If you’re looking for a quick and delicious feel-good dish, this easy maple sesame salmon delivers. After using, reduce the marinade down to become a rich, savory, and sweet glaze for the juicy sesame seed topped salmon. If you’re looking for more seafood dishes, we always love these homemade Maryland crab cakes.
It’s helpful to have a few simple dinner options on regular rotation so that you can have wholesome and satisfying meals on the table in no time. This 6 ingredient maple sesame salmon serves that exact purpose. (So does our favorite pesto shrimp!) Served with rice and steamed vegetables or a green salad, it’s a flavorful home-cooked dinner and the kind of carefree meal you prepare when you don’t have a lot of ingredients or time.
Tell Me About This Easy Maple Sesame Salmon
- Texture: The crunchy toasted sesame seeds are a pleasing contrast to the juicy, flaky salmon underneath.
- Flavor: Let’s not waste any good stuff! The marinade eventually becomes a glaze that is drizzled over the baked salmon. Just let it thicken on the stove as the salmon bakes. Made with soy sauce, garlic, pure maple syrup, and sesame oil, this thin glaze has the perfect savory and sweet balance.
- Ease: This dish is so simple that you may feel like you’re doing something wrong. Whisk marinade ingredients together, pour over the fish, then reduce the marinade on the stove as the fish bakes.
- Time: This dinner takes a little over 30 minutes to complete.
Honestly, when a recipe delivers on taste AND requires little effort and ingredients to prepare, it’s a major win.
Use Pure Maple Syrup
The marinade really packs a punch and most of the flavor comes from the maple syrup. Be sure to use good-quality pure maple syrup and not imitation breakfast syrup. You’ll miss out on most of the flavor. Same recommendation applies when making this maple-roasted squash kale salad, too.
How to Marinate the Fish
You can marinate the salmon for at least 15 minutes or up to 8-9 hours. A longer marinating time means more scrumptious flavor, so keep that in mind if you want to plan ahead. Place the salmon into a zipped-top bag or sealable container with the marinade.
Easy Maple Sesame Salmon Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Instructions
- Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish, sealable container, or zipped-top bag. Whisk the maple syrup, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic together in a medium bowl. Pour over the salmon fillets, coating them thoroughly. Cover the dish/seal the container or bag. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 8–9 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- Line the marinated salmon fillets on the baking sheet and top each with sesame seeds. Hold onto the used marinade—see step 4. Bake the salmon for 15–20 minutes depending on thickness, about 10 minutes per 1-inch inch thickness measured from the thickest part of the fillet or until the thickest part reaches 145°F (63°C) internal heat. If desired (for crispier edges), broil the salmon on high for the last 3 minutes.
- Pour the used marinade into a small saucepan or skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove cooked salmon from the oven. Garnish with chopped scallion and serve with thickened maple glaze.
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