Fresh ginger and orange make the natural salmon flavor shine in this amazing Honey Glazed Grilled Salmon. Marinate it the night before, and you can have it ready to serve in just 20 minutes!
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
You just can't beat the taste of freshly grilled salmon! We eat it regularly at our house, and this amazing grilled salmon, marinated with fresh ginger and orange, is one of our all-time favorite salmon recipes. It's easy enough for a weeknight dinner; fancy enough for a celebration!
The prep for this Honey Glazed Salmon is super easy! Just mix up the marinade and let your salmon fillet soak in it for at least an hour (and up to 24), then throw it on the grill. If you prep the night before, you can have an elegant meal on the table in just 20 minutes!
What Goes into this Recipe
The most important ingredient in this recipe is fresh salmon. Whenever possible, choose wild caught salmon over farmed salmon. The health benefits of wild-caught salmon are well-documented and (IMHO) it just tastes better.
In addition to the salmon, you will need:
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh ginger: Peel the ginger with a spoon, and then finely chop or grate it.
- Garlic: Mince or press the garlic.
- Tamari: Tamari (or tamari shoyu) is a Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. It vegan and gluten-free, and has a thicker consistency and a more balanced flavor than Chinese soy sauce.
- Orange juice: We prefer to use fresh OJ for this recipe, but any orange juice should work.
- Honey: Use a mild honey; some artisan honeys have a strong flavor profile that can overpower the rich salmon flavor.
- Green onion - Thinly slice both the white and green parts of the green onion.
Ingredient Substitutions
Fresh Ginger: If you really cannot find fresh ginger, You can substitute in a teaspoon of dried, ground ginger.
Tamari: Regular soy sauce can be used in place of the tamari. (If you use soy sauce, the recipe will no longer be gluten-free.)
Green Onions: Substitute 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives, white onion, or red onion, or ¼-cup chopped shallots.
How to Make this Recipe
Make the Marinade
In a medium bowl, whisk together chopped fresh ginger, minced garlic, soy sauce, orange juice, honey, and chopped green onion.
Marinate the Salmon
Lay salmon fillet in large dish or tray and pour the prepared Honey-Ginger Orange marinade over salmon.
Turn salmon over so skin side is facing up and exposed meat is immersed in marinade.
Cover, refrigerate, and allow to marinate at least 1 hour, and up to 24 hours.
Grill the Salmon
When you are ready to cook the salmon, preheat barbecue (or stovetop grill) to medium. Remove the salmon from marinade and place the salmon on the grill mat. Reserve leftover marinade.
Cover the barbecue and allow to cook for 4-6 minutes per ½-inch of thickness, or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F [52°C].
Grill mat: You should not need to flip the salmon unless it thicker than the suggested ¾-inch.
Stovetop grill: you will need to flip the salmon halfway through.
Remove salmon from grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Make the Honey Ginger Glaze
While the salmon is resting, strain the leftover marinade.
In a small saucepan or skillet, bring the strained marinade to a boil in over medium heat, stirring frequently until the liquid is reduced by half.
Remove sauce from heat and whisk in one tablespoon of butter.
Pour some of the glaze over the top of the salmon just before serving, and serve any remaining glaze on the side.
Tips & FAQs
Grilling Tips for Salmon
- Keep the salmon refrigerated until ready to cook.
- Keep salmon skin intact while grilling. The skin will help it stay together and keep the salmon meat from curling on the grill.
- Grill fish 3-5 inches from heat, skin-side down, for 4-6 minutes per ½ thickness.
- Place salmon fillets on a barbecue grill mat for easier, cleaner grilling.
- If you must turn your salmon while grilling, do so only once. (Fillets under ¾-inch do not need to be flipped on a closed barbecue.)
Fresh salmon should be firm, and have a deep salmon color.
Salmon meat should have a slight sheen and appear somewhat translucent. It should spring back when touched.
Cuts should be smooth, without obvious gaps. (Gaps and separations in the muscle fibers are a sign of old fish.)
Packages should be airtight, with no visible liquid.
Salmon’s fish odor should be mild, fresh, and pleasant. If it smells fishy, keep looking.
Whenever possible, choose wild caught salmon over farmed salmon. The health benefits of wild-caught salmon are well-documented.
