Preheat your oven to 400°F. While it's heating, pat your 4 salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels—this step matters because moisture prevents browning. Arrange them skin-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Whisk together white miso paste, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and lemon juice in a small bowl. The glaze should be thick but spreadable, kinda like peanut butter consistency. If it's too thick, add half a teaspoon of water and stir.

Brush the miso glaze evenly over each salmon fillet, making sure you cover the top completely but don't go overboard. I learned the hard way that too much glaze burns on the edges—about 1 tablespoon per fillet is perfect. The glaze will look thin at first, but trust me.

Drizzle olive oil around the baking sheet (not on the fish), then sprinkle black pepper over each fillet. The oil helps the miso glazed salmon family dinner cook evenly and prevents sticking.

Bake for 10 minutes at 400°F until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and the glaze caramelizes golden-brown on top. Don't panic if it looks watery at minute 8—it thickens up fast. Mine always sticks a little to the parchment and that's totally fine.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over each piece while still hot. The heat helps the seeds toast a bit more and stick to the glaze.

Let it rest for 2 minutes before serving—this keeps everything moist and tender inside.