Gochujang-Butter Sockeye with Sesame Corn

Wild sockeye gets a glossy gochujang-butter glaze alongside sesame-charred sweet corn and a cool cucumber salad featuring peak August produce.

Ingredients

  • Fresh Sockeye Salmon Fillet Wild Caught (sustainably sourced)
    12 oz, cut into 2 portions $15.99
  • Fresh Sweet Corn on the Cob-Each
    2 ears $0.75
  • Cucumber
    1 cucumber $0.89
  • Green Onions
    2 green onions $1.19
  • Gochujang
    1 1/2 tablespoons
  • Low-sodium soy sauce
    1 tablespoon
  • Honey
    1 tablespoon
  • Rice vinegar
    2 tablespoons
  • Unsalted butter
    2 tablespoons
  • Toasted sesame oil
    2 teaspoons
  • Neutral cooking oil
    1 teaspoon
  • Toasted sesame seeds
    1 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt
    1/2 teaspoon
  • Ground black pepper
    1/4 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high, about 425°F, creating a cooler zone on one side; clean and oil the grates.
  2. Whisk 1 1/2 tablespoons gochujang, 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, and 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter in a small bowl to make about 5 1/2 tablespoons glaze.
  3. Thinly slice 1 cucumber and 1 green onion, then toss them with 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt; refrigerate the salad while grilling.
  4. Shuck 2 ears corn and grill them for 10–12 minutes, turning every 2–3 minutes, until tender and charred in spots. Toss the hot corn with 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 1 thinly sliced green onion, 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt; keep warm.
  5. Pat 12 ounces sockeye salmon dry, then coat it with 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Grill skin-side down, if present, for 3–4 minutes; turn, brush with 2 tablespoons glaze, and cook over the cooler zone for 2–4 minutes. Brush with another 2 tablespoons glaze and remove when the center reaches 145°F; rest for 3 minutes.
  6. Arrange 6 ounces grilled fish, 1 ear dressed corn, and half the chilled salad on each of 2 plates; drizzle each fish portion with 3/4 tablespoon glaze and serve.

Total time: 40 minutes

Estimated cost: $16–$20 for 2 servings

Health notes: About 630 calories per serving, with roughly 40 grams protein, 39 grams carbohydrates, and 34 grams fat.

Drink pairing: An off-dry Riesling cools the gochujang heat while matching the glaze’s gentle sweetness.