Sesame Ginger Salmon in Foil Recipe (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

5 from 1 vote

Nov 30, 2018, Updated Mar 19, 2024

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Sesame ginger salmon is a huge win for Asian inspired salmon. We eat salmon at least once a week. It’s our favorite fish because it’s versatile, flavorful, and good for you. We have a few simple go-to recipes, however recently I’ve been experimenting with more diverse ingredients.

This recipe is a spin-off of my very popular salmon/trout in foil with garlic butter. If you haven’t tried that recipe yet, it’s one for the books…except for us, right now.

Ginger salmon is a winner because it’s so simple with minimal cleanup. It’s also packed with so much flavor thanks to the freshly grated ginger and honey.

I’d describe this as a sweet and savory sauce with a kick of fresh ginger and sriracha. The honey will caramelize under the broiler, giving your salmon a slightly sticky glaze.

Looking for a different flair? Try cilantro lime salmon in foil. The oven is also perfect for BBQ ribs, and bacon is far less cumbersome and messy when baked in the oven.

Table of Contents

  • How to Cook Salmon in Foil
  • Sesame Ginger Glaze
  • Finish With a Broil
  • More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love
  • Sesame Ginger Salmon in Foil Recipe

How to Cook Salmon in Foil

If you’ve never cooked salmon in foil, today is the day to start. The foil seals the flavors and juices in and keeps whatever sauce or rub you’re using in close contact with the salmon while it cooks.

  1. Season salmon with salt and pepper and place on a large piece of greased tin foil. Fold up all four sides of the foil slightly to prevent the sauce from spilling out. Pour your ginger gaze over the salmon.
  2. Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon covering completely, and seal into a closed packet. Place on oven rack and bake until cooked through, usually about 15-20 minutes.

Sesame Ginger Glaze

The sesame ginger glaze is a simple mix of garlic, grated fresh ginger (don’t substitute with the dry spice, it just doesn’t compare!), sesame oil, honey, fresh lime juice, and a dash of sriracha (add more for more prominent heat).

It’s tangy, sweet, and has a subtle kick. Douse a piece of salmon with this sauce, wrap in a foil packet, and throw in the oven. No frills.

Finish With a Broil

Whenever I cook salmon or trout in foil, I always opt for an uncovered, 5-minute broil at the very end. This lends a crispy final touch that slightly sears and caramelizes the outer crust and gives you a delicious browned finish.

More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love

Bourbon Glazed Salmon Recipe

Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe

Grilled Salmon with Basil Butter Recipe

Salmon Piccata Recipe

Enjoy this recipe? If you made this recipe, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & areview in the comments!

5 from 1 vote

Sesame Ginger Salmon in Foil Recipe

By: Shawn Williams

Servings: 4

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Save

Sesame Ginger Salmon in Foil Recipe (9)

Baked salmon topped with a sweet ginger glaze made with fresh ginger, honey, lime juice, and a pinch of sriracha.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon filet
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • green onions, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Sesame Ginger Glaze

  • 1 tablespoon ginger root, grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon sriracha, add more if you want extra spice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Juice from half a lime
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.

  • In a small bowl, mix together ginger glaze ingredients and set aside.

  • Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray and place the salmon fillet in the center (note: you may need to use two overlapped pieces of foil for larger surface area). Fold up all 4 sides of the foil. Season salmon with salt and pepper.

  • Pour the ginger glaze over the entire piece of salmon. It’s okay if some pools around the sides.

  • Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon, covering completely, and seal into a closed packet. Place on a baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes for medium.

  • Remove from the oven and carefully open the foil, exposing the top of the fillet. Spoon some of the runoff ginger glaze over the top of the fillet, return to the oven and broil on high for 3-5 minutes for a browned top.

  • Serve immediately garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 15.3gProtein: 44.8gFat: 24.8gSaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 158mgFiber: 1.1gSugar: 11.9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Asian

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Sesame Ginger Salmon in Foil Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook salmon in foil or not? ›

The foil helps cook the fish faster and just all around better. Another reason is that it's a healthy way to cook fish. Yes, salmon is already a very healthy fish. But if you cook it in foil, you don't have to use a lot of oil or butter to cook it.

