The Best Salmon Marinade requires just a handful of ingredients to bring out the best flavor in your salmon. It’s the best marinade for salmon whether you are making grilled salmon or oven-baked.
This salmon marinade can be used with the two most common cooking methods for salmon: baking and grilling. Baking is a super easy method for cooking salmon that locks in flavor and helps cook salmon evenly. Grilling adds a lot of additional flavor to salmon which is a natural benefit of cooking over an open flame. No matter which method you use, this marinade is going to take your salmon over the top with flavor!
This marinade is an orange-honey-ginger based sauce. Each ingredient is important and offers something different to create the best tasting salmon. Soy provides seasoning on our fish rather than salt. Salmon always needs an acid, and orange is the perfect complimenting flavor. The honey works to balance out the acidity. Garlic and ginger add a complexity of flavor, with a touch of red pepper flakes for a little bit of heat. It’s the best salmon marinade for perfect salmon every time.
Spice Level in The Best Salmon Marinade:
The red pepper flakes in this recipe give it a nice warmth, without much heat. You can increase or decrease the amount of red pepper flakes according to your own spice tolerance and taste preferences.
Skillet Cooking Instructions:
Salmon is a forgiving fish that is easy to cook. Salmon is most commonly baked or grilled, though you can also cook it on the stovetop in a pan. This method works best for salmon portions and not large salmon filets. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the salmon skin-side down (if there is skin) and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and continue cooking for 4 to 6 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork.
Baking Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Season your salmon with desired seasonings. Wrap in aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until salmon easily flakes with a fork. The aluminum foil will trap in steam and help cook your fish evenly.
Grilling Instructions:
To grill salmon, preheat an outdoor grill to approximately 400 degrees. Place your salmon onto aluminum foil or a pre-soaked cedar grilling plank. Close the grill, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until fish easily flakes with a fork.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Salmon is always best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through.
If you like this recipe you may be interested in these other delicious salmon recipes:
Sounds great. I’m going to try it. There is something green sprinkled over the salmon in this photo that is not in the list of ingredients. Is that parsley or some herb?
Parsley.
I use a similar marinade that uses maple syrup instead of honey. I will try this recipe the next time I cook salmon.
I’m trying it tonight I’m following the recipe exact the only this l will do different is the cook I’m going to back it then put it under the broiler to get that light crispiness I like
Sorry if this a repeat question. How long do you marinate salmon, Thank you
30 minutes.
First, I have to say that you are so patient while answering the same question over and over again regarding how long to pan fry it. Second, you mentioned that salmon always needs acid. Can you explain why? Thank you.
It’s not that it needs it to be edible, but it enhances the flavor of fish which is why fish is almost never served without an acidic component.
Can I freeze marinated salmon filets?
The marinate recipe is for one filet. To do 6 filets would I X6 everything? maybe X4
I would NOT recommend freezing salmon filets once they have marinated. You’ll end up with very mushy salmon.
Do you put any type of oil in the pan to fry the salmon after it has been marinated?
Nope, I don’t.
Whencoomind in skillet do you adddoil so it won’t stick to skilley
No I don’t. The marinade already has oil in it. No need to add more.
i noticed the recipe called for 1 salmon filet. If I have more than 1, do I just multiply the marinade ingredients by the number of filets I have? (Sorry, very novice cook here)
A filet is a whole side of a fish. Individual portions are small pieces. If you are doing multiple filets to feed a large crowd, then yes, double the ingredients and marinate in two separate pans.
that is actually my favorite recipe for salmon PERIOD. Only addition is a fully squeezed lemon and get salmon with SKIN ON. To grill – make aluminum foil ‘pan’ and place salmon skin side down, pouring rest of marinade over salmon. Cook till done and use a spatula to separate salmon from skin. Leave marinade and reduce until thick, then drizzle over salmon. Actually having it tonight for dinner !
Do you add oil to skillet
Nope, I don’t.
Rachel
If you don’t use oil how do you keep the salmon from sticking. And how high to you have the heat. I have an electric stove.
Thanks
your suggestion is good. Would like to try your version. What do you mean by aluminum foil “pan. My pan is cast Thank you.
Do you add the lemon juice to the marinade, or on top of the fully cooked salmon?
This question is to Ron Bar. Thanks!