Japanese-Style Glazed Salmon

This Japanese-Style Glazed Salmon is a flavour-packed dish where tender oven-baked salmon meets a fragrant marinade of sake, soy sauce, mirin, muscovado brown sugar, and fresh ginger. Finished with a sweet Dijon and brown sugar glaze, it’s perfectly balanced as rich and savoury. Quick to prepare, healthy, and beautifully simple, this dish transforms an everyday dinner into something truly special.

Ingredients for Japanese-Style Glazed Salmon

The ingredient list for this Japanese salmon recipe is short and simple. Most items are easy to find in a well-stocked supermarket or Asian grocery.

• Salmon fillet – fresh and skin-on, ideally pin-boned by your fishmonger.
• Spring onions – use only the green tops for garnish.
• Sesame seeds – toast lightly for an extra nutty depth.
• Olive oil – to grease the baking dish.
• Sake – Japanese rice wine that brings gentle acidity; no need for an expensive one here.
• Soy sauce – dark soy is richer and less salty, but regular soy sauce works too.
• Mirin – sweet Japanese rice wine for authentic flavour.
• Fresh ginger – brings warmth and complexity to the marinade.
• Muscovado brown sugar & Dijon mustard – two simple ingredients form the glaze, balancing the sweet and tangy notes beautifully.

Tip: This same ginger-soy marinade also pairs wonderfully with roasted carrots, parsnips, or broccoli as an easy vegetarian side dish to complement your salmon. You can also serve it with rice and my Japanese Daikon and Carrot Coleslaw or sautéed spinach… or for that matter, anything else you might like to eat alongside salmon.

How to Make Glazed Salmon in the Oven

This Japanese-Style Glazed Salmon couldn’t be easier to make! The oven does most of the work, leaving you with a perfectly tender, flavour-packed meal.

1. Make the marinade: Whisk together sake, soy sauce, mirin, raw cane sugar, and grated ginger.
2. Marinate the salmon: Add the salmon to a bowl, pour over the marinade, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
3. Prepare the glaze: Warm brown sugar and Dijon mustard in a small pan until smooth and slightly thickened.
4. Bake: Brush a baking dish with olive oil, place the salmon skin-side down, coat with glaze, and bake until tender and caramelised.

This easy oven-baked glazed salmon is perfect with steamed rice, sautéed greens, or roasted vegetables — simple to make, yet impressive enough for guests!

Exact measurements can be found below in the printable recipe card.

Reasons to Love This Japanese-Style Glazed Salmon

• Family favourite: Even kids love the sweet-savory glaze, making it a great intro to Japanese cuisine.
• Effortless to make: Minimal prep, short list of ingredients, and the oven does the work.
• Incredible flavour: The perfect balance of sweet, salty, and umami.
• Healthy & nourishing: High in omega-3s and naturally rich in flavour.
• Dinner-party ready: Looks beautiful, tastes gourmet, and feels festive enough for a holiday dinner.

If you loved this glazed salmon recipe, you’ll also enjoy:

• Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli (Thai-Style)
• Udon Noodle Mushroom Stir Fry (Yaki Udon)
• Miso Soba Noodle Salad
• Yakitori (Japanese Grilled Chicken Skewers)

5 from 1 vote

Print

Japanese-Style Glazed Salmon

This Japanese-style glazed salmon is marinaded in sake, soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar and ginger and served with a mouthwatering Dijon and brown sugar glaze, turning ho hum into something spectacular!

I’d love your feedback – just click on the stars to rate this recipe! ⭐

Course Main Dish

Category Asian

Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 480 kcal

Autor Elle

Ingredients

For the salmon:

• 4 salmon filets, rinsed (ca. 700 g)
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons green onions, green parts only, diced thinly
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

For the marinade:

• 1/4 cup sake (60 ml)
• 1/4 cup dark soy sauce (60 ml)
• 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (muscovado) (50 g)
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

For the glaze:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar (muscovado) (65 g)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Method

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the sake, soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin and ginger. Season the salmon filets with salt and pepper and place them in a shallow dish (or plastic freezer bag) and add the marinade. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours; turning once or twice.

2. Preheat the oven to 450°F / 230°C.

3. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and mustard. Heat over low heat until simmering and the brown sugar is completely dissolved.

4. In a baking dish brushed with olive oil, place the salmon, skin side down. Brush with the glaze and bake for 12-15 minutes until just cooked, depending on thickness of the filets.

5. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, toast the sesame seeds, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

6. Top the filets with any remaining glaze and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

• Alternatively, this marinaded and glazed salmon dish can also be made in a skillet; the salmon can be cooked on high for 4-5 minutes. Be sure to use a high smoke-point oil such as grape seed oil or canola oil. Volia, a quick and delicious glazed salmon!

For a relaxing atmosphere in the kitchen I recommend my personal Elle Republic: Chilled Out Kitchen Tunes Playlist on Spotify.

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