This Miso Black Cod recipe is so easy to make, and it’s an absolute umami sweet salty flavor bomb that melts in your mouth. No wonder why Nobu’s Miso Black Cod dish is so popular. The recipe requires only a very few ingredients and very little hands-on work. But the result is absolutely magical. This dish requires a few days of marination in the fridge, so make sure to plan ahead, and I promise you it’s so worth it.
Black Cod vs Atlantic Cod
Black cod, also known as sable fish, is a fatty, delicate, cream and flaky (but it’s not dry), mild fish that doesn’t have a strong sea flavor. Though the name has “cod” in it, the black cod is very different from the Atlantic cod, which is the most popular of the two in US markets. Atlantic cod is firmer and flakier and has a very light flavor. Which is why it’s good for simple preparations such as fish and chips. Black cod, on the other hand, is very rich and fatty and great for dishes that use strong marinades.
Which Miso to use for Black Cod
You’d find mainly two varieties of Miso in the market. White Miso and Red Miso. White miso is milder, less fermented flavor and not too bold. For this black cod recipe, it’s best to use White Miso.
Which Sake to use
When you search for sake, you’d find cooking sake in the market. I’ve tried miso black cod with this sake as well, but honestly, I like the flavor of the regular sake in this recipe so much more. So don’t buy cooking sake; instead, go to the alcohol section and buy a bottle of sake that you like (skip the expensive ones, you’re going to cook off alcohol anyway). This is the one I use. (Amazon affiliate)
Cooking time
This varies depending on how thick your fish fillets are and how close the burner is when you broil them. If you have very thick cod pieces, or if your oven broils food too quickly, you can bake them for a few minutes in the oven and then broil them until they get that beautiful charred look.
Broil only method:
This requires about 8 – 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish and how far your fish piece is from the burner.
Bake and Broil method:
You can bake the fish for about 8 minutes at 400F and then broil for about 1 – 2 minutes until it’s charred and glossy.
Serving ideas for Miso Black Cod
Miso black cod is very rich and buttery. So to cut through the richness, I like to serve it with something a little acidic. An Asian cucumber salad or some pickled daikon radish or carrot works really well. You can also include a green element such as bokchoy or gai lan (Chinese broccoli). I also like to serve some rice on the side as well. Either Japanese rice or some Jasmine rice.
For the sauce, when I make the marinade, I usually keep a little bit of marinade on the side. And dilute it as needed and serve on the side as a sauce. This is optional.
I hope you give this really easy miso black cod recipe a try. It’s so delicious and buttery smooth, and it’s very different from every fish dish I’ve ever tried. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions! Happy cooking!!
Miso Black Cod Recipe
Description
This melts in your mouth, salty-sweet umami miso black cod recipe is one of my favorites to make when I want to impress someone, but with very little hands-on work.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
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Add the marinade to a large ziplock bag or a bowl. Add the fish fillets and coat them well in the marinade. Marinate the fish for 2 - 3 days in the fridge.Â
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Cover a baking sheet with aluminium foil for easy cleanup. Lightly spray with oil so the fish skin doesn't stick to the bottom. Place the fish fillets, skin side down, in one layer, leaving space between each fish piece.
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Broil the fish on high for about 8-10 minutes, or until it is fully cooked and the outside is charred. Make sure to rotate the pan as needed to get all the fish fillets evenly cooked. When it's done, transfer the fish to a serving plate using a thin spatula.
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