Hey, y'all! I'm excited to share the recipe for my Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon today!
Post originally published December 2019, updated July 2021.
Jump to RecipeBourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon: Sunkist Delite®
Cooking With Citrus
I have shared my cooking philosophy many times - and will continue to do so. The secret ingredient to a vast majority of my recipes? Citrus.
Citrus not only compliments many flavor profiles -- it elevates them. The differentiating factor between a good dish and a great dish is often the addition of citrus, in my opinion. Apart from that, cooking with citrus has many health benefits. Mandarins, for example, are an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of fiber.
My favorite mandarin? Hands down: Sunkist Delite® Mandarins.


Enjoy my recipe for Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon? Check out my other recipes here!
Sunkist Delite® Mandarins are perfect for both snacking + crafting delicious meals. Freshly-picked in California, I find them to be consistently sweet and incredibly versatile. They are easy-to-peel and chock-full of juice, which is exactly what I look for when cooking with citrus (or eating, for that matter)!
About Sunkist
Sunkist is a citrus cooperative that has been supporting California growers for over 125 years - since 1893, to be exact. To me, that means that they are a family of farmers that respect and depend on one another, uniting to share that special California-sunshine and high-quality citrus throughout the world. Sunkist believes in the importance of the individual farmer, which is something that I very much relate to, as I have deep roots in the farming industry here in my neck of the woods in Kentucky.
Apart from that, Sunkist is a sustainable brand that recognizes the vitality of Earth-friendly practices for the future of agriculture.

When choosing ingredients that go into my recipes, apart from flavor, these are aspects that I think deeply about. It is with surety that I say that one can - and should! - feel confident in purchasing Sunkist Delite® Mandarins. It's a high-quality product + a top-tier company.
Healthier Meal Options
This time of year is chock-full of outings, potlucks, and events; at the same time, with all of the hustle and bustle, I try my best to also ensure that I am cooking nutritious meals at home for both myself and my loved ones. In trying to find that balance, I started experimenting with salmon. I wanted something light, fresh, and dynamic -- a dish that pays homage both to my Kentucky heritage and boasts the rich flavor profile that I strive for in each of my recipes. At the end of a long day in the kitchen, my Kentucky Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon with Sunkist Delite® was born.

Enjoy my recipe for Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon? Check out my other recipes here!

FAQ
I chose to prepare 6 pieces of salmon for this recipe, but the amount of marinade that I created could easily accommodate more pieces. Salmon is a great family and crowd-friendly dish, along with being fantastic for personal meal prep.
I really enjoy purchasing salmon from local seafood shops, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods Market.


To make this recipe a little more special for the season of entertaining, I topped each piece of salmon with a homemade Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Marmalade. While optional, it really does make the dish exquisite!

Enjoy my recipe for Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon? Check out my other recipes here!


Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
Salmon
- 6 Pieces Fresh Salmon with skin
- ¾ c. Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice
- ¾ c. Kentucky Bourbon
- ½ c. Brown Sugar
- ½ c. Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 Shallot chopped
- 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp. Ground Ginger
Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Marmalade Topping (optional)
- 13-15 Sunkist Delite® Mandarins peeled and separated into pieces
- 1 c. Brown Sugar
- ¼ c. Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice
- 2 tbsp. Butter
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
Instructions
Salmon
- Combine Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice, Kentucky Bourbon, Brown Sugar, Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce, Chopped Shallot, Garlic Powder, and Ground Ginger. Mix well. Pour into a long, shallow dish.
- Place salmon in the mixture and allow to marinate, covered and refrigerated, for 30 minutes. Flip the salmon one time after 15 minutes for best results.
- Remove from the marinade and grill/cook until the internal temperature reaches 145F. Throughout the cooking process, continuously baste the salmon with the marinade for optimal flavor.
- Top with homemade Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Marmalade + fresh Sunkist Delite® Mandarin zest.
- Enjoy!
Caramelized Sunkist Mandarin Marmalade Topping (optional)
- Peel 13-15 Sunkist Delite® Mandarins and separate each section.
- Over medium heat, add butter to your skillet, allowing it to coat the entire cooking service.
- After butter is melted, add the Sunkist Delite® Mandarins and allow them to soften and cook for around 10-15 minutes.
- Add Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice, Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon. Mix well & cook for an additional 15 minutes (or until the topping has reached your desired consistency).
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Where To Purchase
Sunkist Delite® Mandarins are readily available at your local grocery stores; as for me (and for my readers that are similarly located) I found them at my local Kroger!


The holidays are about spending time with those that you love most -- and this recipe, elevated by the flavor of Sunkist Delite® Mandarins, will be the talk of the season.
Enjoy my recipe for Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon? Check out my other recipes here!


Y’all come back now, ya hear?
My best,
JC
Keep Up With JCP Eats
Thank you so much for visiting the blog today! I’d love to keep in touch via social media. You can follow my content on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Tik Tok, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I also author a sister website to JCP Eats, Unabashedly Southern, on which I write about southern lifestyle. Read Unabashedly Southern here.
Enjoy my recipe for Bourbon and Mandarin-Glazed Salmon? Check out my other recipes here!
FTC: This post was kindly sponsored by Sunkist Delite® Mandarins; all opinions expressed, as always, are my own.
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