Marinated Salmon comes out tender and so incredibly flavorful making it perfect for baking, pan-frying or even putting on the grill!
This easy marinade adds lots of flavor with just a few simple ingredients for healthy, flavorful fillets.
Marinade Ingredients
- Sugar: Brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness but also helps with the caramelization process. To make a honey soy salmon marinade, swap out the brown sugar for honey.
- Soy Sauce: Adds salt and richness to the marinade as well as great color.
- Flavor: This marinade has great flavor from garlic, ginger, and jalapeno. Substitute a sprinkle of chili flakes if you don’t have fresh jalapeno on hand.
How to Marinate Salmon
This really is the best marinade for salmon. It’s sweet, savory, and simple; made from ingredients that are probably already in the pantry!
- Salmon should always be placed in the fridge for marinating.
- Use a zippered bag or an airtight container for marinating to be sure the entire filet is covered by the marinade.
- Additional flavors (like pineapple juice or orange juice) can be added if desired.
How Long to Marinate Salmon: Because fish is so tender, 45 minutes is long enough for this marinade to flavor and tenderize the flesh. If left too long in an acidic marinade, it can almost “cook” the fish (like a ceviche) or cause it to become mushy.
The leftover marinade should be discarded or cooked. It can be brushed over the fish as it’s cooking (as long as the fish hasn’t finished cooking)!
How to Cook Marinated Salmon
Asian inspired, this marinade is fresh and bright; perfect for baked, broiled, or grilled!
As with all salmon recipes, the cooking time will vary based on the thickness and the shape of the filet. Some are flatter and thinner (and will cook quicker) while others are up to 1″ thick in the middle (and may need extra time). The following are guidelines but will vary.
- To Grill: Place marinated salmon on a grill set at medium-high. Cook about 7-8 minutes per side.
- To Bake: Place salmon on a baking sheet covered and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, broil 1-2 minutes until the top is opaque and the fish is cooked through.
- To Broil: Place fish directly under the broiler for 5 minutes. Turn over and broil another 4-6 minutes or until the filet is browned on the outside and just opaque inside.
Easy Salmon Recipes
- Garlic Butter Baked Salmon – quick & tasty whole salmon fillet
- Asparagus Salmon Foil Packets – so much flavor
- Easy Grilled Salmon – light, nourishing main dish
- Herb Crusted Baked Salmon – perfectly tender & flaky
- Honey Mustard Salmon – ready in 15 minutes
Did you try this Salmon Marinade? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Salmon Marinade
Ingredients
- 2 pounds salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic grated
- 1 small jalapeno pepper seeded and finely diced (optional)
Instructions
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Add salmon to a large ziptop bag.
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In a small mixing bowl add soy sauce, water, sesame oil, dark brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and jalapeno pepper. Whisk to combine and pour over salmon.
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Close the bag and gently move the salmon in the bag so the marinade is covering all the salmon.
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Let the salmon marinate in the refrigerator for up to 45 minutes.
Notes
Additional flavors (like pineapple juice or orange juice) can be added if desired.
The leftover marinade should be discarded or cooked. It can be brushed over the fish as it’s cooking (as long as the fish hasn’t finished cooking).
Cooking time will vary based on the thickness and the shape of the filet. Flatter/thinner filets will cook quicker, while others (up to 1″ thick) may need extra time. The following are guidelines, do not overcook the fish.
To Grill: Place marinated salmon on a grill set at medium-high. Cook about 7-8 minutes per side.
To Bake: Place salmon on a baking sheet covered and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, broil 1-2 minutes until the top is opaque and the fish is cooked through.
To Broil: Place fish directly under the broiler for 5 minutes. Turn over and broil another 4-6 minutes or until the filet is browned on the outside and just opaque inside.
