This deliciously tender salmon with homemade teriyaki sauce garnished with sesame seeds is a tasty treat, perfect for a healthy lunch or a special midweek dinner.
It's easy to make and impossible to resist... your new favorite recipe awaits!
Why you'll love this teriyaki salmon recipe
- Salmon recipes are delicious, but this takes things to a whole new level!
- The harmony of flavor is simply sensational
- It's an adaptable recipe, so you can tweak it to your tastes and make substitutions as necessary
- It's quick and easy to make, perfect for lunch or dinner
Equipment needed
There are key pieces of equipment that you'll need when it comes to making this teriyaki salmon recipe:
- Baking dish or large non-stick skillet – depending on your chosen method of making this recipe, you'll need one of these
How to make teriyaki salmon
You need salmon, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, mirin, sake, honey, ginger and chili flakes for this recipe.
Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish.
Stir the rest of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
Drizzle it evenly over the salmon.
Bake until the salmon is cooked.
Sprinkle with thinly sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Top Tip
Marinate the salmon fillets in the teriyaki sauce in the fridge for two hours before cooking for a more intense flavor.
What to serve with teriyaki salmon
Steamed rice
A classic side dish that goes with just about any salmon recipe, steamed rice is the perfect dish to serve with teriyaki salmon. For a healthier alternative, go for a side of brown rice. Egg fried rice works too!
Cauliflower rice
For a low carb version, serve this recipe with cauliflower rice bowl.
Noodles
Rice noodles and teriyaki salmon go hand in hand, plus noodles are simple and quick to prepare. Try my leek and mushroom noodles for a complete meal!
Steamed broccoli
A delicious helping of healthy steamed broccoli is a fantastic side dish for this teriyaki recipe. Roasted broccoli is another option. Blanched kale is another great green alternative.
Miso soup
Have a bowl of soothing miso soup on the side or served as a starter.
Variations to this recipe
- Spicy Teriyaki Salmon: Add 1-2 teaspoons of Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce, sweet chili sauce or spicy mayo to the teriyaki sauce for an extra kick.
- Citrus Teriyaki Salmon: Add the juice and zest of one orange to the sauce for a fresh, citrusy flavor.
- Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon: Add ¼ cup of pineapple juice to the sauce for a sweet and tangy twist. You can also add pineapple chunks on top before baking.
- Garlic-Lemon Teriyaki Salmon: Increase the garlic to 4 cloves and add the juice of a whole lemon for a zesty, garlicky version.
Popular substitutes
Soy Sauce
- Tamari: Use an equal amount for a gluten-free option.
- Coconut Aminos: Substitute in equal measure for a slightly sweeter, lower-sodium alternative.
Honey
- Maple Syrup: Use an equal amount for a different sweetness profile.
- Agave Nectar: Substitute equally for a vegan alternative.
Salmon
- Other Fish: Use trout or cod fillets for a different but equally delicious result.
- Chicken: Substitute with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, adjusting the cooking time as necessary.
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Top tips
- Retain Moisture: To prevent the salmon from drying out during reheating, you can add a splash of water or broth to the dish before reheating, especially when using the oven or stovetop methods.
- Sauce: Store any leftover teriyaki sauce separately and reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, then drizzle over the reheated salmon to enhance its flavor and moisture.
What is teriyaki salmon?
It's a salmon dish prepared using a traditional Japanese sauce that's popular worldwide. The teriyaki marinade is deliciously sticky and lusciously thick, made using a combination of soy sauce, honey, light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic, and sometimes mirin and sake.
Teriyaki salmon recipes vary quite a bit in terms of the ingredients used.
Is it better to pan sear or bake salmon fillets?
You can use either method when making teriyaki salmon.
Pan-searing salmon is excellent for getting crispy skin. Baking might be a better option if you're not a salmon skin fan. This method doesn't require constant attention and achieves perfectly succulent salmon.
Should you flip teriyaki salmon halfway through cooking?
If you're baking your salmon, there's no need to flip the fillets.
However, if you decide to pan-sear the salmon filets, carefully flip them after cooking for 4-5 minutes — basically, until the skin is nice and crispy.
Once you've flipped it, you'll need to cook your salmon for another 3-4 minutes until it's cooked.
What can I do with leftover teriyaki sauce?
Any leftover sauce should be kept in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. The extra sauce would be perfect as a marinade for chicken, pork, beef, fish, or tofu.
How do you store teriyaki salmon?
You can either store your leftover teriyaki salmon in the fridge or freezer, depending on how long you plan to keep it.
Refrigeration
- Allow the cooked salmon to cool to room temperature.
- Place the salmon in an airtight container.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing
- Allow the cooked salmon to cool completely.
- Wrap each salmon portion tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped portions in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container.
- Label with the date and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating teriyaki salmon
There are several ways to reheat this teriyaki salmon recipe.
Refrigerated Salmon
Microwave
- Place the salmon on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate.
- Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Avoid overheating to prevent drying out the salmon.
Oven
- Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C).
- Place the salmon in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
- Heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
Stovetop
- Place the salmon in a non-stick skillet over low heat.
- Cover and heat for about 5-7 minutes, turning once, until warmed through.
Frozen Salmon
Thawing
- Transfer the frozen salmon to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
- Alternatively, you can place the wrapped salmon in a bowl of cold water to thaw more quickly, changing the water every 30 minutes.
Reheating
Follow the same reheating instructions as for refrigerated salmon once it has thawed completely.
More sublime salmon recipes
Salmon is one of the finest fish cuts and one that deserves an array of recipes to try. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
- Quick and easy salmon picatta – the perfect midweek meal, this is one of my favorites!
- Air fryer salmon bites – quick and easy bite sized beauties that never fail to impress
- Salmon terrine – a delicious dish for a special occasion, salmon terrine is elegant, complex and tastes like a dream. It is food as art!
- Salmon fish cakes – delicate, tasty and oh so easy to make , these salmon fish cakes are a true delight
- Smoked salmon pate – this retro dish is utterly divine and perfect when paired with crackers and a refreshing white wine
📖 Recipe
Teriyaki Salmon Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 portions 1x
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
Savor the perfect balance of sweet and savory with this Teriyaki Salmon recipe, featuring tender fillets glazed in a rich homemade sauce.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
- Make the Teriyaki Sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, mirin, sake, honey, garlic, ginger, optional red chili flakes, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
- Bake the Salmon: Arrange the salmon fillets in a baking dish. Pour the teriyaki sauce over the salmon.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until the salmon is cooked and flakes easily with a fork.
- Garnish and Serve: Once done, remove the salmon from the oven and spoon the thickened sauce from the baking dish over the fillets.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
For Pan Seared Teriyaki Salmon
Make the Teriyaki Sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, mirin, sake, honey, garlic, ginger, optional red chili flakes, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
Heat the Pan: Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of oil if needed.
Cook the Salmon: Place the salmon fillets in the skillet, skin-side down, and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crispy. Carefully flip the salmon and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the salmon is cooked through. Remove the salmon from the skillet and set aside.
Thicken the Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the prepared sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
Combine and Serve: Return the cooked salmon fillets to the skillet, spooning the thickened sauce over them to coat evenly. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 331
- Sugar: 16.2 g
- Sodium: 637.7 mg
- Fat: 8.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.3 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 82.9 mg
Renil M. George
Never tasted Stir-Fried Noodles.
michelle
Ohhh, soooo good with teriyaki!
Jeanne @ CookSister!
The joys of modern life....!! Love this meal - salmon is also one of my favourite standbys for weeknight dinners...
chocolate shavings
That looks like the perfect dinner for any night - beautiful picture!