FIRECRACKER BAKED SALMON — Salmon fillets are marinaded in a sweet and spicy sauce, then baked to perfection in about ten minutes.
All of my boys love salmon, so I’m always looking for new ways to prepare it. They also love spicy foods, so this Firecracker Baked Salmon was a huge hit at my house.
I love making salmon for my family because it’s so good for them, and so easy for me to prepare. And it cooks in a matter of minutes.
This dish was on the table in less than 30 minutes, not counting the time it took to marinade. All you need is a salad or some steamed veggies and you have a fabulous, healthy meal ready in no time.
So even though we always feel like we’re eating in a fancy restaurant when we have salmon for dinner, it’s honestly one of the quickest, easiest meals in my recipe repertoire.
And there wasn’t a bite left when I made this sweet and spicy glazed salmon for dinner. My teenage boys made sure of that!
If you’re worried about this being too spicy, feel free to cut back on the red pepper flakes. The heat was just right for my family, and we didn’t find it too spicy at all.
And since the salmon is marinaded in the sauce for several hours, then glazed in additional sauce, it’s absolutely loaded with flavor.
I usually bake this in the oven, because it’s easiest for me, but the salmon can also be grilled. It’s fabulous that way!
I also like to finish it off with a sprinkling of green onions and sesame seeds.
Just don’t forget to reserve some of the marinade before adding the salmon to make the finishing glaze. Although I can say from experience that even if you do forget, this meal will still be delicious.
Be sure to save this Firecracker Baked Salmon recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Tips for Cooking Fish
Choosing fresh fish: Rather than shopping for a certain type of fish, buy the fish that looks the freshest. Similar types of fish can usually be substituted in a recipe.
If you were planning to use cod in a recipe, for example, you can easily substitute orange roughy or snapper.
Cooking time: Measure your fish at its thickest part, then aim for about 10 minutes of cooking time per inch of thickness.
Is it done? To test fish for doneness, insert a knife into the flesh at the thickest part. It should be just barely translucent in the center.
Even if it doesn’t look quite done, the fish will continue to cook after you remove it from the heat, so make sure not to overcook it.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Firecracker Baked Salmon
- Salmon
- Vegetable oil
- Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
- Produce: green onions, garlic
- Brown sugar
- Spices: ground ginger, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper
- Sesame oil
Firecracker Baked Salmon
Ingredients
- 8 salmon fillets
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons green onions chopped
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Place salmon fillets in a large glass baking dish dish. In a medium bowl, combine the vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, green onions, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, salt and pepper.
- Whisk to combine. Reserve 2/3 cup of the marinade and refrigerate. Pour remaining marinade over the fish. Cover and and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the salmon on the prepared pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until salmon is done and flakes easily with a fork.
- While salmon cooks, add reserved marinade to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Remove salmon from oven and turn on broiler. Brush salmon with reserved marinade and place under broiler for an additional 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish, if desired.
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Notes
Nutrition
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1 comment
Lisa Palzkill
This recipe sounds wonderful, and I intend to try it. However, I would like to point out that “marinade” is a noun. The verb form is “marinate.” So the opening description should say “Salmon fillets are marinated” and the final note should say “Prep time does not include marinating time.” (All other uses of “marinade” in the recipe are correct.) Also, the word “dish” is repeated in the first line of the first instruction.