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Sweet & Spicy Garlic Ginger Salmon

5 from 4 votes

Prep Time 8

Cook Time 12

Total Time 20

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.

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By Candice Walker on July 17, 2020 (Last updated February 23, 2025). This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

This Sweet & Spicy Garlic Ginger Salmon marries a simple, subtle salmon with garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, fish sauce, and tons of chili flakes. This 20-minute recipe is easy to prepare and make, and I promise you’ll make it repeatedly because you’ll find yourself craving the flavors!

A close up of a cooked slice of salmon with a brown marinade on a metal baking sheet.

After watching my friend LaRae make homemade kimchi, 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.

🧾Ingredients in this 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. 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.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

👩‍🍳How to Make This Recipe

Before and after photos of a brown marinade in a food processor.

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.

Prep Ahead Tip

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

A hand pouring marinade from a jar onto salmon and spreading it with a spoon.

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.

Marinade Pro Tip

Any marinade that’s acidic, like citrus juice or vinegar, should not be left overnight. These marinades should be applied a maximum of 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.

Before photos of salmon salmon covered in red marinad before and after baking it.

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

Cooking Time

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

Your salmon is ready to serve!

A close up of two pieces of cooked salmon on a baking sheet with brown chili sauce.

🥗 Sides to Pair with This Salmon

Tried and tested salmon pairings include vegetables like green beans, broccoli, kale, and carrots. Salmon is also tasty served with 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!