Description
Succulent honey garlic salmon bites dance with sweet and savory flavors from Pacific Northwest waters. Home cooks can easily prepare this simple seafood appetizer in less than 20 minutes, delighting dinner guests with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) salmon fillet, skin and bones removed, cut into 1-inch cubes
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) honey
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced or grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce or 3/4 teaspoon sriracha
Garnish and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter
- Chopped cilantro
- Sesame seeds
- Chili crisp oil (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together tamari, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and chili sauce in a bowl for a vibrant marinade.
- Gently coat salmon cubes in the marinade, allowing flavors to penetrate for 5 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, adding oil to create a shimmering surface that’s hot but not smoking.
- Carefully place marinated salmon cubes into the skillet, creating a single layer without overcrowding.
- Sear salmon for 2 minutes until golden brown edges develop, creating a delectable caramelized exterior.
- Add butter to the skillet, which will enhance richness and help create a glossy finish.
- Flip salmon cubes and cook an additional 1-2 minutes, ensuring even cooking and maintaining tender texture.
- Pour reserved marinade into the skillet, allowing it to simmer and reduce, creating an intensely flavored glaze.
- Gently baste salmon with the thickening sauce, coating each piece for maximum flavor absorption.
- Transfer salmon bites to a serving platter, generously sprinkling with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chopped cilantro.
- Serve immediately while salmon remains warm and sauce is glossy and vibrant.
Notes
- Skip lengthy marinating to prevent fish from becoming tough and losing delicate texture.
- Use high-quality fresh salmon to enhance flavor and ensure tender, melt-in-your-mouth bites.
- Adjust chili sauce quantity based on personal spice tolerance for customized heat level.
- Pat salmon dry before cooking to achieve perfect golden-brown sear and prevent steaming instead of browning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg