Air Fryer Salmon Bites: Quick, Crispy, Delicious

Air fryers are a convenient and mess-free way to cook salmon bites, which are a versatile dish that can be served as an appetiser or main course. Salmon is a nutritious food packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, and air frying it is a quick and easy way to cook it without the need for oil or fat. The bites can be seasoned or marinated in a variety of ways, and served with a range of sauces and sides.

Salmon preparation

The first step in making salmon bites in the air fryer is preparing the salmon. Start by cutting the salmon fillet into bite-sized pieces or cubes, preferably in equal sizes, to ensure even cooking. You can use skinless salmon or remove the skin yourself. If you're using frozen salmon, make sure to thaw it first by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or placing it in a sealed bag and submerging it in cold water for 30 minutes.

Once you have your salmon cubes, it's time to season them. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, oregano, or a combination of these spices. You can also add olive oil or avocado oil to the salmon to help with the cooking process and enhance the flavour. Toss the salmon pieces with the seasonings and oil until they are well coated.

After seasoning, it's a good idea to let the salmon marinate for a bit. You can set it aside while you prepare the other ingredients or make a sauce to go with the salmon bites. This allows the flavours to really absorb into the salmon.

Some recipes also suggest patting the salmon bites dry with paper towels before seasoning. This step can help ensure that the salmon gets nice and crispy in the air fryer.

Air fryer settings

Air fryers are a great way to cook salmon bites, yielding tender, flaky, and crispy results without the mess and long cooking times of pan-frying or baking. Here are the steps to follow for the best results:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes. This temperature setting is ideal for cooking salmon bites and achieving the desired crispiness and doneness.
• Prepare the salmon bites by cutting the salmon fillet into uniform, bite-sized pieces, roughly 1-inch cubes. This ensures even cooking and prevents overcrowding in the air fryer basket.
• Season the salmon bites with your choice of spices, oils, and sauces. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, lemon pepper seasoning, or a combination of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey. You can also coat the salmon bites in a lemon garlic butter sauce or a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce for extra flavour.
• Place the salmon bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. This allows for even air circulation and promotes even cooking and crisping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the salmon bites in batches.
• Cook the salmon bites at 400°F (200°C) for 5 to 8 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and cooking. For the best results, cook the salmon bites until they are fully cooked and browned, with an internal temperature of 125°F to 145°F.
• For frozen salmon bites, preheat the air fryer to 375°F and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until warmed through.
• To reheat leftover salmon bites, place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for about 3 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Sauce preparation

The sauce is a key component of air fryer salmon bites, adding flavour and moisture to the dish. Here is a detailed guide on preparing the sauce:

Ingredients

• Fresh garlic
• Lemon juice
• Butter or ghee (for a Whole30 recipe)
• Olive oil
• Soy sauce or coconut aminos
• Honey
• Cornstarch
• White wine or chicken broth
• Lemon juice
• Parsley
• Mayonnaise
• Rice vinegar
• Hot sauce, Sriracha, or Thai sweet chilli sauce
• Grated garlic
• Coconut aminos or soy sauce
• Ketchup
• Scallions or chives
• Toasted sesame seeds or furikake

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine melted butter, fresh lemon juice, and garlic. Toss the mixture with the salmon cubes until they are well coated.
• For a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add white wine or chicken broth and cook for another minute until the wine has reduced.
• Reduce the heat to low-medium and add cream to the saucepan. Bring it to a simmer while stirring occasionally.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese and simmer until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened.
• Add lemon juice and parsley, then season with salt and pepper as needed.
• For a sweet and savoury sauce, whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch with water to form a slurry.
• For a bang bang sauce, combine mayonnaise, rice vinegar, hot sauce, grated garlic, coconut aminos, ketchup, scallions, and sesame seeds in a bowl.

Cooking method

Step 1: Prepare the Salmon

• Cut the salmon fillet into 1-inch cubes.
• Place the salmon cubes in a large bowl.
• Drizzle olive oil over the salmon cubes.
• Combine your choice of spices and rub the mixture generously over the salmon until thoroughly coated. You can use a combination of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and/or thyme.

Step 2: Air Fry the Salmon

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Place the salmon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not overcrowded to allow even cooking.
• Cook the salmon for 5 to 8 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
• The salmon is done when it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. You can also use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should be above 110°F but below 145°F for moist and tender salmon.

Step 3: Make a Sauce (Optional)

• While the salmon is cooking, you can make a sauce to drizzle over the salmon bites. Try a creamy garlic sauce, a tangy bang bang sauce, or a lemon garlic butter sauce.
• To make a creamy garlic sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Then, add white wine or chicken broth and cook until reduced. Reduce the heat and add cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and parsley. Stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens.
• For a bang bang sauce, combine mayonnaise, rice vinegar, hot sauce, garlic, coconut aminos or soy sauce, ketchup, and scallions.
• To make a lemon garlic butter sauce, simply melt butter and combine it with fresh lemon juice and garlic.

Step 4: Plate and Serve

• Drizzle the sauce over the salmon bites.
• Serve the salmon bites with your choice of sides, such as rice, roasted vegetables, or a salad.
• Enjoy your delicious and healthy salmon bites!

Serving suggestions

There are endless ways to serve salmon bites. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• On a bed of rice: Add some diced avocado, a jammy boiled egg, a drizzle of sesame oil and soy or teriyaki sauce, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and green onion.
• In a salad: Start with a bowl of fresh salad greens, add any fresh-cut items such as cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, and avocados, and top with the salmon bites.
• With roasted veggies: Whip up a mix of cauliflower rice and broccoli rice, or try any combination of white rice or sautéed spinach.
• In a rice bowl: For an Asian flair, serve the salmon bites in a rice bowl with avocado, a boiled egg, and a drizzle of sesame oil and soy sauce.
• In a salmon rice bowl: Try a bed of rice with salmon and veggies.
• In a salmon Caesar salad: Add salmon bites to a Caesar salad.
• In salmon tacos: Add salmon bites to tortilla shells and top with a slaw.
• As an appetizer: Serve the salmon bites with a toothpick and a dipping sauce like tartar sauce or sriracha mayo.
• With a side of veggies: Pair the salmon bites with your favourite steamed or sautéed veggies, such as spinach or broccoli.
• In a poke bowl: Top a poke bowl with salmon bites.
• On zucchini noodles: Flake the salmon bites and add them to zucchini noodles.
• With a creamy garlic sauce: While the salmon is cooking, prepare a creamy garlic sauce by melting butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, then add white wine (or chicken broth) and cook for another minute. Reduce the heat to low-medium, add cream to the saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Stir in Parmesan cheese and simmer until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens. Add lemon juice and parsley and stir.
• With a bang bang sauce: Combine mayonnaise, rice vinegar, hot sauce, garlic, soy sauce or coconut aminos, and ketchup in a bowl and stir well.
• With lemon wedges and parsley: Serve the salmon bites with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
• With a side of broccoli and potatoes

Salmon bites are incredibly versatile and can be served as an appetizer, snack, salad topping, or main course. They can also be used to top bowls, salads, or poke bowls, or served with rice and vegetables for a balanced meal.

Frequently asked questions