The best way to test for doneness is by using an instant-read thermometer.
To check for doneness, insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet. Remove the salmon from the grill when it reaches an internal temperature of 125°-130°F [52°-54°C] for medium well. Then cover the salmon and allow it to rest for 10 minutes or so before serving.
The salmon will continue to cook after it is removed from the heat. USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145°F [63°C] for cooked salmon, which should be measured at the thickest part of the fillet.
If you don't have a thermometer, you can also check for doneness using a flake test. Gently push on the salmon with a fork (or your finger). If it is just beginning to flake, it is ready to take off of the heat.
Fresh salmon should be stored in the coldest part of your refrigerator; for up to 3 days. (Be sure to follow the Use By date on the package.)
Serve cooked salmon immediately. Any leftovers should be refrigerated within 1 hour. Leftovers should be eaten within 3-4 days
A grill mat is not required to make this recipe, but if you use one, you will find that the process is a whole lot easier.
If you've never used a barbecue grill mat, you need to give it a try! Grill mats make grilling fragile things (like fish) a snap, and smaller items won't fall through the grate. The first time we used one, I was honestly amazed at how well it worked, without losing any of that great grill appeal we all love.
We like to serve this Grilled Honey Glazed Salmon with a fresh green salad and a light side. Pair it with our Carrot-Ginger Dressing and Cranberry-Orange Couscous for perfect a combination!
Fresh Fish Recipes
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Honey Ginger Glazed Salmon
Equipment
- 1 BBQ grill or Large Stovetop Grill
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- 1½ pound salmon fillets About ¾-1" inch thick
- 1 tablespoon butter for glaze
Honey Orange Ginger Marinade
- ¾ ounce fresh ginger peeled & chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup tamari or light soy sauce (not gluten-free)
- ⅓ cup orange juice freshly squeezed if possible
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 green onion finely chopped
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together chopped fresh ginger, minced garlic, soy sauce, orange juice, honey, and chopped green onion.
- Lay salmon fillet in large dish or tray.
- Pour Honey-Ginger Orange marinade over salmon.
- Turn salmon over so skin side is facing up and exposed meat is immersed in marinade.
- Cover, refrigerate, and allow to marinate at least 1 hour, and up to 24 hours.
- When you are ready to cook the salmon, preheat barbecue (or stovetop grill) to medium. Remove the salmon from marinade and place the salmon on the grill mat. Reserve leftover marinade.Cover the barbecue and allow to cook for 4-6 minutes per ½-inch of thickness, or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F [52°C]. If you are using a grill mat, you should not need to flip the salmon unless it thicker than the suggested ¾-inch. NOTE: If you are using a stovetop grill, you will need to flip the salmon halfway through.
- Remove salmon from grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- While the salmon is resting, strain the leftover marinade.In a small saucepan or skillet, bring the strained marinade to a boil in over medium heat, stirring frequently until the liquid is reduced by half.Remove sauce from heat and whisk in one tablespoon of butter.1 tablespoon butter
- Serve salmon on a bed of fresh greens and top with marinade reduction.
Notes
Nutrition
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Sarah Althouse says
Oh yum I've never tried making a citrus salmon!
Pam says
Great looking recipe! We are big time grillers around here, but would you believe I didn't know about grill mats? Thanks for that. I'm ordering one now.
Renée says
We felt the same way about the grill mats! How did we not know?!?!
Amanda Martin says
YUM grilled salmon is a favorite in my family for special dinners! I bet that glaze is delicious.
Sharon says
The glaze on this with honey and citrus makes the perfect topping for grilled salmon. One of my favorite salmon recipes.
Jessica Formicola says
I am in love with that ginger and orange flavor combo! I can't wait to make this for dinner this week!
Elaine says
The salmon recipe to fight for! The images look absolutely inviting, and the recipe seems easy to follow. Just perfect!
Jen says
Love this marinade, chocked full of flavor and easy to find ingredients.
Mimi says
Salmon is legit my favourite thing to eat, I love it paired with ginger but I've never tried to use orange too, I'll have to see how it goes, it sounds amazing!
Renée ♥ says
Salmon is my favorite protein too, no question! If you love the ginger-salmon, you are going LOVE this. We were amazed by how well the orange brought everything together.