Salmon with Sweet Ginger Sauce

This recipe comes from Red Hot Kitchen, by Diana Kuan, published in 2019. I also own her cookbook The Chinese Takeout Cookbook, published in 2012.

The Red Hot Kitchen is all about Asian chili sauces – some hot, some not. There are 9 different chapters, each focusing on a different sauce. I’ve previously made Fish Tacos with Yuzu Kosho Slaw, and from the Takeout book, Sweet Chili Shrimp. Both were excellent.

This quick and simple salmon recipe is from the chapter on Sweet Chili Sauce. The one I buy is Mae Ploy, but of course Ms. Kuan has a recipe to make it from scratch, which I haven’t made yet.

I used more ginger in this recipe because I felt like it. I was also tempted to add sambal oelek to the sauce, for more of a spicy sweet ginger sauce. But I’ll see how this goes, first.

Roasted Sweet Chili and Ginger Salmon

1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (I used more)
4 – 6 ounce filets of salmon
2 teaspoons white sesame seeds
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Lime wedges, optional

In a large bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, and ginger. Add the salmon and turn to coat with the sauce. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.

As you can tell, I used only 2 salmon filets, and saved half of the sauce/marinade for serving.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a roasting pan or baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the salmon filets skin side up on the parchment and brush the tops with extra marinade. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. (I sprinkled the sesame seeds after the salmon was cooked, not on the skin.)

Roast until the flesh looks opaque and flakes off easily with a fork, 10 – 12 minutes.

Carefully transfer the salmon to plates and garnish with the scallions. (And sesame seeds.)

I served the salmon with white rice and asparagus, plus the leftover marinade.

The sauce was great! And it isn’t overly sweet.

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

43 Comments

  1. Bernadette March 6, 2023 at 6:39 AM - Reply

    That is a fantastic idea for a cookbook. I will have to look for it.

    • Chef Mimi March 6, 2023 at 7:12 AM - Reply

      It’s really good. And so many great recipes!

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen March 6, 2023 at 7:07 AM - Reply

    Love the looks of this one Mimi! And I love the idea of organizing the book by sauces, very clever.
    I also had to laugh at your comment “I used more ginger in this recipe because I felt like it,” which is exactly how I follow recipes as well!

    • Chef Mimi March 6, 2023 at 7:13 AM - Reply

      I also got a little carried away chopping the ginger, then noticed it only asked for one teaspoon! Oops! It all went in.

  3. angiesrecipes March 6, 2023 at 1:34 PM - Reply

    My favourite meal! Love that ginger sauce a lot.

    • Chef Mimi March 6, 2023 at 4:12 PM - Reply

      It was a very nice combination, and not too sweet!

  4. terrie gura March 6, 2023 at 3:25 PM - Reply

    Ginger and salmon sounds delightful! I always have to hold back a bit on ginger at my house because my husband is not a huge fan of it, but I would be right there with you in using extra! I love its zing on the taste buds, and it’s so good for us, too!

    • Chef Mimi March 6, 2023 at 4:12 PM - Reply

      My husband doesn’t love it either, but he doesn’t eat salmon either!!! More for me!!!

  5. Valentina March 6, 2023 at 4:38 PM - Reply

    I always add extra ginger. Yum! I’m intrigued by the sauce book and will have a look at it. Your salmon sounds so delicious and your photographs are beautiful! :-) ~Valentina

    • Chef Mimi March 6, 2023 at 6:04 PM - Reply

      Thank you so much! Salmon is very photogenic!

  6. Sherry M March 6, 2023 at 10:39 PM - Reply

    crumbs I love all of this. love salmon and sesame seeds and ginger and asparagus! Delish!

    • Chef Mimi March 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM - Reply

      Thanks! It was a great meal!

  7. Pauline Mcnee March 7, 2023 at 4:03 AM - Reply

    Mimi I need a good recipe for sweet chilli sauce as I have loads of frozen chillies from our bushes. I love salmon cooked in the Asian style. This recipe looks incredible. I would use more fresh ginger too, we love it and grow it.

    • Chef Mimi March 7, 2023 at 7:01 AM - Reply

      I’ll send you the recipe from the book.

  8. 2pots2cook March 7, 2023 at 7:37 AM - Reply

    Must buy both! Your presentation is great!

    • Chef Mimi March 7, 2023 at 10:57 AM - Reply

      Thank you so much!

  9. cookingwithauntjuju.com March 7, 2023 at 1:21 PM - Reply

    Love any Asian cuisine and salmon I eat at least once a week! I don’t care for such a sweet sauce so would make a few adjustments – looks devine and since I just bought a nice salmon steak… :)

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 8:06 AM - Reply

      That’s the thing – it’s not sweet with the other ingredients!

