Honey Soy Glazed Salmon Recipe — Sticky, Savory Oven-Baked Salmon

This quick and easy honey soy glazed salmon delivers a wonderful balance of sweet and savory flavors and makes a perfect weeknight dinner.

How to make honey soy glazed salmon

1. Remove the salmon from the fridge about 20 minutes before cooking to take the chill off. Prepare the sauce and set it aside.
2. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels to remove surface moisture — this helps achieve a nice sear and crispy skin.
3. Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Test the temperature by flicking a few drops of water into the pan — they should sizzle and dance. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil.
4. Season the salmon liberally with salt and pepper just before adding it to the pan. Place fillets skin-side down and cook undisturbed for roughly 4 minutes, depending on thickness, until the sides start to turn opaque.
5. Flip the salmon and sear the second side for about 30–60 seconds. It does not need to be fully cooked through at this stage because it will return to the pan with the glaze.
6. After removing the salmon briefly, use the same pan to quickly stir-fry any vegetables — there’s plenty of flavor left from the fish.
7. Reduce heat to medium, add the sauce to the pan and simmer until the sauce thickens and reduces by about half. Return the salmon to the pan and cook until it reaches your preferred doneness. Serve with steamed rice and garnish with chopped scallions and lime.

Tips for stovetop salmon success

• Bring salmon toward room temperature: Take fillets out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before cooking for more even searing.
• Dry the fish completely: Use paper towels to remove all moisture or let the fillets sit uncovered in the fridge for a few hours. Excess moisture causes steaming instead of searing.
• Season right before cooking: Salt draws moisture out over time, so season immediately before placing the salmon in the hot pan.
• Keep the skin on: Even if you don’t plan to eat it, the skin protects the flesh from drying out. Cook mostly skin-side down, then finish with a quick sear on the flesh side.
• Do not move the salmon while it sears: Leaving the fillets undisturbed allows a crisp crust to form; the fish will release from the pan naturally when it’s ready to flip.

What pairs well with salmon?

Honey soy glazed salmon is flavorful and pairs nicely with simple, mild sides that balance the glaze. Serve with steamed white rice and lightly cooked greens such as bok choy or Chinese chives. A squeeze of lime and chopped scallions brighten the dish.

Watch my video tutorial here

More easy asian recipes:

• crab rangoon
• firecracker shrimp
• kimchi fried rice
• Japanese egg sandwich