Honey sriracha salmon bites
Honey Sriracha Salmon Bites are a perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors. With just 20 minutes of active hands-on time, these bites have a little crisp on the outside and are buttery juicy on the inside, all thanks to the tasty honey sriracha sauce. They’re easy to make and full of flavor!
This dish is versatile and quick, whether you use an air fryer or oven. If you’re looking for a fast, delicious dinner with a sweet-spicy kick, this recipe is sure to hit the spot!
Ingredients and sauce
Here’s everything you need to make these tasty Honey Sriracha Salmon Bites. Each ingredient adds a special flavor or texture to make the dish delicious and fun to eat!
- Atlantic salmon filet: Use a center-cut, thick-cut piece for the best texture and flavor.
- Substitute: You can leave the skin on for extra crispy skin if you prefer.
- Coarse sea salt:
- Garlic powder: Adds a warm, savory taste that complements the salmon and the spicy sauce.
- Smoked paprika (or sweet paprika): Introduces a hint of smokiness or sweetness, balancing the heat from the sriracha.
- Ground black pepper: Provides a subtle heat and depth to the seasoning.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness that balances the heat from the sriracha, creating a perfect sweet-spicy combo.
- Olive oil: Helps coat the salmon for even cooking and adds a slight fruity richness.
- Avocado or olive oil spray: Prevents the salmon from sticking to the air fryer basket or baking sheet.
Honey Sriracha Sauce:
- Sriracha: Brings bold, spicy heat to the sauce, making the dish exciting and flavorful.
- Honey: Sweetens the sauce, balancing the spiciness of the sriracha and creating a sticky glaze.
- Rice vinegar: Adds tanginess, which cuts through the richness of the salmon and balances the sauce.
- Soy sauce: Contributes umami depth and a touch of saltiness to enhance the overall flavor.
- Garlic powder: Provides an extra layer of savory flavor, enhancing the taste profile of the sauce.
- Aged balsamic vinegar: Offers a touch of sweetness and complexity, rounding out the flavors.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the sauce and ensures a balanced taste.
- Neutral-flavored oil (e.g., avocado oil): Helps emulsify the sauce, giving it a smooth, creamy texture.
Garnish:
- Toasted white sesame seeds and optional Microgreens.
How to make honey sriracha salmon
Cooking these hot honey glazed salmon is super simple and easy! You can use either an air fryer or an oven to get that perfect little crisp on the outside while keeping the salmon juicy on the inside.
- Remove the salmon skin: Place the salmon skin side up and use a sharp knife to carefully remove the skin. You can also ask the fishmonger to do this for you.
- Dice the salmon: Cut the salmon into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl.
- Season the salmon: Add salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, honey, and olive oil. Gently toss to coat the salmon evenly.
- Air fryer method: Spray the basket with oil. Add salmon chunks with space between them. Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 8 minutes. Let sit for 10 seconds before removing to help unstick.
- Oven bake method: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place salmon chunks with space between them. Bake at 400°F on the top rack for 10-12 minutes.
- Make the honey sriracha sauce: In a measuring cup, mix sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, balsamic vinegar, and salt. Slowly whisk in oil until smooth. Adjust taste as needed.
- Serve: Transfer salmon to a plate, drizzle with honey sriracha sauce, and garnish with sesame seeds and microgreens. Serve hot or warm with extra sauce on the side.
More ways to use the sriracha honey sauce
- Salmon Marinade: Use the sauce as a quick sweet and spicy marinade. Slice the salmon and marinate with half the sauce for a few hours or up to 1 day in the fridge.
- Honey Sriracha Chicken: Drizzle over cooked chicken or use as a glaze while grilling.
- Honey Sriracha Wings: Toss wings in the sauce before baking or air frying for a tangy, spicy flavor.
- Honey Sriracha Shrimp: Coat shrimp in the sauce and sauté or grill for a quick and tasty dish.
- Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts: Mix with Brussels sprouts during roasting for a spicy-sweet twist.
Make it into a salmon bowl
Create a delicious Honey Sriracha Salmon Bowl by using the salmon bites and building it into a bowl with these options:
- Rice base: You can choose from How to cook rice in a rice cooker, Air fryer rice, or Rice cooker sticky rice for a hearty foundation.
- Veggie Sides: Add some veggie sides for freshness and crunch, like Korean zucchini side dish, Asian cucumber salad, or Asian pickled cucumbers
- Crispy toppings: Include Tofu puffs, Rice paper chive dumplings, or Rice paper egg rolls. These combinations will give you a satisfying bowl that’s bursting with flavor and texture!
