Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Miso Marinated Salmon with Sushi Rice and Pickled Cucumber - Cucumber Series #4

8.17.10

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Here comes the last post of the cucumber series. That's sad - just kidding. I'm glad I found a way to use up the cucumbers - wisely shall we say? If I had to eat cucumber alone as a main course, I wouldn't be able to eat it again for weeks. Incorporating it in a dish worked really well for me and I didn't get sick of cucumbers!

Vinegar pickled cucumber was the first idea that popped in my head but I managed to make it last. It's simple, easy to make, and goes well with many dishes. I took more time to think of what would go with it than thinking of making pickled cucumber. Ha.

I then thought of what I've been wanting to make - Miso marinated salmon. It's now time to make it! Miso marinade is the miso paste I used on Miso Ramen post. I also made sushi rice to go with. I marinated two nights and it was so tasty! I need a little more flavor as one night isn't enough to get a flavor for me. Marinade it one night is practical, so feel free to adjust to your preference. I first used cod fillets on a grill. It was a mishap. The cod was too flaky. It fell apart on the grill. Therefore, I packed and brought it on our boat. We had a date night on the boat. I was fine with this mishap I guess - hehe.




I later changed to salmon fillets (or any firm fish) and broiled them instead. You can see a burned spot on the salmon. Don't panic!! It's normal when you grill miso. The burn is actually from the miso paste.

Miso salmon, sushi rice, and vinegar cucumbers with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds - Heaven!


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Miso Marinated Salmon
4 salmon fillets, skin on
1/2 cup miso paste or use all from the recipe - recipe can be found here

Directions:
  • Marinate salmon on a tray or casserole over night or two nights in a fridge
  • When ready to eat, scape off miso paste.
  • Put in under a broiler on high for 4-5 mins on each side

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Vinegar Pickled Cucumbers
Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients:
1/2 English cucumber
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
3 tbs sugar
1 tsp sea salt
Black roasted sesame seeds

Directions:
  • Run a knife four way quarterly to cucumber (not all the way). Slice it off. You should have four pieces per slice (see photo)
  • Combine everything in a bowl. Whisk until mix and sugar dissolves or you can pop it in a microwave for 20 seconds until sugar dissolves.
  • Whisk well. Let cool.
  • Add cucumbers and refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight.
  • They can be kept in a container for a few days

Sushi Rice for 1 cup
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked short grain sushi rice
1-2 tbs rice wine vinegar for sushi (this is different from regular rice wine vinegar)
2 tsp black roasted sesame seeds

Directions:
  • Mix rice, vinegar, and 1 tsp of sesame seeds. 
  • Sprinkle the remaining tsp of sesame seeds in top

How to cook sushi rice properly:

I got a chance to take a sushi class for charity a few months ago. What intrigued me was how to cook sushi rice. I had and have been cooked a short cut way. The proper way is that you soak sushi rice (short grain) with water over night. After it's cooked, you spread it out loosely on a bamboo tray or steamer. Use a bamboo or plastic rice scoop cut it diagonally to let the air in to cool. Have the other person fan it while you're cutting the rice. You could make your own rice vinegar for sushi or use a store-bought. 

Shortcut Way:

I wash a starch off with water and cook in a rice cooker with 1:1 proportion; just like cooking Jasmine rice. I didn't wait for the rice to cool off. Well, I did a little bit.  Add rice wine vinegar for sushi and I'm done!

Serving:
  • Serve a miso salmon with rice and vinegar pickled cucumber. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  • Enjoy it!

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25 comments:

  1. Hey Tanantha, I'm back! Ugh, it's early. My Mom's dog started barking furiously this morning, and I couldn't fall back asleep after he woke me up...
    This looks great though! That salmon sounds so wonderful, but my weakness is white rice with vinegary cucumbers-so good! I love it. I'm trying to be good and eat brown rice. It's hard though. White rice is one of the only refined starches to which I'm really addicted! Yours looks awesome with those sesame seeds.
    p.s. cod is so flaky! Sometimes it's a disaster in terms of looks even in a sauté pan.

