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Caramelized salmon fillet with a glossy sweet savory sugar crust and browned skin on a plate

Caramelized Salmon with Sweet Savory Sugar Crust and Skin

Caramelized Salmon is a sweet-savory salmon dish with a glossy, deeply browned sugar crust and tender interior. It is an easy choice for a flavorful weeknight meal when you want a simple preparation with impressive texture and contrast.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 275
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sugar Salt Mixture
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt (if using coarse salt, use 1 1/2 tablespoons and pulse it in a food processor a few times to make it less coarse)
  • Freshly crushed black pepper, as needed
Salmon
  • 16 oz / 455 g salmon, cut into 4 filets, with skin
Cooking Oil
  • Olive oil, as needed

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Mix the sugar, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl. Coat all surfaces of each salmon filet with the seasoning mixture.
Cooking
  1. Warm a small amount of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place the salmon in the skillet skin side down and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove excess oil or dark sugar buildup from the pan if needed, and reduce the heat if splattering occurs.
  2. Turn each salmon filet carefully while keeping the skin attached. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, then cook the sides for an additional 2-3 minutes if the filet is thick enough.
Broiling
  1. Preheat the broiler to 450°F (232°C). Add 1-2 teaspoons of the remaining sugar and salt mixture to the top of each salmon filet.
  2. Move the skillet from the stovetop to the oven and broil the salmon for 5-10 minutes, checking regularly to prevent burning. Remove the salmon from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
  3. Carefully remove the skin before eating; it should peel away easily after becoming deeply caramelized.

Notes

If using regular table salt, begin with just 1 tablespoon and add more salt as needed.