Sweet and Sour Salmon

September 25, 2019
4.84 from 6 votes
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Take your tastebuds for an adventure with this Sweet and Sour Salmon! Broiled salmon fillets are brushed with a delicious sweet and sour salmon sauce. This quick and easy recipe takes just 30 minutes to make and only requires 7 ingredients!

I love salmon because it’s so healthy! Try my 6-ingredient Maple Dijon Salmon next time you fire up the grill, and my Mexican Salmon Salad is perfect for lunch or a light dinner!

This Sweet and Sour Salmon is a super easy dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight. It takes just 30 minutes to make and only requires 7 ingredients!

The sweet and sour salmon sauce recipe is quick to whip up. Simply whisk together soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch. It’s the perfect combo of sweet and sour and super thick thanks to the cornstarch.

I cook the salmon by broiling it in the oven. It’s a quick and easy way to cook salmon with little clean-up. I usually line a sheet tray with foil and then spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. When it’s time to clean up simply throw out the foil and you’re done!

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Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Salmon Sauce

Salmon: Salmon filets with the skin on are perfect for this recipe. The skin gets nice and crispy as it cooks!
Soy sauce: I prefer low sodium soy sauce as it’s lighter and healthier, however, you can use regular cut with a little water, or even gluten-free if needed.
Rice wine vinegar: For the sour note, I added rice wine vinegar. It’s very common in Asian cuisine and tastes delicious.
Sugar: And of course, we need some sweetness! Sugar is a great option for this sweet and sour salmon sauce recipe as we always have it on hand.
Thai Chili Sauce: For a little more sweetness plus a kick of heat, I mixed in some Thai Chili Sauce. It is so good – I love it on everything!
Garlic: If you’re asking me, most savory dishes should have garlic! Feel free to add an extra clove or two if you’re a fan. It’s a tiny powerhouse of nutrition!
Cornstarch: To thicken the salmon sauce I sprinkled cornstarch over the other ingredients and whisked it until it was smooth.

How to make Sweet and Sour Salmon

Preheat oven: To broil (high) and position the oven rack to the top rack. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place the salmon filets skin side down on the prepared baking sheet, and set aside.
Make the salmon sauce: In a small saucepan combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, Thai chili sauce, garlic, and cornstarch. Bring to a simmer and whisk constantly until the sauce has thickened. Brush half of the sauce on top of the salmon filets.
Broil: Place in the oven and broil for 8-10 minutes or until the salmon is fully cooked, brushing the remaining sauce on top halfway through cooking. If the salmon starts to get too brown move the rack down some.
Serve: Once the salmon has cooled a bit remove the skin and serve immediately with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish if desired.

Tips for Success

Leave the skin on! It will crisp up and taste amazing, plus that is where most of the healthy omega 3s are. It’s definitely one to eat and not skip!
Add extra garlic and heat to the salmon sauce recipe! When I make this for myself I really like to pack in as much flavor as possible! I always add a couple of extra garlic cloves and sprinkle a few red chili flakes on top. It tastes amazing!
Grill it! Crank up the grill and toss these sweet and sour salmon fillets on the BBQ. Grill for about 4-5 minutes per side, until the salmon is cooked through.

What to serve with this Sweet and Sour Salmon

White or brown rice. For a low-carb option try cauliflower rice.
Steamed vegetables
Chow mein noodles
Vegetable Fried Rice
Authentic Chicken Lo Mein
Chicken Chow Mein
The BEST Fried Rice
Garlic Fried Rice
Air Fryer Fried Rice
Crunchy Asian Broccoli Slaw
Baked Shrimp Egg Rolls
Garlic Green Beans
Zucchini Noodle Stir Fry
Japanese Cucumber Salad

Is it better to bake or pan fry salmon?

Baking and pan-frying salmon are both excellent ways to cook this healthy, fatty meat. Baking is perhaps a little healthier as you don’t need to add in extra oil, whereas when you fry food, you generally use a little oil to keep it from sticking to the pan.

Should you wash salmon before you cook it?

It is advised that you don’t wash raw meats before you cook them. This includes fish, seafood, poultry, and meat. Why? If there is any harmful bacteria on the meat, washing it can cause the bacteria to spread further in your kitchen and possibly contaminate work surfaces and other foods. The heat from cooking will kill any bad bacteria as long as the meat is fresh.

Here are more Easy Salmon Recipes to try!