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  2. Wow that looks fantastic!

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  3. I must try the miso salmon. And date night, (sigh) can't recall the last time we had one. And I love cucumber with vinegar. Very refreshing!

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  4. Hi Tanantha,

    What a genius idea of pairing grilled salmon with vinegery sushi rice and cucumber!
    This will cut through the oily salmon which I think can be too rich and fishy for my taste.

    This may sound silly, but did you change your camera? I somehow notice a little difference in your photos. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me. :P

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  5. Hi Tanantha,
    I love your cucumber series and what a perfect #4! Pickled cucumber goes so well with the salmon and rice, also makes a beautiful picture. I'm sorry that you used up all your cucumber, I just picked a big one out of the garden, I had to take the seeds out of it:-)

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  6. MMM, t, please please have me over for dinner sometime! we can have a double date, on the boat! i'll bring the wine :) this miso salmon AND the pickled cucmbers both look heavenly, as always. It really seems like a wonderful and refreshing meal for a summer evening. Has the weather up there been nice? it's been really winter-y all summer here! but it's finally starting to warm up a bit.

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  7. T,

    Beautifully balanced dish. Great choice to use the pickled cucumbers.

    Your photos look amazing.

    A+++

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  8. This is one fantastic plate Tanantha! I really love miso, and this marinade is too delightful. Happiness on a dish :)

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  9. Hey Tanantha!

    This is a wonderful dish as all the ingredients go so well together. Beautifully presented as well. I love pickled veggies. When I was preggos I ate half a jar of pickles in one day, then the next day I craved for Kim chi, then pickled cucumbers, and on and on, haha. Now I just crave pickled stuff once in a while. Those pickled cucumbers are looking quite tasty right now! Oh, and I actually like the burned parts on fish. All in all, great dish!

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  10. I also love miso, and I never thought of using it as a marinade for fish. Just brilliant. And paired with the pickled cucumber...this must be an amazing meal. Thanks for sharing love!

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  11. Classical and delicious - I love this. Look very appealing, as usual.

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  12. Oh! I love miso salmon, it is one of my favorite way to cook salmon...so tasty :-) You have a perfect meal...love it!

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  13. I really hope Mountain Man fixes something for dinner that is as good looking as this! Sounds delightful.. I really need to go find some miso paste!

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  14. wow this looks first class so impressive and great photos thanks so much for visiting my blog Rebecca

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  15. Looks delicious! A great way to finish out the cucumber :)

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  16. These really looks heaven. The miso marinated salmon, I can really taste them now. Awesome combination with the sushi rice and pickled cucumber. Great photos too Tanantha.

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  17. Oh, this is sooooo my kinda meal. Lovely, unfussy combination and pickled cucumbers are so refresing and versatile - perfect with the salmon!

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  18. A terrific meal! The miso marinade is so delicious for salmon and I love the cucumber pickles!

    Btw, something similar to your cod on the grill happened to me with baramundi once. The very sad part is that it was the only time I was able to get that fish in my store :(

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  19. This is the perfect dish in my book. If i saw this on a menu, I would order it immediately. Very very nice!

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  20. Looks like an amazing meal. Pickled cucumbers are so easy, light, and refreshing. They are also good accompaniment for most rice dishes. The miso marinated salmon sounds delicious!

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  21. Salmon?! Count me in, I love salmon. Although I'm not so sure about the miso. Looks good, though!

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  22. I think that I should have gotten an invite for this dinner. Enjoying the blog and the pictures

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  23. I love miso marinated fish, I am definitely trying this recipe ASAP :)

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  24. Tanantha...I have used soybean many times and yet never experimented with Miso yet. What a wonderful dish you've put together. Many restaurants would have something to learn from your presentation ;o)

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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