Level 6 · Soft & Bite-Sized: soft, tender, moist food cut into pieces no bigger than 1.5 cm (about the width of a thumbnail). Some chewing is needed, but no biting. What do the levels mean?
Serves: 2 · Time: 25 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating
Ingredients: Butterfish (black cod) or salmon, skinless and boneless, white miso, mirin, a little sugar.
Steps
Mix 2 tbsp miso, 1 tbsp mirin and 1 tsp sugar. Coat 8 oz fish and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Wipe off most of the marinade and bake at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, until it flakes easily.
Check very carefully for bones. Break into flakes no bigger than 1.5 cm and spoon over a little thickened cooking juice.
Shortcut: Marinate the fish overnight to save time on the day.
Check the texture: press a piece with the side of a fork until your thumbnail turns white. It squashes and does not spring back. Cut every piece to 1.5 cm before serving, and keep sauces thick rather than thin and runny.
Use the food level recommended by your speech-language pathologist or doctor. Textures change with cooking time, cooling and reheating, so check the food each time before serving, using the simple fork and spoon tests in our swallowing guide. Sit upright to eat, take small bites, and stay upright for 30 minutes after.