10 Sushi Recipes With Salmon

10 Sushi Recipes With Salmon

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Smoked, raw, grilled, or baked, Salmon can be used in numerous ways in sushi recipes. They are bursting with delightful flavors and add an aesthetic appeal to the dishes. I feel that the texture, color, and flavor of sushi-grade raw salmon are the best as it looks like a precious gem over a bed of rice in nigiri sushi.

If you are not comfortable with eating raw fish, you can still enjoy cooked salmon in your sushi recipes. When grilled or baked with added seasonings, the salmon meat has a great taste. So, today I have created a list of sushi recipes with salmon (both raw and cooked) for people with different preferences.

Before going to the recipes, I would like to remind you to always buy sushi-grade salmon when using it raw for your sushi recipes. Buy only from a trusted fishmonger and make sure the flesh is firm to touch. It should smell like the ocean, not fishy and bounce back if poked with a finger.

The fillets should be moist and translucent, without any liquid pooling around it. I have created an article that talks about sushi-grade fish and the different sources to find them – Where to buy sushi-grade fish(Useful). Now, let’s move on to the recipes.

Contents

1. Salmon Nigiri Zushi

salmon for sushi
Salmon nigiri

When someone says sushi, the first image that comes in the mind is that of a salmon nigiri sushi with the bright orange flesh glistening over sushi rice. If you wish to create that restaurant-like sushi at home, here’s what you will need:

Instructions

Start by cooking sushi rice and season it well with vinegar, salt, and sugar. Follow the instructions provided in this article to get the perfect texture.

Thaw the sushi-grade salmon fillets by placing it in the fridge (35 degrees) overnight beforehand and remove the skin. Use a sharp Japanese knife like this to slice salmon into 6-8 mm thickness.

Now take a small ball of seasoned sushi rice and shape it with your fingers to have a slight hump on the top. Place a little wasabi on the top and then cover with the sliced salmon. Brush some tare sauce on the top.

If you are not a fan of raw fish, place a non-stick grill pan like this on the stove, add some oil and cook the salmon slices on one side. Alternatively, you may also blow torch to cook the salmon before adding it to a bed of seasoned sushi rice.

2. Salmon-Avocado Maki

This is one of the most classic sushi recipes with salmon. If you are beginning to make maki rolls, remember to not overfill your sushi roll. Too many ingredients can make it difficult to make a compact roll and seal the edges. You will need the following:

Instructions

Cook a batch of sushi rice in advance and while the rice cools, prepare your fillings. Season the sushi rice with vinegar, salt, and sugar by following the instructions provided in my article.

Lay the bamboo mat on a flat working surface and cover it with a plastic sheet. Place the nori over it, rough side facing upwards.

Now, take a half cup of seasoned sushi rice and spread it evenly on the Nori sheet, leaving a one-inch gap on the furthest end.

Arrange the salmon strips in a line towards the center of the rice layer. Place 2-3 avocado slices besides salmon to cover the width of the nori sheet.

Put your thumb below the bamboo mat and start rolling. Use other fingers to apply gentle pressure on the sushi roll as you go. Moisten the edges and seal them.

Take a sharp Japanese sushi knife and cut the roll into 6-8 pieces. Serve with pickled ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce.

#3. Spicy Salmon Sushi Roll (Cooked)

I know spicy tuna is everyone’s favorite but try out this spicy salmon sushi roll and you will be craving for more. Here are the ingredients you will need:

  • 2 cups of seasoned sushi rice
  • 1 pound wild salmon flesh
  • Nori sheets
  • Half Japanese cucumber, julienned into thin strips
  • 1 avocado, pit removed and thinly sliced
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari sauce
  • 1 garlic clove,  grated
  • 1 tsp ginger, grated
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2-4 tsp Sriracha sauce

Instructions

Start the process by cooking sushi rice in a cooker or pot, and seasoning it as per the instructions in my article.

While the rice is being cooked, preheat the oven to a temp of 425˚F. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, put the salmon fillet and sprinkle salt and pepper on it.

Put inside the oven and roast the salmon fillets to 10-15 minutes based on the thickness of the fillet. The baked fish should flake easily but still retain its pink color in the middle. Allow the fish to cool and then use a fork to shred the meat into pieces.

Now, take a medium-size bowl and mix lime juice, ginger, garlic and tamari sauce. Add salt and pepper as per your personal preferences, and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

Add the shredded salmon pieces to the bowl and mix well. You can now add mayonnaise and sriracha sauce depending on how spicy you want the salmon to be. If you have leftover salmon salad, you can store it in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

To start making your roll, place the bamboo mat on the kitchen table and cover it with a plastic sheet. Put the nori over the mat, shiny side down.

