The BEST Spicy Teriyaki Salmon

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You know that feeling when you finally crack the code on a picky eater?

That moment of triumph when someone who “hates” a food suddenly can’t get enough?

Well, I just had my moment of cooking victory, and I have to share it with you all.

Let me set the scene: family dinner night at my place, cooking for my little crew of four – me, my fiancé, my brother, and the toughest food critic I know: my mom.

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Now, my mom has always had this thing about salmon. “Too fishy,” she’d say, pushing it around her plate on the rare occasions she’d encounter it.

For years, I didn’t even bother serving it when she came over.

But something about this spicy teriyaki salmon recipe caught my eye.

Maybe it was the perfect balance of sweet and heat, or perhaps I was just feeling brave. Whatever it was, I decided to roll the dice and give it a shot.

The magic happens in the marinade – a bold blend of teriyaki sauce kicked up with sriracha, fresh ginger, and garlic.

The real game-changer, though? That final reduction of the sauce. It creates this glossy, spicy-sweet glaze that could make cardboard taste good.

When I set the plates down, I held my breath.

My fiancé and brother dove right in – they’re my usual willing test subjects.

But my mom?

She took that first bite with the caution of someone expecting disappointment. Then came the moment: her eyes widened, she took another bite, and then another.

“This doesn’t even taste like salmon,” she said, which, coming from her, is basically a five-star review.

The secret, I think, is that the bold flavours don’t try to mask the salmon – they complement it.

The heat from the sriracha and red pepper flakes, the umami of the teriyaki, and that hint of fresh lime juice all work together to create something that even a lifelong salmon skeptic couldn’t resist.

For anyone looking to convert their own salmon skeptic, I’ve shared the recipe below.

Just remember: sometimes the best family moments happen when we least expect them, like watching your salmon-averse mom go back for seconds.

A photo of a plate with four perfectly seared salmon fillets. The salmon fillets have a glossy, deep reddish-brown spicy teriyaki glaze and are arranged on a sleek white plate. Drizzled over the top is extra spicy teriyaki sauce, which has a rich color and visible specks of red pepper flakes. Thinly sliced green onions are scattered across the dish, adding a pop of fresh green color. To the side, wedges of bright green lime provide a citrusy contrast. The entire dish exudes an appetizing combination of Asian-inspired flavors with a spicy kick, promising a quick and delicious meal.

Spicy Teriyaki Salmon

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 6- ounce skinless salmon fillets
  • 1 cup teriyaki sauce
  • 2 tbsp sriracha sauce adjust to taste
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 green onions sliced (for garnish)
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, sriracha, grated ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
  • Place salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour half the spicy teriyaki mixture over them. Marinate for 15 minutes.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Remove salmon from marinade and cook in the skillet for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  • Simmer the remaining teriyaki mixture in a small saucepan for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  • Plate the salmon and drizzle with the reduced teriyaki sauce.
  • Garnish with green onions and serve with lime wedges.

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