Honey Soy Glazed Salmon

This quick & easy honey soy glazed salmon is SO flavorful with a striking balance of sweet and savory. It’s also the perfect dish for a weeknight dinner.

How to make honey soy glazed salmon

1. Start by removing the salmon from the fridge to take the chill off. Prepare the sauce mixture and set aside.
2. Once the salmon is ready to cook, pat it down well with paper towels to remove moisture. This step will ensure beautifully cooked salmon with crispy skin.
3. Heat a nonstick pan on medium high and test the temperature by splashing a few droplets of water inside. The water beads should “dance around” and sizzle once the pan is hot enough. Then add about a tablespoon of oil to the pan.
4. Pat dry the salmon once more and liberally season both sides with salt and pepper. Place the salmon in the pan, skin-side down. Let it cook for about 4 minutes undisturbed, though the time will vary based on the cut and size of your salmon.
5. Flip the salmon over on the other side and let it sear for about 45 seconds. The salmon does not need to be cooked entirely through since it will be added back to the pan later. Remove and set aside.
6. There is a ton of flavor leftover in the pan, so don’t let it go to waste by adding your vegetables for a stir-fry.
7. The pan should now be “clean”, so turn down the heat to medium and reduce the sauce by half. Add the salmon and cook until it reaches your desired doneness. Serve with steamed white rice & enjoy!

Tips for stovetop salmon success

• Let the salmon come to room temperature but take it out about 20 minutes before you’re ready to cook. This will ensure more even cooking when searing the salmon.

• Ensure the salmon is completely dry by using a paper towel to remove all moisture before cooking. Or, you can let it sit in the fridge, uncovered, for a few hours. This step will help you get a beautiful and delicious sear on the salmon. Otherwise, the salmon will steam in the pan because all of the excess moisture.

• Liberally season the salmon with salt and pepper, but do this immediately before placing in the pan. Salt helps expel water from the salmon if left to sit, so the seasoning must be done right before cooking.

• Leave the skin ON when cooking, even if you don’t intend to eat it. The skin acts as a protective barrier when cooking and prevents it from becoming too dry. It’s best to cook skin-side down first the majority of the way, then finish off on the other side to quickly sear. This will guarantee you perfectly cooked, moist salmon.

• Let the salmon cook, undisturbed, in the pan and don’t be tempted to move it. You want the salmon to obtain a nice sear with crispy skin and moving it around will prevent this. It will naturally release once ready.

What pairs well with salmon?

Honey soy glazed salmon is very flavorful, so it pairs well with simple foods to help balance the flavors. This includes steamed white rice and green vegetables, like Chinese chives or bok choy.

Watch my video tutorial here

More easy asian recipes:

• crab rangoon
• firecracker shrimp
• kimchi fried rice
• Japanese egg sandwich

Honey Soy Glazed Salmon

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• Author: Jasmine and Tea
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x

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Description

This quick & easy honey soy glazed salmon is SO flavorful with a striking balance of sweet and savory. It’s also the perfect dish for a weeknight dinner.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

sauce:

• 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 garlic cloves (15g)
• 1 tbsp sambal oleok (fresh chili paste)
• 1 tsp sesame oil

other:

• oil for pan-frying
• 2 salmon filets, skin-on (½ lb or 227g each)
• salt & pepper to taste
• chopped scallions and lime for garnish

 

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Instructions

1. Remove the salmon from the fridge to take the chill off.  Prepare the sauce mixture and set aside for later.
2. Heat a nonstick pan on medium-high and add a tablespoon of oil.
3. Pat dry the salmon to remove moisture, then season liberally with salt and pepper.  Add the salmon to the pan, skin-side down, and cook undisturbed for about 4 minutes, depending on the size of your salmon.  The skin protects it from becoming dry, so you want to cook it the majority of the way on this side.  The sides of the salmon will begin to turn white and creep upwards, which is a signal of it being ready to be flipped.
4. Flip and sear the salmon to the other side, then remove from the pan.  There’s lots of flavor leftover in the pan, so add your vegetables of choice for a quick stir-fry.
5. With the now “clean” pan, reduce the heat to medium and add the sauce mixture.  Cook until reduced by about halfway, then add back the salmon and cook until it reaches your desired doneness.  Serve with steamed white rice & enjoy!

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: salmon