Mince the ginger and garlic cloves finely, then combine them in a bowl with the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, and cornstarch. Whisk until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is smooth—this creates your teriyaki glaze base. I like to taste the glaze at this point to adjust seasoning if needed; a balance of salty, sweet, and tangy is what you're after. Set aside.

Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels—this is crucial for getting crispy skin in the air fryer. Place the salmon skin-side up in a shallow dish or bowl, then pour half of the teriyaki glaze (about 1/4 cup) over them. Use a spoon or brush to coat each fillet evenly with the marinade, making sure to rub it into the flesh. Let marinate for 10-15 minutes while you preheat the air fryer.

While the salmon marinates, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Simultaneously, pour the remaining half of the teriyaki glaze into a small saucepan and place it over medium heat on the stove. Let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a glossy glaze (about 5-7 minutes). The cornstarch will help it coat the salmon beautifully. Remove from heat and set aside.

Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking and help protect the delicate skin. Place the marinated salmon fillets skin-side up on the parchment, leaving space between each fillet for air circulation. Air fry at 400°F for 6-7 minutes until the skin is crispy and beginning to char slightly.

Carefully flip the salmon fillets skin-side down using a spatula or tongs. Brush each fillet generously with the reduced glaze from Step 3, coating the flesh side evenly. Return to the air fryer and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140°F-145°F. I find that the flesh should be just starting to flake when you press it gently—this ensures it's cooked through but still moist.

Transfer the salmon fillets to serving plates, arranging them skin-side up to show off the crispy skin. Drizzle any extra glaze from the air fryer basket over the top, then garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for color and freshness.