Moisten your fingers and take half a cup of seasoned sushi rice. Spread it out on the nori sheet evenly, leaving a small gap on all sides, especially the top and bottom.

First, arrange the julienned cucumber strips towards the middle of the rice, top it with generous amounts of spicy salmon salad, and place 3-4 avocado slices on the side.

Lift the bamboo mat from your end and start rolling and apply gentle pressure to make a tight and compact log. When you reach the other end of the roll, seal the edges by dampening the nori sheet slightly.

Moisten the blade of a sharp sushi knife and cut the spicy salmon roll into 6-8 pieces. Serve with soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi.

#4. Salmon Sushi Roll With Shrimp Tempura

If you ask me which is my favorite among the different sushi recipes with salmon, it would be this one. The crunchy taste of shrimp tempura along with the amazing flavor and appearance of salmon fillets on the top make it so appetizing. Here are the ingredients you will need for the sushi roll:

Instructions

Use only the newest variety of short-grain Japanese rice in sushi as the rice will hold the fillings and toppings together so it’s important to get the right texture. Read my article that explains how to cook sushi rice in a cooker or pot.

For an aesthetic look, you must cut the salmon fillet carefully by positioning your sushi knife at 45-degree angle. Remember to keep the fat lines in an angle for easy slicing. In this inside-out salmon sushi recipe, the salmon slices will be arranged on the top so you will need roughly 5-6 pieces per roll.

 Place the bamboo mat on the kitchen table and wrap it with a plastic sheet. Put the half nori sheet on the covered bamboo mat.

Moisten your fingers and spread roughly half a cup of seasoned sushi rice over the nori sheet, leaving about the one-inch gap on the farther end. Apply gentle pressure with your fingers to ensure that the rice sticks on to the nori sheet.

Flip the nori sheet to turn it upside down on the bamboo mat. Now, arrange 2-3 shrimp tempura towards the center of the nori sheet to cover the entire length. Add the julienned cucumber strips next to it.

Now, lift the bamboo mat from your side and start rolling to form a tight cylindrical roll. Seal the edges by dampening the nori sheet.

Place the sushi roll horizontally on the chopping board and start adding the salmon slices over it to span the area of sushi rice.

Cover the entire roll with the plastic sheet and then place the bamboo mat over it. Now, hug the roll tightly to ensure that the salmon slices shape up well with sushi rice.

Take a sharp Japanese knife and cut the roll into 6-8 equal pieces with the cling film on. Remove the plastic now and garnish it with masago. Serve with pickled ginger and wasabi.

#5. Crazy Salmon Sushi Roll

This is one of the craziest salmon sushi recipes as it uses seasoned salmon salad fillings inside and blow-torched salmon slices on the top to lend a unique texture and flavor to the dish. For the recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

Instructions:

Cook sushi rice and season it well with vinegar, salt, and sugar. Read my article that offers step-by-step instructions for beginners.

Take a small bowl and mix kimchee sauce, sriracha sauce, mayonnaise, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and chopped scallions. Add chopped salmon cubes and toss it with the mixture. Keep it aside

Lay the bamboo mat on the table and cover it with a plastic sheet. Put the nori over it and spread half a cup of seasoned sushi rice evenly on the seaweed, leaving an inch-gap on the opposite end. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds for a crunchy effect.

Apply gentle pressure with your fingers to ensure that the rice sticks on the seaweed and then flip over the nori to turn it upside down.

Now, arrange the thin slices of avocado on the nori sheet, towards you. Spread 2-3 tablespoons of salmon mixture on the top and roll tightly using the bamboo mat. Arrange the salmon slices over the sushi rice to completely cover the area.

Place the plastic sheet over the sushi and cover with bamboo mat to give it one tight hug. This will ensure that the salmon slices sit in place over the sushi roll. Use a sharp Japanese knife to cut the roll into 6-8 pieces.

Remove the plastic and roast the salmon topping with the help of a blow torch. Now, garnish with salmon roe, mayonnaise, and chopped parsley.

#6. Mango And Smoked Salmon Sushi

Make the most of the mango season by pairing it up with smoked salmon sushi. You may add cucumber strips and other green veggies to add more crispiness to sushi rolls. For this recipe, I have used brown sushi rice to pump up the health quotient. Here are the other ingredients you will need:

Instructions:

Cook brown rice to the perfect texture following the same instructions for short-grain white rice and season with rice vinegar, salt, and sugar. Read the instructions on how to cook sushi rice here.

Place the bamboo mat on the kitchen table and cover it with a plastic sheet. Put the nori over the covered sushi mat, rough side facing upwards.

