Name: Effortless Grilled Teriyaki Salmon with Asparagus
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese-Inspired
Ingredients: ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce; ¼ cup mirin; 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger; 2 cloves garlic, minced; ½ teaspoon sesame oil; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skin on or off; 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed; 1 tablespoon olive oil; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1 cup uncooked jasmine or basmati rice (optional); 2 cups water (for rice, optional); Pinch of salt (for rice, optional); Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional); Chopped fresh cilantro or green onions, for garnish (optional)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1
Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, honey (or maple syrup), rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
2
Marinate Salmon: Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish or a resealable plastic bag. Pour about ¾ of the teriyaki marinade over the salmon, ensuring each fillet is well coated. Reserve the remaining ¼ of the marinade for basting. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
3
Prep Asparagus & Preheat Grill: While salmon marinates, trim woody ends from asparagus. Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (400-450°F / 200-230°C). Clean and lightly oil the grill grates.
4
Grill Salmon & Asparagus: Remove salmon from marinade (discard used marinade). Place salmon fillets skin-side down (if applicable) on hot grates. Place asparagus alongside. Grill salmon for 4-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through and it flakes easily. During the last few minutes, brush salmon generously with the reserved marinade. Grill asparagus for 5-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender-crisp with char marks.
5
Serve: Carefully remove salmon and asparagus from grill. Serve immediately, optionally over cooked rice, and garnish with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro or green onions.

💡 Notes

For best results, do not marinate the salmon for longer than 2 hours to prevent it from becoming mushy. If you don't have a grill, this recipe adapts well to baking or pan-searing. Ensure your grill grates are very clean and well-oiled to prevent the fish from sticking.

Effortless Grilled Teriyaki Salmon with Asparagus