This Salmon Kabayaki recipe is as easy as it gets. All you need is 4 ingredients total to create one of the best fish dishes you’ve ever had. Although kids often don’t love fish, my boys adore this and can’t get enough of it.
Gluten-Free Kabayaki
I often double this sweet and tangy fish kabayaki recipe since my boys enjoy it so much.
Salmon Kabayaki
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon, cut into 4 fillets (pat dry to avoid oil splattering)
- ¼ cup ume plum vinegar
- ¼ cup agave nectar or honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir ume plum vinegar and honey
- When sauce begins to bubble turn down heat
- Simmer 4-5 minutes until thick enough to coat back of a spoon
- Place oil in a 9 inch skillet over high heat
- Place salmon in skillet, do not allow fillets to touch
- Fry salmon 2 minutes or until bottoms are browned
- Brush kabayaki sauce on salmon
- Flip salmon and brush other side
- Fry for 1-2 minutes until fish flakes easily and is cooked through
- Serve
How to Make Kabayaki Sauce
The first time I made this I burned the kabayaki sauce and had to toss it. The sauce was way too charred because I had left it on high-heat for too long. The next dozen times that I made it I had perfect success. Whatever you do, keep a close eye on the kabayaki sauce. It can be a bit fragile. Also, when frying the fish, be careful and keep children out of the kitchen.
This recipe is based on one from Jaden Hair’s Steamy Kitchen Cookbook
. If you’re looking for other healthy gluten-free dinner recipes check out my first book, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook.
Healthy Low-Carb Dinner Recipes
This Salmon Kabayaki contains a fair amount of sweetener and so is not a low-carb dish. Here are some of my low-carb dinner recipes for you!
Bonfei says
I just made this. Mine salmon were not browned at all. Maybe my pan wasn’t hot enough? The flavor is still good so I am happy. Will try again!
Elana says
Bonfei, thanks for your comment! Next time raise the heat and cook the salmon until browned as indicated in step #6 of the recipe :-)
Debra Schramm says
I prefer to grill my salmon. Do you think the sauce would work with grilling?
Elana says
Debra, thanks for your comment! I haven’t tried so not sure, if you do please let us know how it goes :-)
Corina says
Is there a substitution that you might suggest for the Ume Plum Vinegar. I was unable to find in my grocers store. I did find Sweet Plum vinegar but I’m unsure if that would be equivalent.
Thank you.
Elana says
Corina, thanks for your comment! If you click the green text in the ingredients portion of the recipe you will be taken to a website where you can buy ume plum vinegar :-)
QueenJellyBean says
I use this awesome sauce for fish often. Awesome because its fast, using ingredients on hand for EP fans. Awesome because it’s flavorful. It makes the fish dish have a restaurant quality that “healthy” food often lacks. But isn’t that why we love Elana and her recipes, for that pizzazz? Thanks Elana!
Elana says
QueenJellyBean, I’m so happy to hear that this is awesome!
Kerry Roberts says
I made this sauce and put it with cooked corn spagetti style pasta, chicken, and steamed veggies and it made a wonderful stir fry, a GF version of chicken and broccoli. Thanks for a worderful glaze/sauce.
Elana says
Kerry, you’re welcome! Happy to hear you are enjoying this sauce!