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    Home » Recipes » Fish

    Sweet & Spicy Garlic Ginger Salmon

    Published: Jul 17, 2020 Modified: Jul 17, 2020 by Candice

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE

    This sweet & spicy salmon marries a simple, subtle salmon with garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, fish sauce, and tons of chili flakes. Make this 20-minute recipe because it's simple to make, but make it over and over again because you'll find yourself craving it the flavors.

    After watching my friend LaRae make homemade kimchi (link opens in new tab), I knew I had to experiment with a salmon recipe that uses those flavors . This recipe is exactly that - kimchi flavors from before the fermentation.

    How and When to Season Salmon

    Seasoning salmon with a simple rub of salt and pepper enhances its flavor. It's a good step to add right before you cook your salmon. If you season too early, the salt will draw moisture out from the salmon. Ideally, season for 5 minutes before you cook your salmon.

    Is it OK to Marinate Salmon Overnight?

    This all depends on the type of marinade you use. Any marinade that's acidic, like citrus juice or vinegar, should not be left overnight. These marinades should be applied a maximum thirty minutes before cooking. Non-acidic marinades, like the one in this recipe, can be left overnight to infuse the salmon with flavor. Try to use an airtight container if marinating overnight.

    Note: Fish tastes best when it is fresh, so I would rather cook the salmon sooner than marinade overnight.

    What is the White Stuff that Comes Out of Salmon?

    When you cook salmon, you may notice that it oozes a white substance. That white substance is called albumin, a protein that exists in fish. It's perfectly harmless and safe to eat, but the goal is to have as much of this protein remain in the salmon rather than come out while cooking. When you see it coming out of the salmon, it is a good indicator that the salmon is cooked.

    Can You Eat Salmon Skin?

    Salmon skin is safe to eat, but tastes best when crispy. When roasting, cooking with the skin side down helps protect the fillet from too much heat. I like to cook the salmon with the skin side up and then easily peel off the skin before serving, but the ending presentation isn't as pretty as when you roast it skin side down. So if I'm having guests over (or taking pictures of food) I will roast salmon skin side down.

    What Sides Go Well with Salmon?

    Tried and tested salmon pairings include vegetables like green beans, broccoli, kale, and carrots. Salmon is also tasty served with a starch such as potatoes, rice, or orzo. I like to pair this salmon with a simple vegetable side dish so as not to detract from the salmon and marinade! Try one of these favorites:

    • Herb Salad with Pomegranate Miso Dressing
    • Easy Roasted Asparagus
    • Fried Rice with Peas
    • Herb Salad with Pomegranate Miso Dressing

    What Spices Pair Well with Salmon?

    The best spices for salmon start with the classic salt and pepper. If you have a good piece of fish, this should be all you need. A step up from that are herbs like rosemary, thyme, garlic, and dill.

    Lemon or other citrus is also a really classic flavoring for salmon, whether you use lemon pepper or lemon slices. If you want to be a little more adventurous, this recipe is a great way to experiment with more untraditional spices for fish like ginger, chili powder, and brown sugar like in this recipe.

    Here are some of my favorites:

    • Citrus Thyme Salmon
    • Teriyaki Salmon
    • Tropical Fruit Roasted Salmon
    • Chili Kumquat Salmon
    • Jalapeño Lime Salmon
    • Miso Ginger Salmon

    Or check out all my fish recipes here.

    Step by Step Recipe

    To make the sweet and spicy salmon, you will need the following ingredients: soy sauce, red chili powder or flakes, brown sugar, garlic, fish sauce, ginger, olive oil, and salmon.

    Ingredients for sweet and spicy salmon including soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and ginger.

    I have made this recipe with both Copper River Sockeye salmon and Prince William Sound Sockeye salmon and both came out great (links open in a new tab). The Copper River Sockeye is on the big flavor side, and the Prince William Sound sockeye is on the mild side, so choose your own adventure.

    Note: Depending on the type of salmon you use, you will need to adjust the cooking time. Sockeye salmon is one of the thinnest salmon types, so it does cook much faster than other types. And even among sockeye, there is a great variation in thicknesses.

    Preheat your oven to 350F.

    Then, add the garlic, chili powder, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and olive oil to a food processor. Process the ingredients until the garlic and ginger have broken down, and you have a smooth paste. See the photo below.

    Note: You can make this marinade up to 1 week in advance. Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

    Before and after salmon marinade ingredients are processed in a food processor.

    Pour the marinade over your sockeye salmon on a large baking sheet. You can also slice the filet into individual serving-sized pieces before serving.

    Pouring marinade over salmon and spreading it with a spoon.

    Bake for about twelve minutes, until you see white proteins are starting to release from the salmon.

    Before cooked and after cooked salmon covered in red marinade.

