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.

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.

Spicy Teriyaki Salmon

Serves 4

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix teriyaki sauce, sriracha sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes.
2. Place salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour half of the spicy teriyaki mixture over them. Marinate for 15 minutes.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Remove salmon from marinade and cook in the skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
5. While the salmon cooks, pour the remaining spicy teriyaki mixture into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Plate the salmon and drizzle with the reduced spicy teriyaki sauce.
7. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve with lime wedges.