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You are here: Home / Seafood / Foolproof 2-Day Miso Marinated Black Cod a la Nobu

Foolproof 2-Day Miso Marinated Black Cod a la Nobu

Published: Oct 17, 2018 · Updated: Jan 21, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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miso marinated black cod with wine and lettuce greens
Miso Black Cod pinterest image
Miso Marinated Black Cod a la Nobu with Salad Greens

Marinate this fish ahead of time, forget about it, then cook it 2 days later.  Broil in less than 15 minutes.  Could it be any easier than that?

miso black cod on plate with white wine

Nobu’s not-so-secret but incomplete recipe

This dish has been oft written about, and its popularity in the US originates from the acclaimed upscale sushi restaurant chain, Nobu.

The chef published a cookbook by the same name in 2001.  I purchased a copy when I cooked in London and dragged it all the way home with me.

What no one talks about is that there is a key item missing from the recipe.

Specifically, the amount of sake to use in the miso marinade is undisclosed.

It curiously just says sake with no corresponding quantity.

Nevertheless, we will improvise with a recipe of our own.

The Foolproof Fish

raw black cod fillets

Black cod is not actually cod at all.  It’s “real” name is sablefish and sometimes called butterfish.

However, the cod species decided to adopt it as one of its own as the black sheep of the family.  Such is the erroneously named black cod.

Black cod or sablefish is just about the easiest and most forgiving fish in the kitchen.

It has so much fat that it is nearly impossible to overcook. 

It will remain moist and silky no matter what you do to it.

The only issue may be finding it.  It is a sustainable fish, depending on the fishing method, found off the coast of the Pacific and available year round.

If you can’t find black cod, Nobu recommends using salmon, tuna, or even beef.

Miso Paste

Miso paste comes in many colors including white, yellow, and red.

White is the mildest and sweetest, while red is the saltiest and has the most umami.

Miso marinade is typically made with white miso.

However, this recipe uses red miso paste, since you generally use just have one color miso in your fridge.

If you have white miso, reduce the amount to 1/4 c as written in the recipe card below.

How to Make Miso Marinated Black Cod

Step 1: Make the Miso Marinade & Cool

miso marinade in pot with spatula

Bring the sake, mirin, and sugar to boil.

Boil for 20 seconds to cook off the alcohol and dissolve the sugar.

Remove the pot from the heat, and stir in the miso paste.

Step 2: Marinate for 2 or 3 days

black cod fillets in miso marinade

Here the black cod is cut into smaller fillets about 3-4 inches in length.

This is strongly flavored fish, so it is meant to be eaten in small portions.

If you don’t want to wait 2 or 3 days, marinate for as long as you have time for.  The flavor may just not penetrate through the fish as much.

Step 3:  Broil fish

raw black cod fillets on pan

Wipe off excess marinade and put onto a lightly oiled baking pan.

They are placed skin-side down in this recipe, so the flesh gets golden brown.

If preferred, you can place skin-side up to get the skin slightly browned.

cooked black cod fillets on pan

Broil on high for 7-10 minutes until the cod is just starting to caramelize, and the edges turn black.

Depending on how large your fillets are cut, you may need to cook longer than 1o minutes.

Step 4: Remove bones

black cod bones

If the pin bones have not been removed prior to cooking, they are easily removed once cooked, since they will jut out from the surface of the fish.

Step 5: Serve

miso marinated black cod

Serve with brown rice if you wish.

They are pictured above with baby lettuce greens and a simple oil and vinegar dressing.

Wine pairing

A white wine would work as it usually does with fish.  However, why not try a red wine?

The marinade on this fish is like a strong shield, and the fat from the fish can stand up to the tannins in a red wine.

The Huff Post suggests a Cru Beaujolais or Zinfandel with a miso marinated fish in their article: 4 Wine Rules that are Rubbish.

Tips to make it better @home

  1. Red or white miso paste can be used. If using white miso paste, reduce the quantity to 1/4c instead of 1/3c.
  2. If you don’t want to remove the pin bones after cooking, you can pluck them out before hand with a fish tweezer.
  3. If you can’t find black cod, Chef Nobu recommends using salmon, tuna, or even beef.
  4. If you don’t have 2-3 days to marinate the fish, marinate for as long as you have time for, even if it is just 15 minutes.
  5. For a red wine pairing, try a French Cru Beaujolais.

