Crispy Asian Salmon Rice Bowls

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These easy Crispy Asian Salmon Rice Bowls are the perfect healthy meal packed with protein, fresh vegetables, and whole grains. Great for meal prep and quick enough for an easy dinner.

459 CAL 39g CARBS 21g FAT 29g PROTEIN
3 Comments

When you are looking for quick and easy meals, Asian Rice Bowls are one of the best options. Today we are building one of those delicious bowls with salmon.

These Crispy Salmon Rice Bowls with ginger garlic soy sauce and tons of veggies are such a tasty, healthy dinner. Make them with rice or any grain you like. Pile on all your favorite vegetables and toppings.

Then add sesame seeds, spicy mayo, fresh herbs, kimchi, or any other toppings you like. Trust me, this dinner will be on repeat. These bowls are also delicious with shrimp like in these Shrimp Rice Bowls.

Why You'll Love this Salmon and Rice Bowl

  • Quick and easy: In less than 30 minutes, dinner is ready! Use precooked rice and veggies to save even more time.
  • Versatile: This recipe works with fresh or leftover salmon, any rice or grain, and any combination of fresh or cooked vegetables. Create your own flavor combinations.
  • Meal Prep: This recipe keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days. Store any vegetables that tend to wilt separately.

We also love these Teriyaki Chicken BowlsKorean Beef Bowls, and Egg Roll Bowls for a quick and healthy meal.

Asian salmon bowl with white rice, avocado, cabbage, cucumber, cilantro, and sesame seeds.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here is everything you need for these salmon bowls and some ideas for easy swaps.

  • Salmon: Any type of salmon filets can be used for this recipe including farm-raised, wild, coho, and frozen salmon. Just make sure it is defrosted. It also works with other fish varieties, shrimp, tuna, and chicken. Although I prefer making these with cubed salmon, they can also be made with whole filets. 
  • Soy sauce: Soy sauce is the main ingredient in the marinade and sauce. Swap in tamari or coconut aminos if you prefer.
  • Honey: Honey adds some sweetness to the sauce and also helps the salmon to get crispy. Pure maple syrup or brown sugar can also be used.
  • Garlic and ginger: These add flavor to the sauce and salmon. The ginger adds a slight spiciness. To save time, use the refrigerated spice pastes found in the produce section.
  • Vegetables: This salmon and rice bowl can be made with any combination of cooked or raw vegetables. Favorites include cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, asparagus, green onions, sugar snap peas, snow peas, and thinly sliced red onion.
  • Rice: Use steamed brown rice, white rice, sushi rice (like in these easy sushi bowls), quinoa, cauliflower rice, or any other grain or noodle as your base. Leftover rice, frozen precooked rice, or microwavable rice is a great way to save time.

How to Make the Perfect Salmon Rice Bowl

Follow these easy steps and tips to make a really delicious salmon bowl.

  1. Cooking the salmon: Start by marinating the salmon in the salmon honey mixture. Fifteen minutes is enough to add plenty of flavor, but if you have time marinate it longer. Then cook the salmon in a skillet for 2-3 minutes per side. It doesn’t take long at all. You could also cook it in the oven, like in these Salmon Sushi Bowls.
  2. Preparing the rice: To keep things easy, I almost always use frozen rice for this recipe. Freshly cooked rice works great as well. Follow the instructions on the package since rice varies greatly in how long it takes to cook.
  3. Choosing veggies: This recipe works best with some crunchy veggies to create different textures. Taking inspiration from sushi rolls, poke bowls, and sushi bowls, I like to add cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, edamame, and avocado. Additionally, you could also add some stir-fried vegetables, bok choy, or any leftover cooked vegetables.
  4. Add toppings: Add crunchy seaweed, kimchi, sesame seeds, or nuts. This is also delicious with fresh herbs like cilantro, mint, and basil.
  5. Drizzle with sauce: Add more flavor with Sriracha, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, sesame ginger dressing, or any other sauce you like.

Is this the same as the viral Tiktok Salmon Rice Bowl?

This salmon bowl is a little different than the viral salmon bowl since it uses freshly cooked salmon instead of leftover salmon. This salmon bowl also has more veggies and a garlic ginger soy sauce instead of spicy mayo.

With that said, it is easy to adjust the recipe to be more like the viral salmon bowls.

Here is what to do. This is for one serving.

