Crispy Teriyaki Salmon Nuggets are the perfect blend of sweet and savory, offering tender, bite-sized pieces of salmon with a crispy edge, all glazed in a delicious teriyaki sauce. Ready in just 16 minutes, this dish is ideal for a light dinner or a satisfying lunch, served over fluffy rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a touch of chili flakes.

How to Make It

Prepare the Teriyaki Sauce: Mix the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cornflour in a bowl until smooth. Then, add sake, mirin, sesame oil, brown sugar, minced ginger, garlic, and white pepper, stirring everything together.
Marinate the Salmon: Toss the salmon chunks in a separate bowl with 2 tablespoons of the prepared teriyaki sauce. Cover and let the salmon marinate for 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Air Fry the Salmon: Place the marinated salmon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Drizzle with oil and air fry at 200°C/400°F for 6-7 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and has a slight crisp on the edges.
Heat the Sauce: While the salmon cooks, warm the remaining teriyaki sauce. You can do this in a microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes, stirring halfway, or on the stovetop in a small saucepan until it simmers.
Serve: Carefully remove the salmon nuggets from the air fryer and place them over bowls of boiled rice. Drizzle with the heated teriyaki sauce and garnish with spring onions, sesame seeds, and chili flakes. Pair with steamed green vegetables and sriracha mayo for extra flavor if desired.

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Crispy Teriyaki Salmon Nuggets

Bite-sized pieces of tender, flaky salmon, air-fried to perfection and glazed in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. This dish is quick, easy, and perfect for a light dinner or a satisfying lunch. Serve over fluffy rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a dash of chili flakes for an extra kick.

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Prep Time 10

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Japanese

Servings 4

Calories 265 kcal

Equipment

1 Air fryer
1 Microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan
1 Spatula

Ingredients

Teriyaki Sauce:

2 tbsp Light soy sauce
2 tbsp Dark soy sauce
1 tsp Cornflour (cornstarch)
½ tbsp Sake or dry sherry
3 tbsp Mirin
1 tsp Sesame oil
2 tbsp Brown sugar
1 tsp Minced ginger
2, Garlic cloves peeled and minced
½ tsp White pepper

Salmon:

4 Salmon fillets approx. 480g/17oz altogether, skin removed, fillets sliced into 2.5cm/1” chunks
1 tbsp Oil (neutral, such as avocado or vegetable)

To Serve (optional):

Boiled rice
Spring onions scallions, finely sliced
Sesame seeds
Chili flakes red pepper flakes
Steamed green vegetables like broccoli or green beans
Sriracha mayo 3 tbsp mayonnaise mixed with 1 tbsp sriracha

Instructions

Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, mix the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cornflour until the cornflour is completely dissolved. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and stir together.
Marinate Salmon: Place the salmon pieces in a separate bowl and add 2 tablespoons of the teriyaki sauce. Mix to coat the salmon, then cover and let it marinate for 10 minutes.
Air Fry Salmon: Place the salmon pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, drizzle with oil, and air fry at 200°C/400°F for 6-7 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and slightly crispy on the edges.
Heat Sauce: While the salmon cooks, heat the remaining teriyaki sauce in a microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes, stirring once halfway through, or in a small saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a gentle boil.
Serve: Carefully remove the salmon bites from the air fryer using a spatula and serve over bowls of boiled rice. Drizzle with the hot teriyaki sauce and top with spring onions, sesame seeds, and chili flakes. Serve with steamed green vegetables and a drizzle of sriracha mayo if desired.

Notes

Make Ahead: While best served fresh, you can prepare the sauce and chop the salmon ahead of time. When ready to serve, simply cook the salmon and heat the sauce.
Leftovers: Leftover salmon can be chilled and served cold in a salad the next day.

Keyword air fryer, salmon bites, Teriyaki salmon, air fryer

Final Touches

These Crispy Teriyaki Salmon Nuggets bring a satisfying crunch and a burst of flavor to your meal. The combination of tender salmon with the rich, homemade teriyaki sauce makes this dish both comforting and exciting. Whether you’re cooking for a quick weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend lunch, this recipe offers a delightful balance of simplicity and taste.