This Shio Koji Salmon (塩麹サーモン) recipe is a staple that pairs beautifully with a typical Japanese meal. And it requires only 2 ingredients! Not only is it fuss-free to make, but the flavor of salmon really shines through. Let’s learn more about this amazing condiment – Shio Koji, and how you can use it in Japanese cooking.
What is Shio Koji
Simply made of salt, koji, and water, Shio Koji (塩麹, 塩こうじ), or salt koji, is a condiment used in Japanese cuisine for hundreds of years. Koji is steamed grains or beans that are bred with microorganisms called aspergillus. If koji is made from rice, it becomes rice koji (kome koji, 米麹), if it is wheat, it becomes wheat koji (mugi koji, 麦麹), and soybeans become bean koji (mame koji, 豆麹). Koji has long been a familiar food to Japanese people. Many of the seasonings such as miso, mirin, sake, and soy sauce, which are indispensable for Japanese cuisine, are made from koji. It is a 100% natural seasoning that boosts the flavor of your ingredients, resulting in a flavorful dish. As it is packed with probiotics, Shio Koji offers plenty of health benefits. You can learn more here.
Where to Get Shio Koji
It’s a liquid form with the tiny half-dissolved grains of rice malt. When you open the bottle, you would immediately smell the floral aroma of rice koji. If you wish to cook more home-style Japanese dishes, I highly recommend stocking it up.
How to Cook Shio Koji Salmon
The Ingredients You’ll Need
Salmon Shio koji
The Cooking Steps
Yes, that’s it, as simple as that. Shio koji does an amazing job overnight. You’ll find the salmon nicely tenderized and the taste deeply enhanced. It’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy salmon, especially when you can hold fresh, wild-caught salmon. For a Japanese home-cooked meal, serve this super-healthy, delicious-tasting salmon as a main protein to go along with rice, a side of veggies, miso soup, and pickles.
Other Delicious Shio Koji Recipes
Shio Koji Karaage Shio Koji Yakisoba Shio Koji Chicken Pickled Daikon with Shio Koji Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Shio Koji
I hope you enjoy cooking with shio koji! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
