Fried Salmon Bites

Name: Fried Salmon Bites Recipe
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs salmon fillet; 1 cup club soda; 3/4 flour; 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1 large egg yolk; ½ teaspoon paprika; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon baking powder; Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil are all great options)

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Fried Salmon Bites are bite size pieces of salmon that are deep fried until they are crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside. We call these salmon nuggets in our house, because they are basically fish nuggets, similar to chicken nuggets.

Fried Salmon Bites in a white plate served with a bowl of soy sauce that is topped with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. A small glass filled with toothpicks also on the plate.

We have a local Chinese restaurant chef that likes to get creative with whatever is fresh that day. Last time we were at the restaurant his special was sweet and sour salmon. I had to try this dish at the restaurant, it was so delicious! I wanted to come home and make my own twist on this easy salmon dish.

Fried Salmon Nuggets

These fried salmon nuggets are so easy to make. I mean it’s face it, most things taste amazing when they’ve been battered and fried. If you like fried fish recipes you are going to enjoy this one.

Ingredients

To make this crispy fried salmon bites recipe all you need is ten basic ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. You might not even need to make a make to the grocery store.

salmon fillet
club soda
flour
cornstarch
egg yolk
paprika
salt
baking soda
baking powder
Oil for frying vegetable, canola, or peanut oil are all great options

See recipe card for quantities that you need for this delicious recipe.

Instructions

Short introduction about this being easy to make, xyz number of steps, don’t be overwhelmed by the steps etc.

Step 1: Prepare your salmon recipe

Prepare your salmon by removing the skin and gently cutting into 1 or 1.5” chunks. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and lightly salt the salmon chunks.

Step 2: Heat your oil

Fill a pot about half full with your frying oil, and heat on medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Line a tray or plate with a few paper towels and set aside.

Step 3: Mix your batter

In a bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, salt, paprika, and baking soda. Wait until your oil has reached 350 degrees, and is ready to go, before you add the egg yolk and club soda to the flour mixture. Mix until combined.

Step 4: Batter your salmon pieces

Working quickly, dip pieces of the salmon into the batter until fully coated, then shake any excess batter off.

Step 5: Fry your fried salmon bites

Carefully drop pieces of the battered salmon into the hot oil, you can fry 3-4 pieces at a time, depending on the size of pot you are using, you don’t want to overcrowd the salmon. Fry for approx 6-8 minutes, flipping the salmon over halfway through. The salmon should have an internal temp of 135-145 degrees.

Step 6: Drain the salmon nuggets and serve.

Remove the salmon from the oil and let rest on the paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, garnish with flake salt or fresh herbs.

Hint: Make sure to allow your oil to reach 350 degrees before frying your salmon bites. You can check your oil temperature with a candy thermometer.

Closeup photo of Fried Salmon Bites in a white plate served with a bowl of soy sauce that is topped with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. A small glass filled with toothpicks also on the plate.

Substitutions

Need to switch things up to fit what you have on hand? Here are a couple substitutions that you can make.

Fish – use any type of fish that your family prefers for fried fish nuggets
Oil – Use any type of oil that is heat tolerant for frying that your family prefers.

Variations

Want to personalize this Fried Salmon Bites recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

Spicy – add red chili pepper flakes to the batter for a spicy chicken
Chicken – use the same batter for chicken breast cut into chunks for homemade nuggets.
Kid friendly – serve with a side of ketchup for dipping.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Easy Salmon Cakes recipe.

Closeup photo of Salmon bite held up by hand, it has been half eaten. A bowl of soy sauce in the background.

Equipment

You only need three simple kitchen tools to help you make this recipe.

Large pan
mixing bowl for batter
Metal slotted spoon or basket

Storage

Store your leftover salmon in the fridge for up to three days.

Closeup photo of a half-eaten salmon bite with a plate of Salmon bites and a bowl of soy sauce in the background.

More Salmon Recipes

Do you like Salmon recipes? Here some recipes you may also like to try

Closeup photo of a salmon bite held by hand over a bowl of soy sauce. A quarter of the salmon bite is covered in soy sauce. More salmon bites and a glass of toothpicks in the background.

FAQ

Do you have questions about Fried Salmon Bites? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about salmon nuggets.

How do I reheat?

The best way to reheat is in the air fryer at 350 for 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through. You could also reheat these fried salmon nuggets in the oven at 350 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes.

Can I freeze these?

No, sadly these salmon nuggets will become soggy when frozen and reheated.

Can I use frozen salmon to make this Salmon Bites recipe?

You can use frozen salmon, but you will need to thaw it first, so that you can cut your salmon cleanly.