Asian Salmon with Sesame Ginger Soy Sauce

Name: Asian Salmon with Sesame Ginger Soy Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound Skinless Salmon (diced into 1" - 1.5" cubes,); 4 tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce (or Tamari for gluten-free version); 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame Oil; 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar; 1 teaspoon Oyster Sauce; 1 tablespoon Sriracha (or hot sauce); 1 tablespoon Garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon Ginger (minced); 1 teaspoon Sugar (or honey); ½ teaspoon Salt (or to taste); ¼ teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper (or to taste); 1 tablespoon Cornstarch; 2-3 tablespoons Water; 1½ tablespoons Vegetable Oil; Sesame Seeds as needed (for garnish while serving); Green Onions and Chilies as needed (For garnish while serving)

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This easy Asian salmon recipe with sesame ginger soy sauce takes less than 25 minutes to make on the stovetop, but tastes like a restaurant-quality dish. Pair with your favorite healthy sides for a fast, nutritious, and delicious dinner any night of the week!

Asian salmon recipe final view, on a white plate dressed with sesame seeds, chili peppers, and green scallions.

Table of Contents

Why we love this Asian Salmon Recipe?
Ingredients
How to make Asian Salmon Recipe in Sauce?
Expert Tips
FAQs
Serving Ideas
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📖 Recipe

Why we love this Asian Salmon Recipe?

Flavorful, fast, and (practically) foolproof: Those are the 3 top ways to describe this best Asian salmon recipe!

It features tender cubes of salmon fish quickly marinated in an Asian style sauce with irresistible bold flavors. The marinade includes a classic blend of soy sauce, sriracha hot sauce, and ginger.

The fish cooks in a skillet on the stovetop for less than 10 minutes. But, what's really impressive is that from start to finish the entire recipe takes under 30 minutes to make, prep and all!

You can easily customize this recipe to fit your personal tastes. So, you get just the right balance of savory, sweet, and a nice mild heat in every bite!

This salmon recipe for dinner is one of the top meals on the list in our kitchen. It's sure to be an instant favorite for a quick and healthy weeknight meal, or as a fun and tasty main dish for any occasion.

*For more fast and delicious dinners, be sure to also try these easy recipes:

Ingredients

Salmon: Lean and rich in protein, salmon is considered a very healthy fish. Fresh or previously frozen wild caught salmon is best. Thaw frozen fish (see our tips below!) and pat dry before slicing.

Soy Sauce: Full of deep umami flavor. Use your choice of regular, low sodium, or even coconut aminos as an alternative.

Sesame Oil: A rich, nutty oil with a fairly high smoke point of 410 degrees.

Rice Vinegar: The acidity and pungent flavor combines the oil and soy sauce into a smooth Asian salmon marinade.

Oyster Sauce: Salty and savory, this thick sauce is a staple in many Asian-inspired recipes.

Sriracha: This spicy hot chili sauce really brings the heat! Feel free to omit for a mild recipe without spiciness.

Garlic: Fragrant and bold, it's great to pair with mild seafood.

Ginger: Freshly grated ginger adds a bright, tangy spice (not spicy) taste to the sauce.

Sugar: A pinch of sweet sugar balances the other spicy and salty flavors.

Salt and Pepper: Classic spices, added to taste.

Cornstarch: Gluten-free thickening agent for a sauce that holds on well.

Water: Just a couple of tablespoons.

Vegetable Oil: Use a high quality oil for the best texture and taste.

How to make Asian Salmon Recipe in Sauce?

To start with, pat dry the skinless salmon fillet using a paper towel and dice into 1-1.5" cubes, set it aside.

Combine soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, sriracha, minced garlic and ginger, sugar, salt, pepper, cornstarch and water in a bowl.

Two step collage: one the addition of cornstarch to the sauce ingredients in a glass dish, the other with a hand holding the dish after stirring.

Now, pour 2-3 tablespoons of prepared sauce to the salmon cubes and toss to coat. Cover and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Easy recipe steps: Adding salmon pieces to a glass bowl, adding sauce, stirring, and marinating.

Heat vegetable oil in a skillet or pan. Place each salmon cubes into the skillet in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes each side or until nicely seared.

Tip: If cooking for a large crowd and then, do this step in batches.

1-inch cubes of marinated salmon searing in a skillet.

Once cooked, transfer to a plate. Pour the remaining prepared sauce into the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce just thickens.

Gray spatula stirring the Asian sauce in a cast iron skillet.

Return the cooked salmon cubes to the skillet and toss well to coat with the sauce evenly.

Adding the cooked salmon cubes back to the Asian sauce in the cast iron.

Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onions.

Bites of Asian salmon in a dark sauce in cast iron skillet garnished with sesame seeds and green scallions.

Expert Tips

Fresh wild caught salmon is best. But frozen salmon will work, too! To defrost: Thaw the frozen fillets in the fridge overnight, or in a bowl of ice water for 30-60 minutes. Rinse the fish under cool running water to get off any ice pieces.
Chill the salmon before slicing into cubes. This will create clean knife cuts.
Allow the fresh salmon cubes to marinate in the sesame ginger soy sauce for at least 7-10 minutes, but no more than 60 minutes.
Do not overcrowd the pan, or the Asian salmon will get soggy. Work in batches if you need.
You can air fry the salmon cubes for 5-7 mins at 200 degrees instead of pan searing them.

FAQs

How long should I marinate salmon for?

30 minutes is the ideal marinating time. 15 minutes will do well in a pinch like I did. However, do not marinate for longer than 60 minutes. Any longer this and the fish will start to get mushy.

Close view of Asian salmon in sauce on a white earthen plate.

Serving Ideas

Enjoy the tender and tasty salmon cubes with your choice of side dishes. We like to pair this Asian salmon in sesame ginger soy sauce with fluffy white rice or brown rice, rice noodles, or quinoa.

For a low carb meal, try serving with healthy cauliflower rice, broccoli rice, or zucchni noodles.

Some simple veggies are great to round out a delicious dinner. The salmon pairs well with steamed bok choy, sauteed broccolini, steamed or roasted broccoli, oven roasted asparagus, air fryer sweet potatoes, or air fryer Brussels sprouts. Just to name a few options!

If you made my recipe for Asian Salmon in Sesame Ginger Soy Sauce, please be sure to rate and review it below! I always love hearing from my readers and take your suggestions into account.

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