Sesame salmon with white rice on a round white place with a white and grey towel all on a grey surface (with logo overlay)

Sesame Salmon

Sesame salmon combines the tangy flavors of sesame oil with the sweetness of mirin in a sauce that’s perfect for spooning over cooked salmon.

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We always have one week out of the month that we do “pantry week” at our house. That means we only make meals based on what we have on hand without getting any new groceries. It’s a great way to use up foods and prevent them from going to waste.

Our last “pantry week” included a few things we had in the refrigerator and freezer. I had mirin from a client recipe and I wanted to use some of that. We also had plenty of salmon in the freezer, and green onions that needed to be used. Put that all together with a few other staples we keep on hand and we had sesame salmon!

Sesame Salmon Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound salmon, skin-on, cut into 4-5 portions
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 green onions
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame seed oil
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp mirin
Ingredients for sesame salmon in stainless steel bowls on a grey surface

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350F. Sprinkle the salmon with salt.

Heat the oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon, skin-side up, in the oil and cook for about 3-5 minutes.

Salmon fillets in a cast iron pan on a grey surface

Meanwhile, finely chop the whites of the green onion and slice the green parts.

Diced green onions on a bamboo board on a grey surface

In a small mixing bowl, whisk the green onion whites, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, sesame seeds, honey, and mirin.

Sesame and mirin sauce in a stainless steel bowl on a grey surface

Carefully flip the salmon and spoon the sauce over the fillets.

Salmon fillets topped with sesame mirin mixture in a cast iron pan on a grey surface

Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for about 3-5 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork. I like using my cast-iron skillet for meals like this since I know it can withstand the heat of the oven without a problem.

Garnish the salmon with the sliced green onion and more sesame seeds. We served this with a side of rice.

Sesame salmon with white rice on a round white place with a white and grey towel all on a grey surface (vertical)

Leftovers

As with most seafood recipes, I am not a fan of reheated leftovers. The fish tends to get a strange texture or gets overcooked when reheated. If you want to save any leftover sesame salmon, I suggest storing it in the refrigerator and eating the next day. Reheat in a skillet on low heat or in the oven until just warmed through.

Recipe

Originally Published On: February 14, 2022

Sesame salmon with white rice on a round white place with a white and grey towel all on a grey surface

Sesame Salmon

Sesame salmon combines the tangy flavors of sesame oil with the sweetness of mirin in a sauce that's perfect for spooning over cooked salmon.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
salmon
|
sesame seeds
|
soy sauce
Dietary Needs:
Dairy-Free
|
Egg-Free
|
Nut-Free
Meat:
Seafood
Cooking Method:
One-Pan Meals
Servings: 2
5 from 10 votes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound salmon (skin-on, cut into 4-5 portions)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 green onions
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame seed oil
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp mirin

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F
  • Sprinkle the salmon with salt
  • Heat the oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat
  • Place the salmon, skin-side up, in the oil and cook for about 3-5 minutes
  • Meanwhile, finely chop the whites of the green onion and slice the green parts
  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk the green onion whites, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, sesame seeds, honey, and mirin
  • Carefully flip the salmon and spoon the sauce over the fillets
  • Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for about 3-5 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork
  • Garnish the salmon with the sliced green onion and more sesame seeds
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Nutrition Facts
Sesame Salmon
Amount Per Serving (4 pieces)
Calories 307 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 62mg21%
Sodium 1242mg52%
Potassium 749mg21%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 292IU6%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 89mg9%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Sesame Salmon FAQs

What is mirin?

Mirin is a Japanese wine. It’s often found in Japanese dishes, and has a sweet yet tangy flavor.

Where do I find mirin?

Mirin will often be with the oil and vinegar, in the international foods section, or possibly with other condiments.

Is there a substitute for mirin?

Nothing will have the exact same taste as mirin. But if you can’t find it, try substituting with sake, sherry, or rice vinegar in equal amounts.

22 thoughts on “Sesame Salmon”

  1. 5 stars
    I’m a big fan of salmon, and all-time I look to cook it differently and I like your version I’ll try it today. Thank you Stephanie for sharing this with us.

  2. That ‘pantry week’ thing is good. I don’t like throwing out food either. I do have such days too though with me I don’t have a name for it haha…

  3. I love salmon! It’s without a doubt my favourite dish to make and eat! Add a bit of lemon and it’s perfect! Never tried adding sesame, though. That’s something to try next time we make it.

  4. 5 stars
    Mmm this looks and sound so flavorful! Such a perfect, light recipe too. Definitely need to make this over the weekend!

  5. I like the idea of the crunchy texture on top of the salmon. Sounds like a great dish for year round, and an easy idea for when we have guests.

  6. I am not a fan of fish but this dish looks really good. I am sure fish lovers will love trying and eating this dish

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