Maple and Soy-Glazed Salmon with Garlic and Ginger Recipe

Updated August 09, 2018

If I had to create an analogy out of sweetness and saltiness, it would be that sweet is to salty as maple syrup is to soy sauce. Though they are on opposite sides of the sweet-salty spectrum, there is something similar in maple syrup and soy sauce. Perhaps it is something in their color that gives them their depth of flavor, but I find a kind of resiny smokiness in them both—and thought it was about time I tried them together.

I marinate the salmon fillets in a simple sauce of maple syrup, shoyu (Japanese soy sauce), ginger, garlic, chili, and cilantro. Then, I quickly broil the fillets, while I reduce the marinade to a thick, syrupy glaze. I love the contrast of the sweet and salty, and also the American and Asian influences. It's a dish that's complex-tasting but simple to make, for something a bit out of the box—or bottle—when it comes to maple syrup.

Recipe Details

Maple and Soy-Glazed Salmon with Garlic and Ginger Recipe

Prep 5 mins

Cook 20 mins

Marinating Time 60 mins

Total 85 mins

Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

3 medium cloves garlic, sliced
1 serrano chile, sliced
1-inch chunk fresh ginger, cut into 1/8-inch matchsticks
4 teaspoons fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
4 teaspoons maple syrup
4 six-ounce center-cut fillets salmon

Directions

Combine garlic, chile, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, water, and maple syrup in gallon-sized zipper-lock bag. Add salmon and turn to coat. Squeeze out air, seal bag, and refrigerate for one hour, turning once after 30 minutes.
Preheat broiler to high. Remove salmon from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside. Transfer reserved marinade to small heavy-bottomed sauce pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium, and simmer rapidly until reduced to about 1/4 cup. Set aside until ready to use.
Broil salmon two inches from heat source until deep brown on surface and center of fillet reads 130 degrees on instant read thermometer for medium-rare, or 140 degrees for medium, 6 to 8 minutes. Glaze with reduced marinade, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
401	Calories
22g	Fat
8g	Carbs
41g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	401
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g	28%
Saturated Fat 4g	21%
Cholesterol 110mg	37%
Sodium 1860mg	81%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 1g	2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 41g
Vitamin C 8mg	40%
Calcium 52mg	4%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 858mg	18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.