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A perfectly cooked brown sugar and soy sauce salmon fillet with a sticky glaze.

Sweet & Savory Brown Sugar Soy Salmon

This irresistible salmon features a sweet and savory brown sugar and soy glaze that caramelizes beautifully, creating a rich and flavorful crust with tender, flaky fish inside. It's an easy yet elegant dish perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 fillets
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Small bowl
  • Whisk
  • Shallow dish or zip-top bag
  • Non-stick skillet
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Grill

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 6 ounces Salmon fillets skin on or off
  • Brown sugar Dark or light, packed.
  • Soy sauce Regular or low-sodium.
  • Garlic Freshly minced cloves.
  • Ginger Freshly grated ginger.
  • Sesame oil A tiny drizzle.
  • Rice vinegar Just a splash.
  • Salt and black pepper To taste.

Optional Garnish

  • Sesame seeds
  • chopped green onions
  • lime or a squeeze of

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, salt, and pepper to prepare the glaze.

Marinating

  • Pour half of the glaze over the salmon fillets in a dish or bag, ensuring even coating; marinate at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes, reserving the remaining glaze.

Cooking Methods

  • **Pan-Seared:** Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat with oil, cook salmon skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until crispy, then flip, reduce heat, brush with reserved glaze, and cook for another 3-5 minutes, basting occasionally. **Baked:** Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), line a baking sheet with parchment paper, bake salmon for 10-12 minutes, then brush with glaze and return to oven for 3-5 minutes. **Grilled:** Preheat grill to medium-high, oil grates, cook salmon skin-side down for 6-8 minutes, flip, brush with glaze, and cook for another 3-5 minutes, basting once more.

Serving

  • Remove salmon from heat, let it rest for a few minutes, and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, lightly score the skin of the salmon fillets before marinating. Adjust the amount of garlic and ginger to your preference for a bolder or milder glaze. Be careful not to overcook the salmon, as it can dry out quickly. The internal temperature for cooked salmon should reach 145°F (63°C).