Spicy Broiled Korean Salmon

Change up your routine with this fancy gochujang glazed Korean salmon! Spicy, savory, and sweet at the same time, this salmon dish requires only 10 minutes of prep time plus 10 more minutes under a broiler. Quick and super easy meal perfect for weeknight dinner!

Who else will never turn down a new salmon recipe? I’ve talked before about how much I love salmon, but in case you didn’t believe me: I really love salmon! Especially with lots of flavorful glaze on it – like this Korean inspired sauce based on gochujang paste.

What is gochujang paste?

It’s a Korean red chili paste which is savory, sweet, and spicy at the same time. I believe it has become really popular worldwide lately because I was able to find it in my local supermarket here in Lithuania. Which means that it should be easily available in pretty much any bigger country at the moment. Check out the Asian section of your local supermarket.

Gochujang paste is featured in classic Korean dishes such as bibimbap or bulgogi. It can also be used in so many different ways: glaze not only salmon but also chicken or any meatballs with it, put it into ramen, pasta, even pizza. Here is a great list of Gochujang recipes that will come in handy if you’ll get this Korean paste (it tends to come in large containers and you need only a few tablespoons for this salmon recipe). Totally worth it, though.

I am not a fan of overly spicy things (my husband is, though) but I didn’t find this Korean salmon too spicy. The glaze IS spicy but when you put it on salmon and broil, the heat comes down to an acceptable level.

For this recipe, if you can’t get skinless salmon, don’t worry about removing the skin before cooking. Just don’t oil the aluminum foil before cooking and place the salmon on it skin side down. This way the skin will stick to the foil as you remove the salmon after cooking. A useful little tidbit I picked up from the book I adapted the recipe from.

As a bonus, this sauce can be used on any other sort of meat. Tired of salmon (though I don’t think I ever will be)? Try some boneless, skinless chicken! It needs to be cooked a little longer under the broiler, but still a wonderfully flavorful meal in under 30 minutes.

Salmon meals in 30 minutes or less

One of the best parts is how little time this Korean salmon recipe takes. You can have a beautiful meal on the table in less than 30 minutes. In the time it takes to cook some rice, you can season and cook this salmon. Seriously impress some house guests who will think you have been marinating this all day.

Of course, I love my easy salmon recipes. Anything that has lots of flavor and can be on the table in 30 minutes with some rice and maybe some steamed vegetables is a perfect meal for me. These kinds of recipes are great for weeknight meals because of how easy and fast they are. Perhaps in the upcoming summer months try pesto salmon with tomatoes, and personally I will never say no to blackened salmon with salad.

Salmon is great for fast meals because it cooks so quickly. Plus, these simple salmon recipes always look amazing which makes them perfect for dinner parties as well as fast suppers. It is no fun to be hosting a party where you spend the entire time in the kitchen. So much better to have a meal that is easy to prepare and serve some simple and elegant sides with it. Then you get to enjoy the party too.

Easy, healthy meals

What I love about these meals – besides their ease – is how filling they are without feeling heavy or rich. You don’t need rich, fatty sauces or lots of starches and sugars to feel thoroughly satisfied after a meal. The high protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids in salmon make you feel completely nourished without lots of artery-clogging cholesterol. Add some rice and veggies and you have a balanced meal for your family that everyone will love.