I love salmon, and these Crispy Salmon Bites might be my new favorite way to prepare it. They are savory and flavorful, and remain juicy and flaky on the inside, with crispness on the outside. You can serve these delicious bits of heaven as a protein for a meal or an appetizer. You can't go wrong!
Crispy Salmon Bites Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dinner
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 6 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 4
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Crispy, savory salmon with soy, garlic, and ginger.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Jasmine rice, spicy mayo, and green beans.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Best fresh; leftovers keep 1-2 days in the fridge.
Summarize and Save This Content On
This is an easy weeknight recipe that also tastes great and is good for you. You may serve it with a variety of side dishes to suit your preference and turn it into a complete meal. The soy and sesame flavors are prominent and also help to tenderize the salmon bites, so the inside remains juicy while the outside is crispy.
If you love salmon bites, you should try these air fryer salmon bites and these batter-fried salmon bites. Air fryer salmon bites are roasted with a simple seasoning blend, while the fried bites are battered and deep-fried.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's very high protein and low carb: If you want a high protein snack or appetizer, these crispy salmon bites are perfect. They're low-carb, too.
- It's versatile: You can serve these salmon bites however you like! In a rice bowl, tacos, on a salad, or with your favorite side. That's only naming a few; there are endless possibilities!
- It's ideal for weekly meal prep: They reheat well, too, making them perfect for meal prep throughout the week. Enjoy them however you want as a nutritious lunch.
Ingredients
The most important elements of this recipe for salmon bites are listed below, including the key ingredients of the Asian-style marinade.
- Salmon: You'll need a 1 lb salmon filet for this recipe. It must be fully thawed if frozen and patted dry before you put it into the marinade. The excess moisture prevents the flavor from penetrating the fish properly.
- Cornstarch: This is key to getting a crust on the salmon. As you pan-fry the salmon bites, the cornstarch gets crispy without a breading. I like to use some cornstarch in the breading for this Costco orange chicken to keep the coating light and crunchy.
- Soy sauce: This adds savory flavor and umami to the salmon. It's great as the base for the salmon bites marinade.
- Rice vinegar: I like this for acidity and sweetness. It pairs well with the soy sauce.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Honey garlic: Add a tablespoon of honey and a couple of cloves of minced garlic for a sticky honey garlic version.
- Spicy sriracha: Include a tablespoon of sriracha in the marinade for some heat.
- Gluten-free: Swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
How to Make Salmon Bites
Ensure that your salmon is cut into 1-inch cubes and patted dry so there isn't excess moisture.
Step 1: Coat in cornstarch. Sprinkle the cornstarch into the bowl, then gently toss the salmon again to coat it fully.
Step 2: Marinate the salmon. Combine the marinade ingredients and toss the salmon pieces into the marinade, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Sear the salmon bites. Heat your skillet with avocado oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add the salmon. Allow the first side to sear for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Step 4: Flip and serve. Flip the salmon bites and cook the other side for another 2 minutes. Remove from the pan once they're crispy and enjoy them with some garlic mayo sauce.
Expert Tips
- Check for doneness: For the most reliable results, use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. The salmon bites are perfectly cooked when they reach 125-130°F in the center. If you don't have one, look for visual cues instead. The outside should be golden and crisp, and the center should turn opaque and flake easily with a fork while still looking slightly glossy (not dry or chalky).
- Remove the skin before cooking: You'll need to remove the skin from your salmon to get the best possible result. This makes it easier to slice the filet and ensures that the pieces cook evenly.
- Allow the pan to get hot: Give your skillet plenty of time to get nice and hot, which includes after you add the oil. This will prevent your salmon bites from sticking to the pan as they cook.
- Avoid microwaving leftovers: These crispy salmon bites don't reheat well in the microwave. Instead, use a skillet over medium heat with a little oil for a couple of minutes per side, or an air fryer set to 375F for 3-5 minutes.
- Storing: Store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.
These air-fried chicken tenders are also crispy like the salmon bites without breading.
Serving Suggestions
- Some of my favorite veggies to enjoy with this easy salmon bites recipe are sweet green beans and bang bang cauliflower over a simple bowl of jasmine rice,
- Keep it simple and serve the salmon bites with a side of baked sweet potato fries.
- Turn the leftovers into delicious tacos topped with jalapeno coleslaw and avocado hot sauce.
Crispy Salmon Bites Recipe FAQs
The top two reasons are that the pan or oil isn't hot enough or the pan is too crowded. Allow the pan time to get nice and hot before you add the oil so the salmon bites sizzle when they hit the pan. This ensures they will be crispy and not soggy. Also, make sure there's some room between the pieces to allow the heat to circulate. If the salmon is too close together, they will steam instead of browning. If using a smaller skillet, you may need to cook the salmon bites in batches.
Salmon bites dry out when they're overcooked, even by a minute or two. Because they're cut into small pieces, they cook very quickly, so it's easy to go from perfectly flaky to dry and rubbery. To prevent drying out, cook them over medium-high heat just until the outside is golden and crisp, then remove them promptly. Avoid constantly flipping. Instead, let them sear undisturbed so they cook quickly and evenly without losing moisture.
Sure! Air fry them at 400° F for 6-8 minutes, shaking them halfway. I recommend spraying the top of the salmon bites with cooking spray to help them brown. For the oven, bake them at 425° F for 8-12 minutes. Spray them with oil or cooking spray before you bake them, too.
If you're not using a thermometer, look for visual cues. The salmon should turn from bright, translucent pink to an opaque, light pink color, and it should flake easily with a fork. The outside will be golden and crisp, while the center should still look slightly glossy.
More Easy Salmon Recipes for Dinner
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Crispy Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound skinless salmon fillet cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or other high smoke-point oil
Serving suggestions:
- Salt and Pepper to taste sprinkle on salmon bites as soon as they come out of the pan Cooked jasmine rice
- Spicy mayo mix mayo + sriracha + dash of lime juice
- Steamed or sautéed green beans
- Sesame seeds sliced scallions, lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss salmon with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and ground ginger. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to marinate.
- Sprinkle cornstarch over the salmon and toss to coat evenly.
- Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add salmon cubes in a single layer (cook in batches if needed).
- Sear undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes until cooked through. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm over rice with green beans, spicy mayo, and garnishes if desired.
Notes
- Allow the pan to get hot and avoid overcrowding. This ensures that every salmon bite gets nice and crispy instead of soggy.
- Feel free to cook these crispy salmon bites in the air fryer or oven instead of a skillet. They'll take 6-8 minutes in a 400°F air fryer or 8-12 minutes in a 425°F oven.
- Don't microwave the leftovers to prevent them from becoming dry and rubbery. Use the air fryer or a skillet instead.
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