Brown Butter Gochujang Salmon

Elle Morgan | June 28, 2025

If you’re searching for an easy, low-fuss dinner recipe with high flavor payoff, look no further. With sweet and savory heat from gochujang and a nutty, crispy sear from browned butter, this recipe packs an addicting punch. Best of all, the omega-3s and proteins from the salmon help you enjoy a hearty and satisfying meal without sacrificing your nutrition goals.

This recipe pairs great with sides like a salad such as the trending Din Tai Fung cucumber salad, a fresh, easy homemade spring roll, or time honored Korean classics like pickled daikon radish and kimchi.

Brown Butter Gochujang Salmon

Ingredients

• 2 salmon fillets
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp gochujang
• ½ tbsp soy sauce
• Juice of 1 lime
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
• ¼ cup butter

Directions

Step 1: Preheat your Oven

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Prepare Gochujang Glaze

• In a small bowl, combine gochujang, soy sauce, lime juice, 2 cloves of garlic, and honey/maple syrup.
  Set aside.

Step 3: Prepare Salmon

• Pat salmon fillets dry.
• Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
• Place in a baking dish or parchment lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake Salmon

• To ensure your salmon is cooked all the way through, bake it for 23 minutes. It should be cooked through, but still moist.

Step 5: Brown butter

• After your salmon is out of the oven, melt the butter in a skillet. Cook until fragrant and golden brown, usually 2-4 minutes. Once it is browned, add in 1 clove of minced garlic and stir.

Step 6: Pan-sear salmon

• Gently transfer the cooked salmon fillets into the skillet skin side down. Sear for 1-3 minutes on each side until it crisp.

Step 7: Glaze

• Pour the gochujang glaze over the salmon, carefully rotating it to coat the fish evenly. Cook for about an additional 1 minute per side.
• Tip- If the sauce is too thick, thin it with water.

Step 8: Serve

• Serve with an additional drizzle of the pan sauce.
• Garnish ideas- Furikake (sesame seeds, nori seaweed, and salt), scallions, sesame seeds.

Enjoy!

Questions & Answers

Do I need to cook it in the oven first?

• Yes, this recipe requires a minimal amount of time in a pan, meaning that the pan time alone could not realistically cook the salmon all the way through. Pre-cooking it in the oven ensures that you can enjoy the recipe without the threat of a foodborne illness.

What does gochujang taste like?

• The taste of gochujang is difficult to describe to someone who has never tried it. It is a bold, earthy, and complex flavor that comes from combining gochugaru (red pepper powder) with ingredients like glutinous rice and fermented soybeans. Stretching back to the 16th century, gochujang is a staple in Korean cuisine, with regions like Sunchang considered renowned for their production of the paste.

Is this an authentic Korean recipe?

• Not according to my research, but it uses real Korean flavors to create a unique fusion dish.

Why should I cook the salmon skin side down?

• Pan-searing the salmon skin side first releases the salmon’s natural oils into the skillet, ensuring the crispiest dish possible. The concept is similar to the methodology behind cooking chicken—the skin should be as crispy as possible to complement the tender meat.

If I don’t like the salmon skin, how can I remove it?

• The easiest way that I’ve found to remove the skin from my salmon is to pour a kettle of boiling water over the skin while the salmon is on a wire rack either in the sink or on top of a dish to catch the water. The skin should shrivel up and be easy to peel directly off of the fish. If you do not have access to these materials, a knife works as well.

Final Thoughts

This salmon combines the sensations of spicy, sweet, savory, and umami for a unique and flavorful recipe that is sure to become a crowd favorite. By cooking the salmon in the oven before finishing it in the skillet, you ensure that it stays tender while being fully cooked. The external sear in the rich, garlicky, earthy browned butter provides a crisp and tasty crust that enhances the texture of the dish. The final addition of the gochujang marinade adds a spicy, sweet, and zesty Korean-inspired twist, tying the dish together with the sticky texture of the sauce. Amazing as a protein-packed standalone or paired with just about any side, this salmon is perfect for a range of dinners—whether you’re throwing something together last minute or impressing houseguests. Try this fun and easy recipe for a delicious meal you’ll want to make again and again!