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Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bowls, air fryer dinner recipes for busy nights
Brittany Stage

Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bowls

Bite-sized salmon pieces glazed with a quick honey-soy teriyaki sauce cook in the air fryer in 8 minutes and go straight onto rice bowls with fresh vegetables. This is a weeknight dinner that genuinely comes together in under 25 minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 430

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs salmon fillet skin removed, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
  • 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated on a fine grater or microplane
  • 1 garlic clove minced fine
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 2 cups long-grain white rice uncooked, cooked according to package directions
  • 1 English cucumber thinly sliced into half-moons
  • 1 cup shredded carrots store-bought pre-shredded works fine
  • 1 ripe avocado sliced
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds for garnish, optional
  • 2 green onions sliced thin, for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • medium mixing bowl
  • small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl
  • whisk
  • rice cooker or medium pot
  • paper towels

Method
 

  1. Start your rice first so it is ready when the salmon finishes. Cook 2 cups of white rice according to package directions, which usually takes about 18 minutes on the stovetop or 20 minutes in a rice cooker.
  2. While the rice cooks, remove the skin from the salmon if it is still on, then cut the fillet into roughly 1 1/2-inch chunks. Try to keep the pieces close to the same size so they cook evenly. Pat them dry with paper towels.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, and rice vinegar until the honey is fully dissolved into the mixture. This is your glaze.
  4. Add the salmon chunks to the bowl and gently toss to coat every piece. Let them sit in the glaze for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats. Do not marinate longer than 10 minutes or the salt in the soy sauce will begin to draw out moisture and soften the texture.
  5. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the salmon pieces in a single layer with visible space between each one. If your basket is small, cook in two batches. Crowding the basket causes the glaze to steam off rather than set, and you will lose that sticky surface.
  6. Cook at 390 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes. The glaze should look set and slightly darkened on the edges. The salmon should flake easily when pressed gently with a fork. Because the pieces are small, you do not need a thermometer, but if you want to check, look for 130 to 145 degrees F in the center depending on how you like your salmon cooked.
  7. Divide the cooked rice among four bowls. Top each bowl with a portion of the teriyaki salmon, then arrange the cucumber slices, shredded carrots, and avocado slices alongside the fish. Finish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if using, and serve right away.

Notes

If you want a thicker glaze, pour the leftover marinade from the bowl into a small saucepan and simmer it over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly. Drizzle it over the finished bowls. Do not reuse marinade without cooking it first since it contacted raw fish.