Take half a cup of seasoned sushi rice and spread it evenly over the nori, leaving a one-inch gap on the top. Apply a small amount of wasabi on the sushi rice along the line where you will add the fillings.

Arrange the fillings by first placing the salmon strips towards the middle of the rice layer. Add the mango and cucumber strips over the salmon. I prefer adding cucumber for the freshness.

Lift the bamboo mat from your end and start rolling into a compact log. Brush the edges with some water and seal them.

Use a sharp Japanese knife to cut the sushi roll into 6-8 pieces. Serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.

#7. Gluten-Free Salmon Sushi Roll

If you are on a celiac diet, it can be tough to find a restaurant that serves gluten-free sushi or doesn’t pose a risk of contamination to a seemingly gluten-free dish. Here is a simple and easy recipe for making gluten-free salmon sushi roll at home. You will need the following ingredients:

Instructions:

First, cook the sushi rice by following the step-by-step instructions provided in the article. Make sure to use only gluten-free rice vinegar when seasoning the sushi rice. While the rice cools, prepare the other fillings for the roll.

Put the sushi mat on the table and cover it with a cling film. Now, place a nori sheet over the mat, shiny side facing downwards.

Spread a thin layer of seasoned sushi rice over the nori sheet, leaving an inch gap on the farthest end. Arrange the fillings on the center of the sushi rice, slightly towards you.

Place the salmon strips first and then follow with the veggies (do not overdo the filling or you will have difficulty rolling).

Lift the sushi mat from your side and start rolling to make a compact log. Serve the sushi pieces with tamari sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi.

#8. Super Sunday Salmon Sushi Bowl

I have named this sushi recipe ‘Super Sunday salmon sushi bowl’ because I believe this is the perfect brunch you would like to pamper yourself with on a late Sunday morning. Here’s what you will need for the treat:

  • 2 cups of seasoned sushi rice
  • Wild-caught salmon (baked)
  • 1 ripe and firm avocado, sliced
  • Half cucumber, peeled and cut into thick slices
  • 3 green onion, finely chopped
  • Toasted nori sheets, cut into strips
  • Sesame seeds for garnish
  • Soy Ginger dressing (instructions below)

Instructions

Put the salmon fillets on a baking sheet, sprinkle salt and pepper, and keep inside the oven to bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. When cooked thoroughly, shred into pieces and keep aside.

Cook short-grain sushi rice in a cooker or pot to get the perfect texture and then season it with vinegar, salt, and sugar.

Make the soy ginger dressing by mixing together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, and ginger. Stir until the sugar solids dissolve completely.

In a bowl, add some seasoned sushi rice and then arrange the salmon pieces, avocado, and cucumber slices. Garnish with finely chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Drizzle the soy ginger dressing over the sushi bowl and serve immediately.

#9. Cute Salmon Gunkan Sushi

I must admit that this is not a traditional gunkan maki as it does not involve seaweed but they are so adorable and delicious snacks that I had to include then in my list of sushi recipes with salmon. Here are the items you will need:

Instructions:

This dish has few ingredients so the sushi rice should be perfectly cooked and seasoned. I have created a guide to help beginners make sushi rice in a cooker or pot.

If you have fresh wasabi root, consider yourself lucky. Use a sharkskin grater to make some paste for your sushi.  Those who don’t have real wasabi root can use the grocery-bought wasabi paste.

Moisten your fingers, take a small golf ball-sized seasoned sushi rice and give it an oblong shape. Now, take a thin slice of sushi-grade salmon and wrap it around the rice carefully.

Press the tail part a bit to make them stick together. Put a small amount of wasabi over the rice and fill the top with a spoonful of salmon roe. Serve with pickled ginger and soy sauce.

#10. Low Carb Sushi Recipe With Salmon

Keto and Paleo diets are gaining immense popularity as more people adopt them as a part of their lifestyle to lead healthy lives. So here’s a low carb salmon sushi recipe that you can enjoy without any guilt. Here are the ingredients you will need:

Instructions

Peel the cucumber and cut it into thin strips, about 1/4 inch thickness and of the same length as the nori sheet. Also, cut the red peppers and avocado into slices of the same thickness and length. Make slightly wider strips of the smoked salmon fillets but the same length.

Now, place the half nori sheet on the kitchen table, and arrange one piece each of salmon, pepper, avocado, and cucumber on the nori sheet, towards your side. Sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds (optional) to add crunchiness to the snacks.

Roll up the seaweed and when you reach the other end, slightly dampen the nori sheet and seal the edges. This quick snacks can be prepared in just 15 minutes. Serve with soya sauce.

See Also:
Why Is Sushi So Expensive
7 Best Rice Cookers From Japan

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