ChihYu’s expert tips
- Remove the Skin Carefully: If you’re removing the salmon skin, use a sharp boning knife and slice slowly to avoid losing too much meat. If you prefer, you can leave the skin on for a crispy texture.
- Use Center-Cut Salmon Filets: Thicker cuts of salmon, like center-cut pieces, help keep the salmon bites juicier and less likely to dry out.
- Choose the Right Type of Salmon: While wild-caught salmon is a great choice for its flavor and health benefits, Atlantic salmon (farm-raised) is meatier and fattier, making it ideal for juicy, tender salmon bites.
- Dice Evenly: Cut the salmon into 1-inch (2.54cm) cubes to ensure even cooking. This helps all the pieces cook at the same rate, keeping the salmon juicy.
- Space Out in the Air Fryer or Oven: Give each salmon chunk some space when placing them in the air fryer or on the baking sheet. This allows hot air to circulate around each piece, creating a nice, even crisp.
- Let the Salmon Rest After Cooking: After air frying, let the salmon sit in the air fryer basket for about 10 seconds. This helps the meat shrink slightly and prevents it from sticking, making it easier to remove.
More easy salmon recipes you might like
If you loved this sriracha honey salmon, you’ll definitely want to try these other easy and delicious salmon recipes. Each one is packed with flavor and perfect for a quick meal!
- Bang Bang Salmon Bites: These crispy salmon bites are tossed in a homemade bang bang sauce that’s sweet, spicy, and absolutely addictive.
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites: Bite-sized pieces of salmon cooked to perfection in the air fryer, served with a creamy caper chive sauce for an elegant touch.
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon: This air fryer recipe features salmon fillets marinated in a delicious keto teriyaki sauce, perfect for a quick and flavorful dinner.
- Air Fryer Frozen Salmon: No prep time needed! Cook salmon straight from the freezer in your air fryer for a convenient and healthy meal in minutes.
Honey sriracha salmon bites
Video
Ingredients
For the salmon:
- 1 lb center-cut (thick-cut) Atlantic salmon filet, skin-removed
- 0.5 tsp coarse sea salt
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika, or sweet paprika
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Avocado or olive oil spray, for the air fryer basket
Honey sriracha sauce: (makes ½ cup)
- ¼ cup sriracha sauce
- 2 tbsp honey, or more for sweeter sauce
- 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp aged balsamic vinegar
- A small pinch coarse sea salt
- 1 tbsp avocado oil, or neutral flavored oil
Garnish:
- Sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds
- Small handful Microgreens, such as micro arugula, optional
Instructions
Salmon prep:
- Place the salmon skin side up facing you. Use a sharp boning knife to carefully remove the salmon skin. You can also ask a fishmonger to do this.
- Dice the filet into 1-inch (2.54cm) cubes and add them to a large bowl.
- Season the salmon chunks with salt, garlic power, paprika, black pepper, honey, and olive oil. Gently toss them well to coat the salmon evenly. I wear a cooking glove to do this.
To air fry:
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil, add the salmon chunks with some space between them. You might need to cook them in 2 batches. Air fryer at 350°F (177°C) for 8 minutes.
- When done, open the basket and wait for 10 seconds before removing the salmon. The cold air will make the meat shrink a bit and therefore helps it “unstick” from the basket. Carefully and gently transfer the cubes to a serving plate so they won’t fall apart.
To bake:
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and add the salmon chunks with a little space between them. Bake at 400°F, top rack, for 10-12 minutes.
Honey sriracha sauce:
- Mix sauce: In the meantime, in a measuring cup, add sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, aged balsamic, and salt. Stir well.
- Emulsify: Slowly pour in the oil while whisking constantly until the sauce is smooth.
- Adjust taste: Add more honey for sweetness, more sriracha for heat, or more vinegar for tanginess.
Combine, Garnish, Serve:
- Transfer the salmon to a serving plate. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of honey sriracha sauce.
- Garnish with white sesame seeds and a sprinkle of microgreens, if using. Serve with extra sauce on the side. Serve hot or warm.
Notes
- Salmon skin-on or off? I prefer to remove the skin when making salmon bites, but you can leave it on if you want extra crispy skin.
- Salmon storage: Store cooked salmon in an airtight container in the fridge. Best used within 2-3 days.
- Reheat: To reheat salmon chunks, air fry at 360°F (182°C) for 6 minutes or use the oven broiler on low for 3-4 minutes.
- Honey Sriracha Sauce storage: Store the sauce in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 month. Shake well before using.
Made a dish and loved it? Please remember to rate the recipe and leave a comment in the section below! It helps my blog grow organically, allowing me to continue sharing free and awesome content with you. Thank you!