Description
Sweet and savory brown sugar soy sauce salmon emerges as a culinary delight from Pacific Northwest kitchens. Tender fish fillets glazed with caramelized marinade promise a simple yet elegant dinner perfect for home cooks looking to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless)
- ½ tsp salt (0.5 teaspoons)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tsp grated ginger (optional)
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tbsp honey (optional, for extra caramelization)
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional, for extra depth)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsps green onions, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, fresh lemon juice, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl until brown sugar dissolves completely, creating a glossy, harmonious blend.
- Salmon Marination: Place salmon fillets in a single layer within a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag, then pour the prepared marinade over the fish, ensuring thorough, even coating. Allow the salmon to absorb the rich, tangy flavors for 15-30 minutes at room temperature.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly greased baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Salmon Placement: Remove salmon from marinade, gently pat fillets dry with paper towels. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, positioning skin-side down with adequate spacing. Drizzle remaining marinade over the fish to create a glossy glaze that will intensify during roasting.
- Baking and Finishing: Roast in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until salmon becomes opaque and flakes easily with a fork, developing a golden-brown exterior. Optional: Garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds. Allow salmon to rest 2-3 minutes after removing from oven, enabling juice redistribution for a moist, flavorful result.
Notes
- Optimize Marinating Time: Allow salmon to marinate between 15-30 minutes for maximum flavor absorption without breaking down fish proteins, preventing texture deterioration.
- Prevent Overcooking: Check salmon at 10-minute mark, ensuring it remains moist and tender; salmon cooks quickly and can become dry if left too long in oven.
- Control Moisture Levels: Pat salmon fillets completely dry before roasting to achieve perfect caramelization and prevent steaming, which reduces crispy exterior development.
- Customize Flavor Variations: Swap red pepper flakes with sriracha for extra heat, or replace honey with maple syrup for different sweetness profiles, adapting recipe to personal taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg