Craving a weeknight dinner that's both quick and bursting with flavor? Get ready to meet your new go-to: Brown Sugar Broiled Salmon, a recipe that transforms simple ingredients into a delectable masterpiece. With a sweet and savory glaze and a bed of vibrant veggies, this dish is guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Okay, let's gather our stuff! For this awesome salmon dinner, I need four salmon fillets – between 5 and 8 ounces each. Do you like the skin on or off? I go with skin-on!
Next up, veggies! I like two bunches of asparagus and one bunch of broccolini; also, grab a cup of cherry tomatoes. These'll make it colorful and healthy. Oh, and don't forget a tablespoon of olive oil.
Now, for that glaze – it's the bomb! I'm mixing one tablespoon of Dijon mustard, one tablespoon of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of brown sugar, and a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper. That's it! Just make sure my veggies, mustard, cayenne pepper, and mayo didn't expire this week! If you like, you could prepare a lemon cream sauce to complement this salmon.
Preparation
Let's start by preheating the broiler on high, and then I'll place the oven shelf about 6 inches from the heat; this'll give the salmon that perfect caramelization without burning it! Now, I'm gonna spray a baking tray with oil – olive oil is my go-to, but any will do just fine!
Next, I'll pile the asparagus, broccolini, and cherry tomatoes on the baking tray. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Don't be shy! Toss 'em with your hands – it's the best way to get everything coated – then spread them out mostly on one layer. For those looking for a quick and tasty meal, this salmon recipe is a winner.
Wedge the salmon pieces onto the tray between the veggies. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper. This is where the magic happens!
Mix together the glaze ingredients: a tablespoon each of Dijon mustard and mayo (I use whole egg). Blend in 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper — for a little kick! Slather it on the salmon – tops and sides.
Cooking Instructions
Now, with the salmon prepped and ready, I'll tell you how to turn up the heat! First, preheat your broiler on high. Position the oven shelf about 6 inches from the heat source—we don't want to burn anything to a crisp!
Next, grab a baking tray and spray it with oil. I usually use olive oil, but honestly, any type works!
Now, pile your asparagus, broccolini, and cherry tomatoes onto the tray, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Don't be shy! Toss it all together with your hands, then spread it out in a single layer.
Wedge those salmon pieces between the veggies. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and slather on that brown sugar glaze.
Finally, broil it for 8 minutes—no flipping! You want the salmon all caramelised and the inside blush pink. Rest for 2 minutes, and that is it! Grab some crusty bread rolls!
Recipe Notes
The asparagus and broccolini stems should be around the width of a standard pencil; if they're bigger, slice them lengthwise, so they cook evenly.
This glaze? It's enough to coat the top and sides of the salmon nicely. You probably won't need it all if you're using smaller salmon pieces—lucky you, more flavor for later!
Hey, here's a neat trick! Try rolling those cherry tomatoes in any glaze leftover before popping them onto the tray. Trust me; it's a little burst of sweetness.
Finally, the nutrition info is per serving – a 6oz skinless salmon fillet. FYI, this excludes any bread rolls. Add those calories yourself; I'm not keeping track of your carbs!
Short Recipe Version
Brown Sugar Broiled Salmon
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 12-15 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- 2 salmon fillets (6 oz each)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Lemon wedges (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat broiler.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Place salmon fillets on a broiler-safe pan.
- Spread brown sugar mixture evenly over the salmon.
- Broil for 12-15 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
- Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 8g