This delicious miso salmon air fryer recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy a healthy meal on busy weeknights. This miso marinade for fish is only 8 ingredients is one of the best Asian marinade for salmon.
This crispy salmon dish can be found in a Japanese restaurant, but you can now enjoy this salmon recipe at home in just 10 minutes!
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Why you will love this miso salmon air fryer recipe
- Thanks to the air fryer, it’s virtually hands-off, giving you more time to relax or prepare other dishes.
- Incredibly easy to make. Miso marinade for fish is just five ingredients and 10 minutes of cooking time. Also you don't need to marinate salmon for hours —the best way to make an easy weeknight meal.
- Easy recipe for a weeknight meal but impressive enough to serve during dinner parties.
- Packed with protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids, so it's great for your heart and waistline.
Air fryer miso salmon recipe ingredients
Salmon fillets: Most types of salmon fillets will work for this recipe, but I used Spring salmon fish fillets because it has a higher fat content which helps to keep the fish moist during cooking. You can also use frozen salmon. Make sure to thaw it completely before air frying. If you are watching your calorie intake, you could remove the salmon skin.
Miso Marinate for fish
Mirin: A Japanese rice wine that has a slightly sweet flavor. You can find it in the international aisle of most grocery stores, or you can order it online. If you don’t have mirin on hand, you can use dry white wine or rice vinegar instead, but add a little sugar to match the sweetness.
Garlic: An essential to my salmon recipes! I always use fresh garlic, but you could also use garlic powder. Just expect the flavor to be a little milder.
Green onion: I love the freshness and slightly sweet flavor that green onions add to this delicious recipe, but feel free to leave it out if you’re not a fan. Chives would also be a good substitution, but you would need to use more because of their milder taste.
Avocado oil: My preferred cooking oil because it has a high smoke point and neutral flavor, but you could use any neutral oil like vegetable and canola oil. You can also add toasted sesame oil for that distinct nutty flavor.
Honey: Gives the salmon fillets a touch of sweetness and takes the recipe from good to great. For vegans, you could substitute with agave syrup, maple syrup, or brown sugar.
Red miso paste: The key ingredient that gives the miso salmon glaze its unique, umami flavor. You can order miso paste online if you can’t find it at your local grocery store. You can also use yellow or white miso paste, but the flavor will be slightly different because red miso paste has a more intense flavor than yellow or white miso paste. Feel free to add soy sauce if you're using a milder-tasting paste (like white miso). You can get miso paste at most grocery stores; I got mine from Whole Foods.
Salt and pepper: Remember to season your salmon with salt and pepper, which helps bring out all the other flavors in the recipe.
Garnish: Sesame seeds, green onions
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Medium-sized bowl for mixing
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Optional: Oven, baking tray or sheet, instant-read thermometer, aluminum foil
- Paper towels
- Oven-proof skillet
How to make miso salmon in the air fryer
This Asian salmon marinade couldn't be easier to make. Here's my step-by-step instructions.
- Prep your salmon, and cut it into 4 ounces pieces.
- Preheat your air fryer or oven to 350 degrees.
- Make your miso marinade for fish. Mince your garlic and green onions. Separate the white parts of the green onions, and save the green for garnish.
- In a small bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients: mirin, garlic, green onion, avocado oil, honey, red miso paste (with optional soy sauce (see notes for details)), salt, and pepper.
- Add the salmon and mix well.
- Lay the salmon on an air fryer basket, tray or baking sheet. Spoon the rest of the miso glaze on top of the salmon.
- Air fry salmon at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Internal temperature is 120-125 degrees. Do not overcook your salmon.
Storage and reheat instructions
STORE – store leftover cooked salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
REHEAT – reheat in a microwave or the air fryer to get the skin nice and crispy again.
FREEZE – freeze the cooked salmon in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Tips for making the best air fryer miso salmon
- PREHEAT YOUR AIR FRYER AND/OR OVEN. This will ensure your coking time is exactly 10 minutes, and it will prevent overcooking. No one likes dry salmon.
