Refreshing and Flavorful! Salmon Teriyaki with Brown Sugar and Lemon!
After a long day at work, don’t you sometimes crave a light yet protein-rich fish dish that’s easy to make?
If you’ve picked up some salmon but feel like trying something a little different than usual, this recipe is for you!
By adding lemon to a brown sugar teriyaki sauce, you get a lovely balance of rich sweetness and refreshing acidity.
It goes perfectly with rice—great for dinner or even lunch!
Ingredients
| Salmon fillets | 3 |
| Flour | 3 tbsp (for coating the salmon) |
| Brown sugar (or regular sugar is fine) | 3 tbsp (for coating the salmon before washing) |
| Lemon | 1 |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp |
| 【Teriyaki Sauce】 | |
| Soy sauce(Kikkoman) | 2 tbsp |
| Sake(Mizkan) | 2 tbsp |
| Mirin(Kikkoman) | 2 tbsp |
| Brown sugar(or regular sugar is fine) | 2 tsp |
Note: I’ve listed the brands I used, but any brand will work just fine!
How to Make
1⃣ Prep the Ingredients
Wash the lemon thoroughly and slice it into thin rounds.
Coat the surface of the salmon fillets with brown sugar, wrap them in plastic, and place them in the fridge for 20 minutes.
While you wait, mix all the teriyaki sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
2⃣ Rinse the Salmon
Rinse the brown sugar off the salmon under cold water, and gently pat the fillets dry with paper towels.
(Removing excess moisture helps the surface get nice and crispy when cooked!)
Remove any bones if needed.
3⃣ Pan-Fry the Salmon
Dust the salmon with flour evenly.
Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
Place the salmon skin-side down and cook for about 2 minutes, until the skin is nice and crispy.
Flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes.
(Adjust the heat to avoid burning!)
4⃣ Add the Sauce and Lemon
Lower the heat to low. Add the teriyaki sauce and lemon slices to the pan.
Let it simmer, gently stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
Be careful not to break the salmon or burn the sauce.
I saw culinary expert Ryuji mention that sprinkling sugar on salmon before cooking makes it taste better—so I gave it a try with my favorite: brown sugar!
It really brings out a delicious flavor. I love the aroma of brown sugar so much I could eat it as-is!
When paired with teriyaki sauce, it becomes incredibly tasty.
Whether you use butter or olive oil, I personally love frying salmon until the skin gets crisp and golden. So good!
If you think this looks tasty, please share it on Twitter/X!
And if you try making it, I’d love it if you tag me in your post ♡