  • Start by flaking leftover salmon in a microwave-safe bowl or dish.
  • Layer cooked rice on top of the salmon. Nestle an ice cube into the rice. This will help it reheat better in the microwave since the ice cube adds moisture.
  • Cover the bowl with parchment paper. Heat the salmon and rice for 2-2.5 minutes until heated through to your liking.
  • Add 1-2 tbsp of soy sauce, 1-2 tbsp of kewpie mayonnaise, and 2 tsp of Sriracha to the bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Serve with seaweed sheets, kimchi, diced avocado, and any other toppings you like.

Salmon bowl with rice, vegetables, sesame seeds, and a ginger garlic soy sauce.

What’s the best salmon to use?

Any salmon can be used to make this salmon rice bowl. If you use frozen salmon, make sure to fully defrost it first. Canned salmon can be swapped in as well. Just drizzle the sauce on the salmon to add flavor to it.

Can the salmon be cooked in the oven?

This salmon works great when baked in the oven. Simply preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the cubed salmon on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cooked to your liking. 

Can the salmon be cooked in the air fryer?

This salmon comes out great in the air fryer. Simply place it in the air fryer in a single layer. Preheat the salmon to 380 degrees and cook for 6-8 minutes until cooked through to your liking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions about making this recipe.

The amount of calories in a salmon and rice bowl can vary greatly depending on the amount of salmon, the amount of rice, and sauces. Farmed Atlantic salmon has about 235 calories in 4 ounces. Wild salmon has about 150 calories in 4 ounces. Cooked rice has about 100 calories per 1/2 cup. Then sauces and toppings will add calories.

This crispy salmon and rice bowl has about 450 calories. Restaurant salmon and rice bowls, which tend to have much larger servings of rice and creamy sauces, can have anywhere from 600-1000 calories. 

This salmon and rice bowl uses Asian flavors, so it is best to use an Asian-style sauce like teriyaki, ponzu, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, or another Asian-inspired sauce. It is also really delicious with spicy mayo, sesame ginger dressing, and Asian barbecue sauce. 

Asian salmon and rice bowl with avocado, carrots, cabbage, sesame seeds, carrots, and white rice.
The Recipe
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Crispy Asian Salmon Rice Bowls

459 CAL 39g CARBS 21g FAT 29g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 15 Min
COOK TIME: 15 Min
TOTAL TIME: 30 Min
3 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 lb wild salmon (skim removed, cut into 1-inch cubed)
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey (or brown sugar)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp ginger, grated
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 cup English cucumber, sliced
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1 cup purple cabbage, sliced
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • 2 cups cooked white rice (or brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or greens)
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil (or other)

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Instructions

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1

Carefully cut the salmon into one-inch chunks. Although the salmon can be cooked with the skin, we prefer skinless salmon for this recipe. Usually, they can do this right at the fish counter.

Cubed salmon in a white bowl.
2

Combine the soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in a bowl. Marinate the salmon in this mixture for at least 15 minutes, ideally 45-60 minutes. While the salmon marinates, prepare the vegetables and rice.

3

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the salmon from the marinade, letting the excess drip away. Add to the pan in a single layer. Let cook for 2-3 minutes or until nicely browned. Flip and cook on the other side for 2-3 minutes until cooked to your liking.

4

Add the excess marinade to the pan and let cook for about 1 minute.

Salmon cubes cooking in a skillet.
5

Assemble the bowls with the rice, salmon bites, cucumbers, carrots, purple cabbage, and avocado.

Diets:
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1 bowl
Amount Per Serving
Calories 459
Calories from Fat 131
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g
22%
Saturated Fat 4g
10%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
0%
Cholesterol 51mg
0%
Sodium 988mg
43%
Total Carbohydrate 39g
13%
Dietary Fiber 6g
23%
Sugars 12g
Protein 29g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

Notes

Optional extras: Sesame seeds, green onions, edamame, spicy mayo, or kimchi

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
3 Comments
On Crispy Asian Salmon Rice Bowls
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Barbie
December 11, 2023 - 18:34
Add a Rating:
5
Kristen, you hit the mark with this crispy Asian salmon bowl! Marinated the salmon per your directions using the honey and grating fresh ginger root. Cooked it on the stove top in cast iron skillet to give it that delicious crispy coating! Made Quinoa as the grain and added veggies I had such as asparagus, carrots, purple cabbage, and fingerling hot peppers along with the sprinkle of sesame seeds to garnish. Cooked the asparagus and peppers. The rest were raw finely shredded. We loved this and will be making again!
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Deedee
June 8, 2023 - 11:08
What are the black seeds on at the end because they don't look like poppy seeds and sesame seeds are white
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September 19, 2023 - 09:51
They are black sesame seeds. White sesame seeds also work great in this recipe.
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