- If you are using frozen salmon, make sure to thaw it completely before air frying to ensure even cooking.
- To avoid a mess, line the air fryer basket with foil before placing the miso glazed salmon.
- Be careful not to overcook the salmon, as it can dry quickly. Cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 120 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal flavor and texture.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sides. Miso marinade pairs well with steamed rice, avocado slices, stir-fried vegetables, and some sesame seeds.
What to serve with Miso Salmon
Here are some side dishes that would complement this Miso Salmon recipe.
- White rice, brown rice or quinoa
- Cauliflower Rice
- Steamed green beans
- Sesame Cucumber Salad
- Sesame Braised Cabbage
More easy seafood recipes that you will love
If you love air fryer salmon and other air fryer recipes, you'll love these:
Air fryer miso salmon - FAQs
Miso sauce is a Japanese fermented soybean paste used as a seasoning or condiment. It ranges in color from white to yellow to red and has a salty, umami flavor. It's typically used in Japanese cooking to add depth of flavor to soups, sauces, and marinades.
It takes about 10 minutes to cook salmon in the air fryer. Depending on the thickness of your salmon, you may need to cook it for a few minutes longer.
PRO TIP: PREHEAT YOUR AIR FRYER.
The key to cooking salmon in an air fryer without drying it out is not to overcook it. Salmon is a delicate fish, so you'll want to be careful not to overcook it, or else it will become dry and tough. Check the internal temperature of the salmon with a digital food thermometer and aim for 120 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. You'll want to use a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil that is large enough to fit over the entire salmon filet. Just make sure that the aluminum foil doesn't touch the heating element of the air fryer. However, I prefer using parchment paper.
Nope, the cook time for salmon fillets in the air fryer generally does not need to be adjusted whether you use salmon fillets with skin or without. The skin can help retain some of the salmon's natural moisture during cooking, potentially making the flesh slightly juicier, but it doesn’t typically extend the required cooking time by a notable amount.
Miso Salmon Air Fryer
This delicious air fryer salmon recipe with miso sauce couldn't be easier to make. It is a perfect, easy weeknight meal, ready to eat in just 10 minutes (you don't need to wait hours to marinate salmon). Cooked to perfection in the air fryer. It is my new favorite way to cook my salmon. Game-changer!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 - 3 salmon filets 1x
- Category: mains
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: asian
Ingredients
2-3 salmon fillets (4 ounces each piece)
2 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 stalks of green onions (white and green separated)
1 tbsp avocado oil (or any neutral oil)
1 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of white miso paste
pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prep your salmon, and cut it into 4-ounce pieces.
- Preheat your air fryer or oven to 400 degrees.
- Mince your garlic and green onions. Separate the white parts of the green onions, and save the green for garnish.
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Add the salmon and mix well.
- Lay the salmon on an air fryer tray or baking sheet.
- Air fry salmon at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
- OVEN: Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. Broil at the last 2 minutes. Internal temperature is 120-125 degrees. Do not overcook your salmon.
- Serve and enjoy.
Conclusion
Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight dinner or something special for a dinner party, this air fryer miso salmon recipe promises to impress. With its umami flavor, perfectly flaky texture, and the ease of using an air fryer, it's a game-changer for cooking salmon fillets. The combination of sweet and savory ingredients in the miso marinade elevates the salmon fillets to a restaurant-quality dish that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. I hope you make this recipe and enjoy this delicious and simple recipe as much as I do. Don't forget to leave a comment below to share your experience or any personal touches you added to make it your own. I'd love to hear how this miso salmon air fryer recipe turned out for you!
Valerie Jacklin says
Second time making this and will make many more, times, easy and delicious!
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you so much! I love it too.
Myrtle says
Its easy to prep and elevates my proteins!
Nia says
This looks Good. Hmm Im thinking about a side like vegetable or soup that you can recommend?
Allaine says
This miso salmon looks so good and easy!! Excited to add it to my air fryer recipe rotation.
Lourdes says
This has become one of my favourite recipes I make regularly :). So quick, easy, and delicious
Carmen says
Thank you!!!