This 5-minute miso glaze recipe is perfect for adding to salmon, tofu, and vegetables! My go-to sauce adds instant savory depth to weeknight meals.
There’s something so magical about a sauce that can transform an ordinary weeknight dinner into something great. This easy miso glaze has become my secret weapon: it’s so packed with savory, tangy and salty flavor that it makes you immediately want to take another bite!
I was experimenting with ways to make my miso salmon more flavorful when I stumbled upon this combination of ingredients. The first bite was a revelation! It was so good we immediately made it with pan fried cod and sauteed vegetables (also delicious). Even better: it takes just 5 minutes to whip up.
Ingredient spotlight: miso
Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean paste that’s known for its intense savory flavor, otherwise known as umami: the fifth flavor. Umami is what makes meat and cheese taste so satisfying. Because of that, miso is great for using in vegetarian and vegan dishes to mimic the heartiness of meat.
You can find miso in the international foods aisle near the Japanese ingredients. There are many different types of miso: and they all taste different! We used yellow or light miso here. If you can’t find it, you can use whatever you can find: red or dark miso works too.
One thing to be aware of: miso has lots of sodium! So you’ll use it small amounts, almost like a flavoring like salt. For more with miso, try our top easy miso recipes.
Ingredients in miso glaze
This miso glaze has only a handful of ingredients that bring big flavor to any type of meat, seafood or veggies. It’s an Asian-inspired sauce featuring ingredients that often star in Japanese cuisine. Here’s what you’ll need for this glaze:
- Miso: Light miso is best for its creamy consistency and mild flavor, but any variety will do
- Soy sauce: substitute tamari or coconut aminos as necessary
- Rice vinegar
- Sugar: substitute maple syrup or honey if you like
- Sriracha hot sauce
- Salt
All you have to do is whisk the ingredients together and voila: instant miso glaze! One note is that you may find that there are a few chunks of miso that do not dissolve: that’s ok! Just try to get it as smooth as you can.
Substitutes for soy sauce
This miso glaze also has soy sauce: another great way to add umami to a sauce! If you eat gluten-free or soy-free, there are a few great alternatives to use. Try these substitutes for soy sauce:
- Tamari (gluten-free): The biggest difference of soy sauce vs tamari is that tamari contains little to no wheat. Check the label to make sure! Tamari is slightly less salty than soy sauce, so you may want to use a little more to taste.
- Coconut aminos (gluten free and soy free): Want a soy-free soy sauce? Coconut aminos contains no soy and has a similar flavor to soy sauce. You can use the same amount as called for in the recipe, but it’s less salty to you may need to add a little salt to taste.
Best ways to use miso glaze
Once you’ve mixed up the miso glaze: the sky’s the limit on how to use it! We originally made it for miso salmon and wow! The flavor was incredible. Here’s the basic premise for using this glaze with meat or fish: paint on a bit of the glaze before cooking, then add a little more afterwards to get a nice sheen and to refresh the flavors. With vegetables, you can simply add it after cooking them. Here are some ideas on how to use the glaze:
- Seafood: The glaze is incredible with broiled salmon, pan seared salmon, or pan fried cod or any flaky white fish. I also love it with grilled shrimp.
- Vegetarian proteins: Transform pan fried tofu, grilled tofu, or marinated tempeh into something extraordinary. The umami flavors make plant-based proteins incredibly satisfying.
- Vegetables: Toss it with stir fry vegetables, roasted mushrooms, or drizzle it over roasted broccoli or roasted cauliflower. Even Brussels sprouts become irresistible with this glaze.
- Noodle dishes: Stir into quick soba noodles or use as a base for stir-fry sauces.
- Grain bowls: Drizzle over quinoa bowls or a tuna rice bowl for an instant flavor boost.
Dietary notes
This miso glaze is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free (with tamari).
Easy Miso Glaze (5 Ingredients)
This 5-minute miso glaze recipe is perfect for adding to salmon, tofu, and vegetables! My go-to sauce adds instant savory depth to weeknight meals.
- 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
- Whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth (the miso may have a few lumps depending on its texture, which is okay).
- Use as a glaze for fish (it’s enough for 1 to 2 pounds), tofu, tempeh, or vegetables.
Other miso recipes to try
There’s lots more to make with miso! Once you have some, try it in all of these tasty dishes:
- Slurp up a bowl of miso ramen
- Make a killer stir fry sauce to go with tofu stir fry or cauliflower stir fry
- Enjoy a savory noodle bowl with soba noodles
- Use it as the secret “cheesy” ingredient in vegan pesto or as a flavor add for miso butter
