America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Broiled Hot Honey Salmon with Cucumber Salad

By Erica Turner

Published on December 3, 2025

Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Broiled Hot Honey Salmon with Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice 1½ cups plus 1 teaspoon water, divided⅓ cup honey ⅓ cup hot sauce 2 teaspoons table salt, divided1 teaspoon garlic powder ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)½ teaspoon cornstarch 4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, about 1¼ inches thick2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick⅓ cup fresh cilantro leaves, plus extra for serving1 shallot, halved and sliced thin

Before You Begin

For even cooking, use fillets that are of similar thickness. Add the cayenne for a glaze with a bit more kick.

Instructions

  1. Place 1 cup long-grain white rice in fine-mesh strainer set over bowl. Rinse under running water, swishing with your hands, until water runs clear. Drain thoroughly. Bring rice and 1½ cups water to boil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, uncovered, until water level drops below surface of rice and small holes form, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender and water is fully absorbed, about 15 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.
  2. Whisk ⅓ cup honey; ⅓ cup hot sauce; ½ teaspoon table salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne, if using, in bowl until spices are dissolved. Transfer ¼ cup to microwave-safe bowl and set remainder aside for serving. Combine ½ teaspoon cornstarch and remaining 1 teaspoon water in small bowl, then stir into reserved honey mixture. Microwave until thickened, about 1½ minutes, stirring halfway through. Let cool for 5 minutes.
  3. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Dry 4 salmon fillets with paper towels then season with ½ teaspoon salt. Arrange fillets skin side down on prepared sheet, spaced 1 inch apart. Brush tops and sides of fillets with microwaved honey mixture.
  4. Broil until centers are still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and register 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 10 to 12 minutes, brushing salmon with remaining glaze and rotating sheet halfway through broiling.
  5. Whisk 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and remaining ½ teaspoon salt together in bowl. Add 1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick; ⅓ cup cilantro leaves; and 1 shallot, halved and sliced thin, and toss until evenly coated. Spoon rice onto large platter and arrange salmon on top. Garnish with extra cilantro leaves. Serve with cucumber salad and reserved sauce.
Broiled Hot Honey Salmon with Cucumber Salad
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Broiled Hot Honey Salmon with Cucumber Salad

Headshot of Erica Turner
By Erica Turner

Published on December 3, 2025

Save

Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice
1½ cups plus 1 teaspoon water, divided
⅓ cup honey
⅓ cup hot sauce
2 teaspoons table salt, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
½ teaspoon cornstarch
4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, about 1¼ inches thick
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick
⅓ cup fresh cilantro leaves, plus extra for serving
1 shallot, halved and sliced thin

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice
1½ cups plus 1 teaspoon water, divided
⅓ cup honey
⅓ cup hot sauce
2 teaspoons table salt, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
½ teaspoon cornstarch
4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, about 1¼ inches thick
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick
⅓ cup fresh cilantro leaves, plus extra for serving
1 shallot, halved and sliced thin

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice
1½ cups plus 1 teaspoon water, divided
⅓ cup honey
⅓ cup hot sauce
2 teaspoons table salt, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
½ teaspoon cornstarch
4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, about 1¼ inches thick
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick
⅓ cup fresh cilantro leaves, plus extra for serving
1 shallot, halved and sliced thin

Why This Recipe Works

To jazz up salmon, we brushed a simple but impactful glaze onto the fillets and used the same base as a sauce to serve at the table. We whisked together honey and hot sauce with a little garlic powder and cayenne and reserved some for the sauce. We then stirred cornstarch into the remainder for the glaze, heating the mixture in the microwave to thicken it so that it would adhere to the fish. The honey is a reducing sugar that quickly triggered the Maillard reaction as the salmon broiled, resulting in beautiful browning. Fluffy white rice and a fresh, bright cucumber salad completed the meal.

Before You Begin

For even cooking, use fillets that are of similar thickness. Add the cayenne for a glaze with a bit more kick.

Instructions

  1. Place 1 cup long-grain white rice in fine-mesh strainer set over bowl. Rinse under running water, swishing with your hands, until water runs clear. Drain thoroughly. Bring rice and 1½ cups water to boil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, uncovered, until water level drops below surface of rice and small holes form, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender and water is fully absorbed, about 15 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.
  2. Whisk ⅓ cup honey; ⅓ cup hot sauce; ½ teaspoon table salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne, if using, in bowl until spices are dissolved. Transfer ¼ cup to microwave-safe bowl and set remainder aside for serving. Combine ½ teaspoon cornstarch and remaining 1 teaspoon water in small bowl, then stir into reserved honey mixture. Microwave until thickened, about 1½ minutes, stirring halfway through. Let cool for 5 minutes.
  3. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Dry 4 salmon fillets with paper towels then season with ½ teaspoon salt. Arrange fillets skin side down on prepared sheet, spaced 1 inch apart. Brush tops and sides of fillets with microwaved honey mixture.
  4. Broil until centers are still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and register 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 10 to 12 minutes, brushing salmon with remaining glaze and rotating sheet halfway through broiling.
  5. Whisk 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and remaining ½ teaspoon salt together in bowl. Add 1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼ inch thick; ⅓ cup cilantro leaves; and 1 shallot, halved and sliced thin, and toss until evenly coated. Spoon rice onto large platter and arrange salmon on top. Garnish with extra cilantro leaves. Serve with cucumber salad and reserved sauce.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.