Skip to content
Honey-garlic grilled salmon

Honey-garlic grilled salmon

Salmon fillets lacquered in a sticky honey-garlic-soy glaze that caramelizes into burnished, savory-sweet edges. Fast enough for a Tuesday, impressive enough for company.

20 mineasyJapaneseAmericangluten-freedairy-free

Prep

8 min

Cook

12 min

Total

20 min

Ingredients
4servings
  • 4 skin-on salmon filletsabout 170g each, pin bones removed
  • 3 tbs honey
  • 2 tbs tamarigluten-free soy sauce
  • 1 tbs rice vinegar
  • 4 garlic clovesfinely grated
  • 10 g gingerfinely grated
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbs avocado oil
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbs sesame seedsfor garnish
  • 3 scallionsthinly sliced
Steps
  1. 1

    In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, tamari, rice vinegar, grated garlic, grated ginger, and toasted sesame oil until smooth. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper.

    Tip: Really thorough drying is the secret to a great sear — moisture is the enemy of caramelization.

  3. 3

    Heat the avocado oil in the skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and just barely begins to smoke, about 1-2 minutes. Place the salmon skin-side up and cook without moving until the underside is deeply golden and releases easily from the pan, about 4 minutes.

  4. 4

    Flip the fillets skin-side down. Pour the honey-garlic glaze around and over the salmon. Reduce heat to medium and cook, spooning the bubbling glaze over the fillets every 30 seconds, until the sauce thickens into a syrupy lacquer and the salmon is just opaque at the thickest part and flakes easily with a fork, about 4-5 minutes more.

    Tip: The glaze will go from thin to sticky quickly — keep basting to build up glossy layers. For medium doneness, pull the salmon when the center is still slightly translucent (about 55°C / 130°F with an instant-read thermometer).

  5. 5

    Transfer the salmon to plates, spoon any remaining glaze from the pan over the fillets, and scatter with sesame seeds and sliced scallions.

    Tip: Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water to revive the glaze.