Miso Maple Salmon Sesame Slaw (Printable)

Caramelized salmon with miso maple glaze paired with crisp sesame cucumber snap pea slaw

# List of ingredients:

→ For the Salmon

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 5 oz each), skin-on or skinless
02 - 2 tbsp white miso paste
03 - 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
04 - 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
05 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 1 tsp sesame oil
07 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated
08 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated

→ For the Sesame Cucumber Snap Slaw

09 - 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
10 - 5 oz sugar snap peas, thinly sliced on the diagonal
11 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
12 - 1 small carrot, julienned
13 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

→ For the Slaw Dressing

15 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
16 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
17 - 1 tsp honey
18 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
19 - 1 tsp grated ginger
20 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the miso paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger until smooth.
03 - Place salmon fillets on the prepared tray. Brush generously with the miso maple glaze, reserving a small amount for serving if desired.
04 - Bake salmon for 12 to 15 minutes until just cooked through and caramelized on top. For extra caramelization, broil for an additional 1 to 2 minutes at the end.
05 - In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, sugar snap peas, spring onions, carrot, cilantro, and sesame seeds.
06 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and chili flakes if using.
07 - Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss well to combine. Let stand for a few minutes to allow flavors to meld.
08 - Serve a salmon fillet atop a generous portion of sesame cucumber snap slaw. Drizzle with reserved glaze and sprinkle with extra sesame seeds if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The miso maple glaze creates a caramelized crust on the salmon that tastes like something from a high end restaurant but requires almost zero effort.
  • The sesame cucumber snap slaw is so crisp and refreshing that people always ask for the recipe before they even finish their plate.
  • Everything comes together in about thirty five minutes, which means you can pull this off on a weeknight without breaking a sweat.
02 -
  • Do not skip the parchment paper because miso maple glaze becomes extremely sticky and will bond permanently to an unlined tray.
  • The slaw should be dressed no more than thirty minutes before eating or the cucumbers will weep and dilute all your careful seasoning.
  • If you need this to be gluten free, swap the soy sauce for tamari and double check that your miso paste does not contain barley.
03 -
  • Pat the salmon completely dry with paper towels before glazing because any surface moisture creates a barrier between the fish and that beautiful caramelized crust you are after.
  • Use a silicone basting brush instead of a bristle one because the miso paste clings to natural bristles and is nearly impossible to wash out later.

Go back