Recipe : Mackerel simmered in miso
Mackerel simmered in miso (鯖の味噌煮) is a traditional Japanese dish made by gently cooking mackerel in a savory sauce of miso paste, sake, mirin, sugar, and ginger.
The miso gives the dish a rich, slightly sweet and salty flavor, while ginger helps remove any fishy smell.
It is commonly served as a home-style meal and eaten with rice.
Ingredients (2 servings):
2 Mackerel fillet
10g Ginger
A pinch of Salt
Seasoning:
150ml Dashi *Water is also ok!
2 Tbsp Sake
2 Tbsp Mirin
2 Tbsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Miso
Directions:
1. Salt the fish and let it rest for 10 minutes to remove odors.
2. Pour Dashi, sake and Mirin in a frying pan and turn on the heat.
When it starts to boil, place the mackerel skin-side up.
3. When the edges of the mackerel start getting white, add the ginger.
*The ginger will interact with the heated protein and remove the fishy smell.
4. When it boils again, turn the heat down to low and remove the scum.
Add the sugar, put a drop lid on it and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add Miso by blending it with some of the stewing liquid.
Occasionally scoop the liquid and pour it over the fish.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
6. When the liquid reduces, take out the drop lid and serve on a dish.
Note : This recipe was first submitted in March 13, 2016 and resubmitted in January 14, 2026 to reflect recipe revisions and additional photos.
