This Asian Salmon Marinade is a healthy and easy recipe that’s perfect for marinating up to two pounds of salmon. Made with soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil, this salmon marinade makes the most flavorful fish.
This slightly sweet Asian Salmon Marinade will surely be your new favorite way to prepare the fish. The entire dish can be prepared in advance and baked before serving.
A great recipe to have on hand and makes for amazing leftovers. Serve warm with rice and veggies, or flake for a delicious omelette addition or top a salad with it.
I also use this salmon for my Meal Prep Salmon & Broccoli recipe post and talk about how you can meal plan your week around this dish. Leftover salmon would be delicious in this Salmon Stuffed Avocado recipe! And, for a delicious side dish to serve with this, don’t miss this Tomato Onion Salad.
Why this recipe works
The marinade for this recipe is what makes the dish. The sweetness of the brown sugar mixed with the salty soy sauce, really adds a hit of umami!
The ginger also makes this marinade super flavorful and adds a depth of flavor. I love to buy the tubes of fresh chopped ginger at the grocery store to make prep even easier.
Asian Salmon Marinade is also perfect because you can make it ahead of time. Prep the marinade and just let the fish sit until ready to cook.
The leftover glaze in the baking sheet is perfect to top the cooked fish or add it to your rice and veggies. All of those Asian flavors you love in a healthful salmon recipe!
Ingredients and Substitutes
For Asian Salmon Marinade you will need: salmon, brown sugar, olive oil, soy sauce, ginger paste, garlic, lemon, sesame oil, and kosher salt.
- Salmon: Use an entire salmon or smaller filets. This marinade can work with up to two pound of fish.
- Soy Sauce: I always use low sodium soy sauce. If you are using regular, omit the kosher salt. Tamari works a good gluten-free substitute.
- Ginger Paste: You can grate your ginger fresh or use the pre-grated ginger paste found in the grocery store.
- Sesame Oil: This adds a special flavor to the fish. If you don’t have it, you can omit it altogether from the marinade recipe.
- Furikake: You can find this Japanese seasoning in the Asian section of most grocery stores. Substitute sesame seeds or omit it altogether.
Read on to see how simple it is make this delicious and flavorful marinade recipe!
How to Make Asian Salmon Marinade
This recipe comes together quick and makes the most delicious salmon. You can marinade the fish 30 minutes to 6 hours in advance.
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Step 1: In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, olive oil, soy sauce, minced ginger and garlic, lemon juice, sesame oil, and kosher salt. Use low sodium soy sauce. If you only have regular, omit the extra salt.
Step 2: Whisk together the marinade to combine.
Step 3: Place the salmon in a large baking dish or a zip top bag. Pour on the marinade and move around the fish to ensure that it is all coated in the marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 6 hours.
Step 4: Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place the salmon on top of the foil and pour on any remaining marinade. Bake in a preheated oven until the fish is cooked and flakes easily with a fork.
Sprinkle with Furikake seasoning, if using. Otherwise, you can sprinkle with sesame seeds or just omit any topping. Serve extra sauce from the baking sheet over top of the fish.
Love easy sheet pan meals? Be sure to check out these Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas, a healthy and quick dinner option that everyone will love.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
Asian Salmon Marinade is the perfect way to add flavor to this heart-healthy fish. This is a great recipe to make ahead and have on hand for easy meal prep. Here are my tips and tricks to get the best salmon every time:
- When baking salmon, always cook it in hot oven that’s at least 400 degrees. You want to crisp the fish rather than have it slowly cook.
- Don’t worry about finding a two pound salmon for this recipe. This marinade works great on any size salmon filets.
- Marinade the fish for at least 30 minutes, but not more than 6 hours. You don’t want the fish breaking apart in the marinade.
When salmon is done, it will be flaky. This means that if you gently press the top of the salmon filet, it will separate along the lines. Be sure to cook your salmon only until it starts to flake so that you don’t overcook it.
Furikake is a Japanese condiment that is commonly sprinkled on rice, veggies, and fish. It’s made of sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, and dried fish.
You can safely store cooked salmon in the fridge for three to four days. Leftover salmon is great for topping salads, using in wraps, or serving over rice and veggies.
What to serve with salmon?
Salmon is a great meal prep that is perfect for leftovers. These sides are also great to make ahead and serve as a healthy meal for the week.
Asian Salmon Marinade
Ingredients
- 2 pounds salmon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Furikake seasoning for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Place the salmon in a large zip top bag or baking pan. In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar, olive oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, lemon, sesame oil, and salt. Pour the marinade over the salmon, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Place salmon on foil and drizzle remaining marinade over top. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork and is cooked through. Sprinkle on Furikake seasoning, if using.
Video
Notes
- Great make-ahead sheet pan salmon recipe. Refrigerate and use leftovers to toss on salads, wraps, or add to meal prep bowls.
- Salmon: Use an entire salmon or smaller filets. This marinade can work with up to two pound of fish.
- Soy Sauce: I always use low sodium soy sauce. If you are using regular, omit the kosher salt. Tamari works a good gluten-free substitute.
- Ginger Paste: You can grate your ginger fresh or use the pre-grated ginger paste found in the grocery store.
- Sesame Oil: This adds a special flavor to the fish. If you don’t have it, you can omit it altogether from the marinade recipe.
Fish is my favorite and this dish is so flavorful and easy to make.
This sesame salmon sounds so tasty! I love simple, easy but delicious salmon recipes. This would go great with risotto for a weeknight dinner!
Yes, this pairs perfectly with risotto. Enjoy!
This was so easy and my family loved it. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
The salmon looks amazing! I am definitely going to make this for me and my family. Thank you for sharing this recipe, it looks super delicious!
I love this salmon. The soy, ginger, and brown sugar is a winning combo. Thanks for the great recipe.