to taste.
Best ways to use miso glaze
Once you’ve prepared the miso glaze, the possibilities for its use are endless! We initially created it for miso salmon, and the flavor was astounding. Here are the basic guidelines for using this glaze with meat or fish: apply a layer of glaze before cooking, then add another layer afterward for a lovely sheen and to refresh the flavors. With vegetables, simply drizzle it on after cooking. Here are a few ideas for using the glaze:
Dietary notes
This miso glaze is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free (with tamari).
Easy Miso Glaze (5 Ingredients)
This quick 5-minute miso glaze recipe is ideal for enhancing salmon, tofu, and vegetables! My favorite sauce instantly imparts savory richness to weeknight dinners.
Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 6 tablespoons
Category: Sauce
Method: Stirred
Cuisine: Asian inspired
Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
– 2 tablespoons light miso
– 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari or coconut aminos)
– 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
– 1 tablespoon sugar (or maple syrup or honey)
– ¼ teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce
– ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, whisk the ingredients together until smooth (some miso lumps may remain depending on its consistency, which is fine).
2. Use as