Easy Salmon Bites Made In The Air Fryer
My favorite small appliance comes through for us again with these incredibly tasty and tender little morsels, salmon bites! Within minutes, you can enjoy a delicious dinner that’s got lots of flavor, is good for you and your whole family will enjoy! It’s such a terrific quick and easy way to cook salmon, no fussing around, just cut your salmon, season it and let the air fryer do the rest of the work. I have prepared a yummy, creamy garlic Parmesan sauce here just to turn this salmon into more of a decadent meal, and trust me it’s worth it. The recipe makes enough sauce that you can even drizzle loads of it over your rice or veggies.
Salmon – Opt for skinless salmon fillets which you can easily cut into small 1-inch pieces, however if you buy wild salmon, more often than not it comes with the skin on. Not to worry though, you can either remove the skin from the salmon or simply air fry it with the skin on and you can easily remove it after it’s cooked. Garlic – You’ll need some fresh garlic for the creamy garlic sauce and some garlic powder to season the salmon with. Soy Sauce – Look for a low sodium soy sauce. This ingredient is optional, I prefer using it over salt, because it gives our cooked salmon a nice darker color, however feel free to replace it with salt to taste. Olive Oil – I like a drizzle of olive oil over the salmon, it helps a bit with the pieces not sticking together in the air fryer, especially if you’re trying to fit all the salmon in the basket. Butter – We need a bit of unsalted butter for our creamy sauce to saute the garlic in. Opt for an unsalted butter, since we’re adding Parmesan cheese to this sauce, there’s plenty of sodium there. Heavy Cream – For our creamy sauce. If you’re looking for a healthier alternative, go ahead and use milk and simply thicken it with some cornstarch. I already added a couple teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken the sauce a bit, so you might need a full tablespoon. White Wine – You’re looking for a white dry whine, like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, etc. If you want to keep this alcohol free, simply replace it with a bit of chicken broth or vegetable broth. Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is best, and we just need a bit to add a bit of tang to our sauce. Parsley – Freshly chopped parsley.
How Do I Know When My Salmon Is Cooked Through?
The easiest way to tell when salmon is cooked right, is when you gently press it with your finger it should gently flake. If the salmon is overcooked, it will be dry and tough when you eat it. Using a meat thermometer will also ensure your fillets are cooked properly. The temperature of cooked salmon should be above 110°F but below 145°F.
I Don’t Have An Air Fryer, How Else Can I Cook These Salmon Bites?
Not a problem! Luckily, this salmon can be cooked either in a skillet on your stovetop or on a baking sheet in your oven. Here’s how:
Stovetop
Add a little bit of oil to your skillet, preferably a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned salmon pieces and cook for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes longer or until your desired doneness is reached. You might have to work in batches, if not all the salmon pieces fit in your skillet.
Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the seasoned salmon bites on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until desired doneness is reached.
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title: “Air Fryer Salmon Bites” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-28” author: “Betty Tong”
While you can certainly cook whole salmon filets in the air fryer, cutting them into bite-sized pieces gives you more surface area to season. More seasoning = more flavorful salmon. Plus, salmon cooks faster this way! Add this tasty salmon recipe to salads and bowls for an instant protein boost. It tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant but uses simple pantry spices you probably already have.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make a batch of salmon bites, you’ll need 1 pound of salmon, olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. For the best flavor, I also recommend adding a tablespoon of coconut sugar (or brown sugar). The hint of sweetness makes the savory flavors pop! If you prefer, you could most likely use honey instead of sugar. Make sure you don’t skimp on the salt, as it balances out the sweetness. Once you taste this, you won’t want to make salmon any other way. If you prefer a variation made with lemon juice and fresh garlic cloves, check out my Air Fryer Salmon tutorial.
How to Air Fry Salmon Bites
Prepare the salmon by carefully removing the skin with a sharp knife. If you buy this from a butcher counter, you can ask the butcher to do this for you! (They will even cut it into cubes if you like.) You can also find skinless salmon fillets at certain grocery stores. Slice the skinned salmon into pieces roughly 1 inch thick. Since salmon filets vary in thickness, I recommend cutting the thin areas slightly larger than the thicker areas. This recipe is quite flexible if you end up with slightly more or less than 1 pound of salmon. Transfer the salmon cubes to a large bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. Season them with coconut sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir well so the salmon is evenly seasoned. Arrange the salmon pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket. If necessary, cook them in two batches. Set the air fryer to 400ºF and cook for 5 minutes. The salmon chunks should look opaque and flake easily with a fork. If you prefer to test with an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 145ºF. If the salmon isn’t done, you can return it to the air fryer for 1 to 2 more minutes of cooking. When the fish is flaky and tender, it’s ready to serve immediately with cooked rice and veggies. Don’t be surprised if you eat this straight from the air fryer basket! Leftover salmon bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. They can be reheated in the air fryer for 2 minutes at 400ºF. Looking for more salmon recipes? Try Salmon Curry, Smoked Salmon and Eggs, and my favorite Smoked Salmon Salad with dill dressing. If you try this air fryer salmon bites recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them.
