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Bourbon Teriyaki Salmon

Bourbon Teriyaki Salmon

“Teriyaki is one of the glories of Japanese grilling—seafood or meat glazed to a lacquered sheen and seared over a hot fire. (Indeed teri means “luster” or “shine” and yaki means “grilled.”) The sweet salty glaze positively triumphs on salmon, and Bib & Tucker The Classic Six Bourbon adds a barrel-aged sophistication. The teriyaki glaze goes equally well with shrimp (see variation below).”
—Steven Raichlen
Serves
4
Ingredients Directions

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds salmon steaks or fillets (if using the latter, cut into 4 portions)

FOR THE TERIYAKI MARINADE / GLAZE

  • 1/3 cup Bib & Tucker The Classic Six Bourbon
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup Asian sesame oil, plus oil for the grill grate
  • 1 clove garlic, flattened with the side of a knife, then peeled
  • 2 1/4-inch thick slices of fresh ginger
  • 1 scallion, white part trimmed and flattened, green part thinly sliced

Directions

  1. Arrange the salmon in a baking dish. Combine the bourbon, soy sauce, maple syrup, and sesame oil in a mixing bowl and whisk to mix. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and scallion white. Pour this mixture over the salmon, turning the fish a couple times. Cover. Marinate the fish in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes.
  2. Drain the marinade off the salmon through a strainer into a saucepan. Boil the mixture until thick and syrupy, whisking well, 2 to 3 minutes. Set the glaze aside.
  3. Set up your grill for direct grilling and heat to high. Brush or scrape the grill grate clean and oil it well.
  4. Arrange the fish on the grate and grill until sizzling and browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Use a thin-bladed spatula to turn the fish. Start brushing the fish with the boiled marinade after 1 minute and glaze 2 or 3 more times.
  5. Transfer the salmon to a platter or plates and pour any remaining glaze over it. Sprinkle with scallion greens and serve.

Variation: Shrimp are delectable grilled teriyaki style. Start with 2 pounds peeled, deveined jumbo shrimp. Marinate in the teriyaki mixture for 15 minutes. Grill and glaze as described above. The grilling time will be 1 to 2 minutes per side.