Description
This Salmon Crispy Rice is a restaurant-style appetizer you can easily make at home! Crunchy golden rice squares are topped with spicy salmon mix, drizzled with creamy sriracha mayo, and finished with fresh garnishes for a stunning and flavorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Base
- 2 cups short-grain sushi rice
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2–2½ Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp fine salt
- Neutral oil for frying (or spray for air fryer)
Spicy Salmon (choose raw chop or cooked flake)
- 300–350 g salmon, finely chopped or gently flaked
- 3 Tbsp Japanese mayo
- 1–2 tsp sriracha (to taste)
- 1–2 tsp tamari or soy
- ¼ tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp lime juice or a few drops yuzu
- Pinch of salt (as needed)
- Optional: 2 Tbsp micro-diced cucumber; 1 Tbsp thinly sliced scallions
Finishes
- Avocado slices or cubes
- Thin serrano/jalapeño rounds
- Chives or fine scallions
- Togarashi or toasted sesame
- Drizzles: spicy mayo, ponzu, or eel sauce/tare
Instructions
- Rinse & Cook Rice
- Rinse rice well until water runs mostly clear. Cook using sushi setting or stovetop method. Rest 10 minutes.
- Season Rice
- Combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved.
- Turn hot rice into a wide bowl; drizzle sushi-zu and fold to coat. Rice should be glossy and distinct.
- Press & Chill
- Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment.
- Press warm rice into an even 1.5–2 cm layer. Cover with parchment and weight.
- Chill at least 2 hours (overnight best).
- Cut Blocks
- Lift slab to a board. With a damp, sharp knife, trim edges and cut into small rectangles or squares.
- Fry or Air-Fry
- Shallow-Fry: Heat a thin layer of neutral oil till shimmering. Fry blocks until deep golden on both sides; drain on a wire rack.
- Air-Fry: Lightly oil blocks and cook at 200 °C/390 °F, flipping once, until golden and crisp. Rest on a rack.
- Mix Salmon Topping
- Stir mayo, sriracha, tamari/soy, sesame oil, and citrus.
- Fold in chopped raw salmon or cooked flakes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Assemble & Serve
- Top each crisp block with a rounded teaspoon of salmon.
- Add avocado, a serrano slice, and chives.
- Finish with a light drizzle of your chosen sauce and a sprinkle of togarashi or sesame.
- Prep Time: PT25M
- Cook Time: PT1H25M
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying + Assembly
- Cuisine: Japanese-Inspired
Nutrition
- Calories: 110kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 10mg