Miso-Glazed Sockeye & Eggplant
Wild sockeye salmon and peak-summer Japanese eggplant get glossy miso glazes on the grill, with seasoned rice making this an elegant but manageable August dinner.
This recipe may need another look before cooking.
It scored 7/10, below our 8/10 retry mark.
Ingredients
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Fresh Sockeye Salmon Fillet Wild Caught (sustainably sourced)12 oz $15.99
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Japanese Eggplant12 oz $4.99
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Sushi rice1/2 cup $6.99
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Water3/4 cup
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White miso2 tablespoons
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Mirin2 tablespoons
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Sake1 tablespoon
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Light brown sugar1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
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Low-sodium soy sauce1 tablespoon
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Unseasoned rice vinegar1 tablespoon
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Neutral cooking oil1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
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Kosher salt3/8 teaspoon
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Green onions2 $1.19
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Toasted sesame seeds2 teaspoons
Instructions
- Heat a covered grill to medium, about 400°F. Rinse 1/2 cup sushi rice until the water is nearly clear; halve 12 ounces Japanese eggplant lengthwise and score the cut sides in a crosshatch pattern; thinly slice 2 green onions.
- Combine the rinsed 1/2 cup sushi rice, 3/4 cup water, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes; remove from the heat, keep covered for 10 minutes, then fold in 1 tablespoon rice vinegar and 1 teaspoon light brown sugar.
- Whisk 2 tablespoons white miso, 2 tablespoons mirin, 1 tablespoon sake, 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce until smooth; measure 4 tablespoons glaze for the eggplant and 3 tablespoons glaze for the salmon.
- Pat 12 ounces sockeye salmon dry and season the flesh with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; let it stand for 10 minutes while the rice cooks. Brush the cut sides of 12 ounces Japanese eggplant with 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil, then oil the hot grill grates with 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil on a folded paper towel held with tongs.
- Grill 12 ounces Japanese eggplant cut-side down for 4 minutes. Turn it, brush with 4 tablespoons glaze, and add 12 ounces sockeye salmon skin-side down; brush the salmon with 3 tablespoons glaze. Cover and grill both for 6–10 minutes, until the eggplant is tender and the salmon reaches 145°F in its thickest part.
- Rest 12 ounces grilled sockeye salmon for 5 minutes. Divide the seasoned 1/2 cup sushi rice between two plates, add the 12 ounces glazed Japanese eggplant and 12 ounces glazed sockeye salmon, and finish with 2 sliced green onions and 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds.
Total time: 50 minutes
Estimated cost: $18–$22 for 2 servings
Health notes: About 610 calories per serving, with roughly 40 grams protein, omega-3 fats, vegetables, and a moderate portion of rice.
Drink pairing: A chilled dry Riesling balances the sweet-savory miso glaze and rich sockeye salmon.