    Your salmon should be perfectly cooked, and ready to serve!

    Two pieces of cooked salmon on a baking sheet with brown chili sauce.

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    5 from 10 votes

    Sweet & Spicy Garlic Ginger Salmon

    Make this 20-minute sweet and spicy salmon because it's simple to make, but make it over and over again because you'll find yourself craving the flavors. Inspired by kimchi spices, but pre-fermentation.
    Prep Time8 mins
    Cook Time12 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American, Asian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 577kcal
    Author: Candice

    Equipment

    • Sheet Pan or Baking Dish

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lbs. salmon Sockeye
    • 10  cloves garlic peeled
    • ¼ cup red pepper flakes Korean chili powder, or shichimi togarashi
    • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoon fish sauce
    • 2 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
    • 1 ½ inches fresh ginger peeled and thinly sliced
    • ½ cup olive oil

    Instructions

    • Preheat to 350F.
    • Add the garlic, chili powder, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and olive oil to a food processor. Process until the garlic and ginger have broken down.
    • Pour the food processor mixture over the salmon. Bake for ~12 minutes, until the white proteins have released from the salmon.

    Notes

    You can use this recipe on any type of salmon. However, you will need to adjust the cooking time. Sockeye salmon is one of the thinnest salmon, so it cooks much faster than other salmon. And even among Sockeye salmon, there is a thickness variation.
    You can make this marinade up to 1 week in advance. Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 577kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1295mg | Potassium: 1215mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 4452IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 4mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @ProportionalPlate or tag #ProportionalPlate on Instagram! I'd love to see what you're making!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Georgina | Culianry Travels

      August 24, 2020 at 7:32 am

      Salmon is my favourite fish. Ginger is one of my favourite spices. Put them together and I am getting hungry. Perfection.

      Reply
      • Candice

        September 02, 2020 at 9:36 am

        I'm glad to hear it, Gerogina... let me know how it goes when you make it!

        Reply
    2. Jo

      August 24, 2020 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      That salmon marinade is bursting with flavors. How delicious those salmon has turned out. Mouthwatering dish

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 26, 2020 at 7:43 am

        That makes me so happy to hear, Jo!

        Reply
    3. Debbie

      August 23, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      I am so glad I decided to try this Sweet and Spicy Salmon, it was just delicious. All the flavors mingled together so nicely . The is a great recipe with an Asian flair I will keep forever.

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 26, 2020 at 7:43 am

        I'm so glad to hear it, Debbie! It's one of our favorites, too.

        Reply
    4. Veronika

      August 23, 2020 at 8:35 am

      5 stars
      Love these simple and flavorful salmon recipes! I think I have enough of all the ingredients and might try to make it again tonight!

      Reply
      • Candice

        September 04, 2020 at 8:50 am

        I'm so glad to hear it, Veronika!

        Reply
    5. Tammy

      August 21, 2020 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      Mmm what a great dish! I have to save this for later next time I make salmon...love the sweet and spicy combo and the kimchi inspired heat really kicks this up a notch!

      Reply
      • Candice

        September 14, 2020 at 2:20 pm

        Thank you so much for sharing, Tammy!

        Reply
    6. Marta

      August 19, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      I went on a salmon buying binge last week and was looking for new recipes to try on them. This is so timely, and we loved it!

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 19, 2020 at 5:17 pm

        I'm so glad to hear it, Marta!

        Reply
    7. Dennis

      August 18, 2020 at 4:26 am

      5 stars
      We are definitely going to have this Sweet & Spicy Garlic Ginger Salmon for lunch again tomorrow! It is really delicious!

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 18, 2020 at 8:45 am

        I'm so glad to hear it, Dennis... enjoy!

        Reply
    8. Bernice Hill

      August 17, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      What a winning combination of flavours! I love roasted salmon and I love kimchi. I think they'd go really well together.

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 19, 2020 at 9:17 am

        I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it, Bernice!

        Reply
    9. Amanda

      August 17, 2020 at 7:00 pm

      5 stars
      I'm so glad I came across this salmon recipe! It's just bursting with flavor in every bite, and I love how quick it was to make.

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 18, 2020 at 8:45 am

        I'm so glad to hear it, Amanda... yay!

        Reply
    10. Shelley

      August 17, 2020 at 11:49 am

      5 stars
      Gorgeous! And I love the flavor profile this creates of "kimchi before fermentation" - really uniquely delicious idea! I also appreciated some of the great tips here - like not salting your salmon more than about 5 minutes before baking, and also about the albumin as a hint at doneness - really helpful post!

      Reply
      • Candice

        August 18, 2020 at 8:46 am

        I'm so happy to hear it was helpful for you, Shelley... thank you for sharing!

        Reply

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