This halibut with miso butter is an easy halibut recipe with rich savory flavor and a simple stovetop method. Tender halibut fillets are pan-seared, then quickly finished under a lid and topped with a silky miso butter sauce that melts over the fish. It's fast enough for a weeknight, elegant enough for guests, and a great way to serve halibut without much fuss.
If your only experience with miso is the little bowl of soup served at a sushi bar, prepare to be amazed. Halibut with miso butter is rich, savory, and full of umami flavor. The silky miso butter is also delicious with other fish or seared scallops. While halibut is the star here, other firm white fish, such as cod, work beautifully too.
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Halibut with Miso Butter Recipe Snapshot
- Simple and fast - An easy seafood dinner that comes together quickly.
- Rich savory flavor - Miso butter adds deep umami flavor to tender halibut.
- Versatile - Use the miso butter with other fish and seafood such as cod, shrimp, or scallops.
- Weeknight-friendly - A great meal for busy evenings.
- Dairy-free option - Easy to adapt if needed.
For another easy fish dinner, try this halibut recipe with lemon caper vinaigrette.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Fish - Choose a fresh, firm white fish such as halibut or cod. Monkfish and sea bass work well too.
- Garlic - Use granulated or powdered garlic for easy flavor.
- Miso - Use sweet white miso for the mildest flavor and easiest availability.
- Butter - Use unsalted dairy butter or a plant-based stick butter, or coconut butter.
- Oil - Use a little oil for the pan, such as extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, extra virgin coconut oil, or quality neutral oil.
- Liquid - Use dry sake, dry white wine, vegetable broth, or fish broth to finish the fish gently.
Please see the recipe card for measurements, and black pepper (no salt as miso is salty).
Chef's Note: What Is Miso?
Miso is a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning made into a paste, most often from soybeans, salt, and a starter culture called koji. It adds deep savory, umami-rich flavor to dishes. You'll usually find miso in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Buy organic if that matters to you, and if you eat gluten-free, always read the label carefully, as some miso is made with non-gluten-free grains such as barley.
For another seafood recipe with miso, try this seared scallops recipe with orange, miso, and ginger sauce.
How to Make Halibut with Miso Butter
- Season fresh halibut fillets, or another white fish, with black pepper and granulated garlic. You won't need salt, as miso is naturally salty.
- Sear the fish top-side down in a nonstick pan with a little coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil until a light golden crust forms.
- Turn the fish over and spread the tops with half of the sweet white miso butter.
- Add dry sake, white wine, or vegetable broth. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and cook for another 3-4 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Timing will depend on the thickness of your fillets (cook to 145°F).
- Transfer the fish to a plate and keep warm. Whisk the remaining miso butter into the pan juices for a light sauce, or stir it into hot rice.
Serving Suggestions
Serve halibut with miso butter over rice or quinoa with a side of roasted asparagus, steamed snap peas, or snow peas.
For more sauce, remove the fish to a plate, then whisk the miso butter into the pan juices and spoon it over the top. You can also toss any extra miso butter with hot rice for an easy, flavorful side.
Recipe FAQs
Sweet white miso is the best choice for this recipe. It has the mildest flavor and blends easily into butter for a silky, savory sauce without overpowering the delicate halibut.
Yes. Cod, sea bass, monkfish, or another firm white fish work well. You can also use the miso butter with seared scallops.
Some miso is gluten-free, but not all of it. Always read the label carefully, as some varieties are made with grains such as barley.
More Seafood Recipes
For more recipes with fish and shellfish, please check out the recipes page for fish and seafood.
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📖 Recipe
Halibut with Miso Butter
Equipment
- Non-stick pan with lid
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds halibut filet or other white fish
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons sweet white miso soft at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter dairy or coconut, soft at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons oil (for the pan) avocado, coconut, or olive oil
- ½ cup dry sake or dry white wine or vegetable broth
Optional Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
Instructions
- Cut fish into four equal portions and season with black pepper and granulated garlic. Mix together miso and butter into a smooth paste.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add coconut oil. Place fish top side down into pan and sear until a golden crust forms. Turn fish over and spread half of the miso-butter paste on top of the filets. Splash in the sake or broth and quickly cover the pan with a lid. Fish will steam finish in 2-4 minutes depending on the thickness as the miso butter melts on top. Fish is done when a digital thermometer reads 145°F.
- When fish is done, remove to a plate and keep warm. Use other half of miso butter to whisk with pan juices into a sauce or toss with hot rice.
Nutrition
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Janna Zwerner says
The fish came out delicious! On top of that, using the miso made it even more healthy. Great recipe!
Sally Cameron says
Thanks for commenting Janna! So glad you enjoyed it. Miso is delish!
Tess @ Tips on Healthy Living says
Your halibut looks delicious! I've been having a hard time finding a Valentine's Day recipe that is as delicious as it is healthy, and this is perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Sally says
Thanks Tess! We eat this weekly. It's my "go-to" dinner right now. Easy, tasty and healthy. After you make it with the halibut, try it with seared scallops.