Baked Salmon with Orange Ginger Glaze (Printable Version)
Vibrant baked salmon featuring a sweet and tangy orange-ginger glaze. A healthy, elegant main dish ready in 25 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 skinless salmon fillets, 5.3 oz each
→ Glaze
02 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
03 - 2 tablespoons honey
04 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
05 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
06 - 1 clove garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon orange zest
08 - 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons finely sliced green onions
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
13 - Orange slices for serving, optional
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.
02 - In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, orange zest, sesame oil, pepper, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until glaze thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
03 - Place salmon fillets on prepared baking sheet. Brush each fillet generously with orange-ginger glaze, reserving some for basting during cooking.
04 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until flesh flakes easily with a fork. Brush with additional glaze halfway through cooking.
05 - Remove from oven and transfer to serving plates. Drizzle with remaining glaze and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and orange slices if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The orange ginger glaze caramelizes slightly in the oven, creating this incredible sweet and savory crust that makes even salmon skeptics reach for seconds.
- You can prepare the glaze ahead of time, which makes this dish perfect for those evenings when you want something that feels fancy but comes together in minutes.
02 -
- Overcooking salmon is the most common mistake - pull it from the oven when it reaches 125°F internal temperature as it will continue cooking for a few minutes after.
- Allowing the glaze to reduce properly is crucial - if its too thin, it will run off the salmon rather than creating that gorgeous lacquered finish.
03 -
- Line your baking sheet with foil first, then parchment paper on top - the foil conducts heat better for even cooking while the parchment prevents sticking.
- When buying salmon, look for fillets of even thickness to ensure they cook at the same rate, avoiding the thinner tail pieces for this particular recipe.