  10. Ben | Havocinthekitchen March 7, 2023 at 4:36 PM - Reply

    This salmon looks irresistible delicious and perfectly cooked – so flaky and I bet flavourful!

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 8:07 AM - Reply

      It was a new way for me to cook salmon. I usually do it on the stove and I would have cooked it less, but it was still good!

  11. Ann Coleman March 7, 2023 at 6:33 PM - Reply

    I love salmon, and that looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 8:07 AM - Reply

      You are so welcome!

  12. Tandy | Lavender and Lime March 8, 2023 at 2:26 AM - Reply

    It has been an age since I last made Sweet Chili Sauce. It is so much easier to use store bought :)

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 8:08 AM - Reply

      I’ll have to do that! I’m sure it’s better than store bought.

  13. David @ Spiced March 8, 2023 at 6:48 AM - Reply

    Woah – a whole book on Asian chili sauces!? That sounds like Laura’s heaven right there. We’ve been eating more salmon lately (trying to stay healthy to balance out the holidays still…haha), and this sounds like a delicious way to mix up salmon nights. Giving it a try!

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 8:08 AM - Reply

      Yes, it’s a great book! And great recipes.

  14. Carrie Tyler March 8, 2023 at 7:23 AM - Reply

    Mimi, this looks amazing! I love the flavors in this sweet chili ginger sauce! I’m going to make this for dinner tonight :)

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 8:09 AM - Reply

      It’s so easy and so good!

  15. Raymund March 8, 2023 at 3:45 PM - Reply

    Thank you for sharing this delicious and simple recipe for Roasted Sweet Chili and Ginger Salmon. I love the idea of using sweet chili sauce and soy sauce as a marinade, and adding grated fresh ginger for a touch of spice and flavor. The addition of sesame seeds and scallions as a garnish adds a nice texture and color to the dish.

    I appreciate that you made some modifications to the recipe to suit your taste, and that you saved half of the marinade for serving. This recipe seems very versatile and can be easily adjusted to personal preferences.

    • Chef Mimi March 8, 2023 at 5:15 PM - Reply

      It’s certainly one of the simplest recipes I’ve ever put on the blog, but it was very good. Ad the sauce was great!

  16. Jean March 9, 2023 at 9:58 AM - Reply

    I love that the sauce isn’t too sweet and I wouldn’t mind the extra ginger. :)

    • Chef Mimi March 9, 2023 at 6:18 PM - Reply

      Thanks, Jean! I don’t like anything too sweet, but with the soy sauce and lime juice it was delicious!

  17. David Scott Allen March 10, 2023 at 4:51 PM - Reply

    Ginger and salmon are a natural pairing! I make a ginger, coated, salmon, as well, and it’s quite a bit different from yours. Yours looks much more delicate! I’ll have to try yours soon.

    • Chef Mimi March 11, 2023 at 9:23 AM - Reply

      I don’t usually go for the quick and easy recipes, although of course I’m not against them, but this was ridiculously simple, with great results.

  18. thatskinnychickcanbake March 10, 2023 at 6:06 PM - Reply

    Sounds YUMMY!! I roasted salmon for dinner tonight but used a bottle of Soy Vay Teriyaki sauce to marinate. I’m sure your homemade sauce was better!!

    • Chef Mimi March 11, 2023 at 9:24 AM - Reply

      I bought teriyaki sauce once and threw it away – so much sweetness. So I’ll only make it from scratch. There might be a good brand out there, but there doesn’t need to be so much sugar, in my opinion.

  19. Pauline Mcnee March 11, 2023 at 1:07 AM - Reply

    We try to eat salmon once a week, and how you have cooked this would be a lovely change to pan fried. I love also that it is baked in the oven. I can’t wait to cook this next time I buy salmon, I always have these sauces on hand. We love Asian flavours in my part of the world. Thanks so much for this one Mimi. Yum!

    • Chef Mimi March 11, 2023 at 9:25 AM - Reply

      I do too. I really love Asian foods cause there’s no cheese! I have a hard time staying away from cheese and dairy!

  20. Thao @ In Good Flavor March 15, 2023 at 9:56 PM - Reply

    I was so good for a while eating salmon every week. I need to get t back on it again, and this one would be great one to try

    • Chef Mimi March 16, 2023 at 7:38 AM - Reply

      It’s easy for me – it’s my favorite fish! And you’re right, so good for you.

  21. Gerlinde April 10, 2023 at 9:45 PM - Reply

    This is a wonderful recipe Mimi , I have to try it. I like our local salmon but the seasons are getting shorter and it’s getting very expensive.

    • Chef Mimi April 11, 2023 at 6:40 AM - Reply

      Oh no! That’s so sad. It’s such a fabulous fish.

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