Teriyaki salmon with pickled vegetables

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (60ml) gluten-free tamari (see note) (naturally brewed soy sauce)
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp mirin (sweet japanese rice wine)
• 1 tbsp sake or shaohsing (chinese rice wine)
• 4 skinless salmon fillets
• steamed rice, to serve
• 1 tsp black (see note) or white sesame seeds
• 1 lebanese cucumber, halved, seeds removed, very thinly sliced
• 100ml rice vinegar
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• 1 small carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
• 1/2 daikon radish, cut into matchsticks
• 2 tbsp japanese pickled ginger (see note), shredded

Method

1. Combine the tamari, sugar, mirin and sake in a small bowl, stirring to dissolve sugar. Place fish in a shallow dish, pour over the tamari mixture, then marinate in the fridge for up to 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile for the pickled vegetables, place the cucumber in a sieve set over the sink. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, then stand for 10 minutes. Rinse well, then pat dry with paper towel. Simmer the vinegar and sugar in a pan over low heat for 5 minutes. Cool slightly, then toss with cucumber, carrot, daikon and ginger. Chill while you cook salmon.
3. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a tray with baking paper. Place salmon on the tray, pour over the marinade and bake for 8-10 minutes until just cooked. Serve the salmon with rice and pickled vegetables, sprinkled with sesame seeds.