More Easy Fish Recipes

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Legit Hawaiian Poke – No Soy Sauce Necessary

Miso Marinated Black Cod a la Nobu with Salad Greens
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5 from 2 votes

Foolproof Miso Marinated Black Cod

This works best if you marinate this, then forget it or are meal planning for the week. Otherwise, who has 2 days?  Use black cod if you can find it, otherwise salmon, tuna, or even beef will work with the marinade. 
Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese
Keyword black cod, fish, miso
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 214kcal
Author Asian Test Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 lb black cod fillets skin on

Miso Marinade

  • 1/4 c sake
  • 1/4 c mirin
  • 1/4 c sugar
  • 1/3 c red miso paste see Note

Instructions

  • Put sake, mirin, and sugar in a pot over medium high heat.  Bring to a boil and boil for 20 seconds to cook out the alcohol and dissolve sugar.  Remove from heat and whisk in miso paste.  Let cool to room temperature. 
  • Slice black cod fillets into 4 inch long pieces.  Cover with cooled miso marinade.  Leave for 2-3 days in the fridge. 
  • Preheat broiler.  Wipe off excess marinade from fish and place on a baking sheet sprayed with oil.  Broil on low for 7-10 minutes or until the fish just starts to black around the edges.  Remove pin bones if not already removed.

Notes

  1. Red or white miso paste can be used. If using white miso paste, reduce the quantity to 1/4c instead of 1/3c.
  2. If you don't want to remove the pin bones after cooking, you can pluck them out before hand with a fish tweezer. 
  3. If you can't find black cod, Chef Nobu recommends using salmon, tuna, or even beef.
  4. If you don't have 2-3 days to marinate the fish, marinate for as long as you have time for, even if it is just 15 minutes. 
  5. For a red wine pairing, try a French Cru Beaujolais.
Recipe adapted from Nobu the Cookbook by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa.  

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 1311mg | Potassium: 314mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @agiletestkitchen or tag #agiletestkitchen!

Do you love Chef Nobu and all things seafood?  Please spread the Asian ♥ and share!

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Comments

  1. MonkeysVentures

    June 7, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    This looks OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Mouth-watering. Bookmarked. Will attempt to create and report.

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      June 8, 2020 at 10:08 am

      Aww, thanks so much Monkeys! Happy to hear how it goes!

      Reply
  2. Nicole Ruiz Hudson

    June 12, 2020 at 10:39 am

    I remember having a black cod dishes like this at upscale Asian restaurants in the past and have always loved it. Definitely flagging this to give it a go!

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      June 15, 2020 at 10:31 pm

      Cool, thanks so much for stopping by Nicole! I see this too on SO many restaurant menus.

      Reply
  3. Steveo

    April 8, 2021 at 5:32 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic and versatile miso marinade! Thank you for posting

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      April 9, 2021 at 3:15 pm

      Thank you so much Steve! So glad you tried it and liked it. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jacquelyn

    October 2, 2021 at 4:41 pm

    Is Miso paste the same as white soybean paste?

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      October 2, 2021 at 4:52 pm

      Hi Jacquelyn! It sounds like it could be, but I usually see it labeled as “white miso” rather than “white soybean paste.” Miso paste comes in white, yellow, and red forms. Do you have a photo or product link you could send? Is it a Japanese or Korean product? There is a Korean soybean paste that is saltier and fermented differently, but I’ve never seen it labeled as “white”. You could try out the white soybean paste and see if you like it. There’s so much sugar in this recipe that I think it would be fine.

      Reply
  5. Karen Onuki

    October 25, 2021 at 11:46 am

    I didn’t find Black Cod at store. Can I use Alaskan Cod instead?

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      October 26, 2021 at 10:05 am

      Hi Karen! Yes, you could use Alaskan Cod, but the texture will not be the same as Black Cod, which is very silky and soft. Alaskan Cod is much firmer, but I suspect it will still be tasty! 🙂

      Reply

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