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.

Ingredients

  • Fresh Sockeye Salmon Fillet Wild Caught (sustainably sourced)
    12 oz $15.99
  • Japanese Eggplant
    12 oz $4.99
  • Sushi rice
    1/2 cup $6.99
  • Water
    3/4 cup
  • White miso
    2 tablespoons
  • Mirin
    2 tablespoons
  • Sake
    1 tablespoon
  • Light brown sugar
    1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
  • Low-sodium soy sauce
    1 tablespoon
  • Unseasoned rice vinegar
    1 tablespoon
  • Neutral cooking oil
    1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt
    3/8 teaspoon
  • Green onions
    2 $1.19
  • Toasted sesame seeds
    2 teaspoons

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.