Do you need to flip salmon in foil? ›

The foil packet method in this recipe does an especially good job making sure the salmon cooks evenly without flipping.

When baking salmon do you cover it or leave it uncovered? ›

Baked salmon is best when cooked at 425°F in the oven.

Even thicker fillets don't take long. We recommend baking the salmon uncovered. Simply rub the fillets with a little oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then place them in the roasting pan skin-side down before popping them in the oven.

Should I cook salmon in the oven or pan? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400? ›

What temperature to bake salmon. What is the best temperature to bake salmon? 400°F (205°C) is ideal as it allows the fish to gain colour and the skin to become crispy. If you prefer a milder method, you can bake it at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes or until done.

Should you flip salmon when baking? ›

Place salmon, skin side up. Cook for 3 min, flip and cook for another 2-3 min until done. There should be a slight color gradient when you check the thickest part of the fillet.

What happens if you don't rinse salmon before cooking? ›

No, you are not supposed to wash salmon fillets before cooking them. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises against washing raw fish, seafood, meat, and poultry, which can spread bacteria to other foods and surfaces. The only effective way to get rid of bacteria is to cook it.

What to season salmon with? ›

Salmon does not need much seasoning to be flavorful. You can season it with just salt and black pepper or with a combination of lemon juice, fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, butter, minced garlic, and any other flavors you desire. 3. Dry the salmon to ensure crispy skin.

How do you know when salmon is done? ›

Internal temperature: Use an instant-read meat thermometer; the salmon should register 145°F (63°C) at its thickest part. Flakiness: When gently pressed with a fork, the fish should easily flake apart. Avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the salmon.

What is the secret to best salmon? ›

A dry brine gives you firmer, juicier fish fillets with kettle-chip-crisp skin. Credit... Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times.

What is the white stuff coming out of my salmon? ›

The white stuff that oozes out of salmon is called albumin, a type of protein in the fish (other foods with albumin include eggs, beef and milk). You can't see albumin when the fish is raw—it only appears when the salmon is exposed to heat. As salmon cooks, the albumin turns from its liquid state into a semi-solid one.

What is the best way to cook salmon to keep it moist? ›

Wrap your salmon in a parchment packet with aromatics, citrus, veggies, and a drizzle of olive oil. The steam trapped in the packet will infuse the fish with flavor and cook it gently, making it tender and juicy. Bonus: The parchment packets only take about 15 minutes at 425°F and the cleanup is minimal.

How do you tell if salmon is cooked all the way in the oven? ›

The easiest way to see if your salmon has finished cooking is to gently press down on the top of the fillet with a fork or your finger. If the flesh of the salmon flakes—meaning, it separates easily along the white lines that run across the fillet (strips of fish fat)—it's finished cooking.

What is the healthiest way to eat salmon? ›

Poached Salmon is the healthiest way to cook salmon and will be ready in just 10 minutes! Although it seems fancy, this poached salmon recipe is crazy simple and rewards a tender, delicate, flaky piece of salmon that is light and refreshing.

Is baked or grilled salmon better? ›

There might be a very small amount of additional fat added to grilled salmon but the difference is normally insignificant. Most fat on grilled salmon drips off into the grill and baked salmon frequently does include some fat as well.

Which is the better way to cook salmon? ›

Grilling salmon is considered a healthier alternative to frying or deep-frying because it requires less oil. The excess fat in salmon drips away during grilling, reducing the overall calorie content. Tips for grilling salmon: Grill at medium-high heat, between 375 and 400 degrees F.

Why cook fish in foil? ›

There are many benefits for using foil to grill up your favourite fish fillets. It's easy: Have no fear of your prized perch sticking to hot grill grates. Take the gamble out of grilling fish by making a foil basket instead. It's quick: The foil conducts heat and helps to steam fish in just minutes.

Is it healthier to bake or pan sear salmon? ›

Baking salmon in parchment paper is one of the healthiest cooking methods. It's also easy to prep and clean up. However, some people may prefer the texture of pan-fried or grilled salmon over steamed salmon en papillote.

What is the best temperature to bake salmon? ›

If baking individual salmon fillet portions, a higher temperature of 400 to 425 degrees F is best. For a larger side of salmon, 375 degrees F is the best temperature.

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