Main Dishes

5-INGREDIENT SPICY MAPLE SALMON

Spicy Maple Salmon with just 5 ingredients

Every August like clockwork I get completely burned out with cooking.  It’s always been a weird phenomenon with me and I honestly can’t explain it.  Personally I think it’s just the end of the hot summer season that stops all my passion, I’m ready for fall food but the temps are still hot and I’m over it.  Occasionally I’ll get the same feeling late winter but nothing like August, August is epic.  Ok, so you’re wondering why I’m telling you this right?  We all get bored at times in the kitchen and lack the will power.  We still need to eat and we can’t eat every meal at a restaurant, so what do we do?  Cook super easy recipes that require no effort, of course!

Here I am ready to share one of my favorite, easy, no brainer recipes…my spicy maple salmon recipe.  It takes just 5 easy to find ingredients, marinates an hour, and cooks just minutes in the oven.  Pair that with a simple green salad and you’re good to go!

Spicy Maple Salmon with just 5 ingredients

Seriously, this could not be easier!  I just throw maple syrup, spicy sriracha, a little garlic powder, and low sodium soy sauce in a bag.  Toss in the with salmon, marinate an hour, cook, and boom done!  It’s so easy even those who can’t deal with dinner can do this.  It’s perfect for my August cooking burn out or just a quick weeknight meal.

We’ve used Frank’s buffalo sauce in place of the sriracha before with mediocre results… seriously don’t be afraid of the sriracha sauce, it adds a punch that nothing else can without being too spicy.

5 ingredient recipes

I don’t know about you but any time I put a marinade together in a bag it always falls over.  I mean like always!  It looks stable on the counter and as soon as I turn my back it falls and all the liquid spills out.  So now without a doubt I always set my marinade bags in a bowl for stability.  By the way if you’re out of resealable bags you can also marinate in a bowl, just make sure everything is evenly covered.

Easy salmon recipes

Toss in the marinade ingredients, add the salmon, then seal and shake.  Place it back in the refrigerator for about an hour then boom you’re ready for the oven.

Just a few notes, I always use low sodium soy sauce.  I’m a salty girl, I love salt… my last name is Salter after all, but I honestly can’t do full sodium soy sauce, it’s just too intense.  I recommend you also use low sodium but that’s up to you.  I also recommend you use skin on salmon, it can be frozen or fresh but having the skin on adds so much flavor and moisture.  I never do skinless!  Feel free to add a few sliced green onions if you have them on hand, it makes things fancy!  You can find this amazingly easy recipe below but keep reading to find a few more of my recipe tips.

Spicy Maple Salmon with just 5 ingredients

Spicy Maple Salmon

Prep Time35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4-6 8 oz salmon filets (with skin on preferably)
  • 6 tbs maple syrup
  • 2 tbs low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbs sriracha sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • gallon size ziploc bag or a bowl to marinade

Instructions

  • In a ziploc bag combine maple syrup, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, and garlic powder.
  • Add the salmon filets to the bag, close and shake to combine.
  • Place the salmon in the refrigerator and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 425° and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
  • Place the salmon on the pan skin side down and bake 7-9 minutes.

The first time you make this recipe you’ll definitely want to watch the cook time.  Salmon is a bit like steak, some like it rare, others more done.  You can also marinate it a bit longer but I’ve never gone more than 90 minutes.  Sometimes I’ll cook a whole salmon and of course that takes a bit longer, a good 20-25 minutes.  However I am cooking at a high altitude which means a longer cook time so keep an eye on it the first time for the best results.

Spicy Maple Salmon with just 5 ingredients

Pair this spicy maple salmon with some rice and a simple arugula salad and you’re good to go!  In the summer we make this salmon recipe all the time, along with my asian sesame salmon both are perfect satisfying meals.  It’s delicious and healthy!  Am I the only one who gets August cooking burn out?  Please tell me no.  Or maybe you have another month where you’re so over being in the kitchen?  Do tell, I’d love to know.  I do have another easy “I can’t stand to cook another meal ever again” recipe that I’ll be sharing soon.  It’s rich and beefy and cooks in the slow cooker.  Another perfect meal whether you’re just busy or you’re waiting on your cooking passion to come back.

Got any cooking tips or ideas for when you just can’t deal for whatever reason?  Share them in the comments below.  Happy end of summer!

 

Laura

Join the Conversation

Leave a Comment