Zesty Miso-Glazed Black Cod Recipe That Melts in Your Mouth

Seafood enthusiasts adore this miso glazed black cod for its rich, umami-packed flavors that dance across the palate.

The delicate fish absorbs a sweet and savory marinade that caramelizes beautifully when cooked.

Silky, tender flakes break apart with the gentlest touch of a fork.

Originating in Japanese cuisine, this dish brings restaurant-quality elegance to your home kitchen.

Restaurants charge premium prices for similar preparations, but you can recreate this luxurious meal with simple ingredients.

The combination of miso, mirin, and sake creates a glaze that transforms ordinary fish into an extraordinary dining experience.

Let this stunning recipe become your new go-to for impressing dinner guests.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 240 kcal

Servings: 4

Miso Glazed Black Cod – What You’ll Shop For

• Sake: Adds depth and traditional Japanese flavor, select a good quality cooking sake.
• Mirin: Provides subtle sweetness and helps tenderize fish, choose authentic Japanese mirin.
• Sugar: Balances flavors and helps create caramelization, use fine white sugar.

• Miso Paste: Creates rich, savory profile, select white or yellow miso for delicate fish.

• Black Cod: Offers buttery texture and absorbs marinade beautifully, choose fresh, sustainably sourced cod with firm, glistening flesh.

Tools for Baking or Broiling Miso Glazed Black Cod

• Small saucepan: Perfect for creating smooth, silky marinade.
• Whisk: Essential for blending miso paste and sugar into a uniform sauce.
• Shallow dish or zip-top bag: Ideal for marinating fish and ensuring even coating.
• Baking sheet: Needed for cooking cod in oven or under broiler.
• Parchment paper: Helps prevent fish from sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.

Making Miso Glazed Black Cod in a Few Clean Steps

• Create Flavor Bomb Marinade

Whisk together sake, mirin, miso paste, and sugar in a saucepan. Simmer gently until ingredients meld into a glossy, rich sauce. Let the mixture cool completely, allowing flavors to intensify.

• Bathe Fish in Deliciousness

Gently coat cod fillets with the cooled marinade. Tuck them into the refrigerator for 24-48 hours, letting the magic happen. This slow marinating transforms the fish into a tender, flavor-packed delight.

• Prepare for Culinary Magic

Heat oven to 400F or crank up the broiler. Remove excess marinade from fish, keeping a light coating. Place fillets skin-side down on a lined baking sheet, ready for cooking.

• Transform Fish into Gourmet Masterpiece

Bake for 10-12 minutes or broil for 7-9 minutes, watching for a caramelized, slightly blistered top. The goal is a perfectly cooked, golden-brown exterior with a melt-in-your-mouth interior.

• Plate and Celebrate

Serve the glazed cod immediately with steamed rice and sauteed greens. Sprinkle with chopped scallions or add a touch of pickled ginger for an extra flavor punch.

Bold Ways to Tweak Miso Glazed Black Cod to Your Taste

• Let fish marinate at least 24 hours for deep flavor penetration, with 48 hours being optimal for incredible taste complexity.
• Pat fish completely dry before marinating to help glaze adhere perfectly and prevent watery cooking results.
• Use reduced-sodium miso paste for a heart-friendly version that maintains delicious umami flavor without excess salt.
• Replace traditional sake with rice wine or gluten-free sake alternative, and ensure miso paste is certified gluten-free for sensitive diets.
• This dish is naturally pescatarian-friendly and works beautifully with wild-caught or sustainably sourced black cod varieties.

How to Plate Miso Glazed Black Cod with a Stunning Finish

• Zen Garden Plating: Create a serene Japanese-inspired plate arrangement with the black cod centered on a bed of steamed white rice, surrounded by small mounds of pickled vegetables for color contrast and flavor balance.
• Sake Pairing Paradise: Complement the delicate fish with a chilled junmai sake, which echoes the marinade's sake base and provides a smooth, clean accompaniment to the rich, caramelized cod.
• Green Companion Combo: Serve alongside quickly sautéed baby bok choy or tender spinach, lightly seasoned with sesame oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds to enhance the dish's umami profile and add nutritional depth.
• Texture Contrast Delight: Top the cod with a light sprinkle of finely sliced green onions and a small dollop of wasabi cream to introduce a fresh, zesty element that cuts through the fish's richness and adds a gentle heat.

Keep Miso Glazed Black Cod Moist and Savory Overnight

• Keep leftover miso-glazed cod in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.
• Gently warm fish in a low-temperature oven at 275°F for 5-7 minutes to maintain moisture and prevent overcooking, preserving its delicate texture.
• Wrap individual cod portions tightly in freezer-safe plastic wrap, then place in a sealed container. Freeze for maximum 1 month to maintain quality, thawing overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reserve a small portion of unused marinade in a sealed glass jar within the refrigerator for up to 3 days, which can be used as a quick sauce or flavor enhancer for other seafood or vegetable dishes.

Succulent Miso Glazed Black Cod Recipe

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4.6 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Succulent miso glazed black cod brings Japanese culinary elegance to your dining experience. Tender fish marinated in umami-rich miso creates a luxurious seafood dish that melts in your palate, inviting pure gastronomic pleasure.

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Ingredients

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• 4 black cod fillets (5–6 oz/140–170 g each), skin on
• ¼ cup (60 ml) white miso paste
• ¼ cup (60 ml) sake
• ¼ cup (60 ml) mirin
• 3 tbsps granulated sugar
• Oil for baking sheet (optional)

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Instructions

1. Marinade Creation: Simmer sake and mirin in a saucepan over medium heat. Gently whisk in miso paste until fully incorporated, then blend in sugar. Allow mixture to cool completely, developing rich umami flavors.
2. Fish Preparation: Thoroughly pat cod fillets dry. Submerge in marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours, allowing deep flavor penetration and tenderizing of the fish.
3. Thermal Activation: Heat oven to 400F (200C) or activate broiler on high setting. Remove cod from marinade, delicately wiping off excess liquid. Position fillets skin-side down on parchment-lined baking sheet, preparing for caramelization.
4. Culinary Transformation: Bake for 10-12 minutes or broil 7-9 minutes, positioning approximately 6 inches from heat source. Monitor until fish achieves golden-brown exterior with slight blistering and reaches perfect internal doneness.
5. Plating Presentation: Transfer glazed cod onto serving dish. Accompany with steamed rice and sauteed greens. Optionally garnish with pickled ginger or finely sliced scallions for enhanced visual and flavor complexity.

Notes

• Refrigerate cod for at least 24 hours, with 48 hours yielding the most intense flavor and tenderizing the fish completely.
• Pat fish dry before marinating to help marinade adhere better and prevent excess liquid during cooking.
• Watch fish carefully during broiling to prevent burning, as sugar in marinade can caramelize quickly and turn bitter if overcooked.
• Substitute sake with rice vinegar or white wine for alcohol-free version, and use gluten-free miso for celiac-friendly adaptation.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg