If you're seeking a delicious departure from traditional nuggets, these salmon nuggets are a delightful twist worth exploring. With just a handful of ingredients and less than 20 minutes of cooking time, this recipe offers a quick and easy solution for busy weeknight dinners or satisfying lunches. Plus, with optional air fryer instructions, you can enjoy crispy and flavorful salmon nuggets with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Salmon nuggets offer a playful twist on traditional fish dishes, combining the convenience of bite-sized nuggets with the delicate flavor and health benefits of salmon. Whether pan-fried to golden perfection or air-fried for a lighter alternative, they're a versatile and satisfying treat enjoyed by seafood lovers of all ages.
This was inspired by my pecan crusted salmon, and pairs well with this my hot honey dipping sauce.
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🌟 Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Playfully Delicious: These salmon nuggets offer a fun twist on traditional fish dishes, making mealtime enjoyable for both kids and adults alike.
- Healthier Alternative: Compared to store-bought fish sticks, these homemade salmon nuggets provide a healthier option, allowing you to enjoy the goodness of salmon with a crispy coating without the excess additives or preservatives.
- Air Fryer Versatility: With optional air fryer instructions, this recipe provides the flexibility to create crispy and flavorful salmon nuggets with less oil, catering to those looking for a lighter cooking method without sacrificing taste or texture.
🥘 Ingredients
- Salmon Fillets: You can do skin on or off salmon (remove the skin before prep.) If use frozen salmon, make sure it's fully defrosted before use. You can opt to use another firm-fleshed fish like cod or tilapia.
- Eggs: Helps bind the breading to the fish. You can also use eggs or plain yogurt as gluten free option.
- All-Purpose Flour: Coats the fish and helps with the adhesion of the breading. You can substitute with cornstarch or rice flour for a gluten-free option.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Key for crispiness! You can sub with regular breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, but I highly recommend the panko!
- Blackening Seasoning: Any blackening seasoning blend will do, especially ones made for seafood.
- Neutral Oil (e.g., canola, vegetable, or avocado): I prefer avocado oil, but any high smoke point oil will do.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Cut the salmon into bite-sized nuggets and set up three bowls with flour, whisked eggs, and panko breadcrumbs mixed with blackening seasoning.
Step 2: Dip each salmon piece into the flour, then the egg, and finally the panko mixture, placing the breaded pieces on a plate or tray.
Step 3: Add about a quarter-inch of oil to a medium-sized pan and heat it over medium-high heat to at least 350°F.
Step 4: Once the oil is hot, carefully place the breaded salmon nuggets in the pan. Cook the nuggets for 3 minutes or until golden-brown on the bottom, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden-brown on the other side.
Step 5: Remove the nuggets from the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Step 6: Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce!
Air Frying Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Step 2: Cut the salmon into bite-sized nuggets and set up three bowls with flour, whisked eggs, and panko breadcrumbs mixed with blackening seasoning.
Step 3: Dip each salmon piece into the flour, then the egg, and finally the panko mixture, placing the breaded pieces on a plate or tray.
Step 4: Place the breaded salmon nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
Step 5: Lightly spray the tops of the nuggets with cooking spray.
Step 6: Air fry the nuggets for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden-brown and crispy.
👩🏼🍳 Chef's Tip
- If you don't have a thermometer to gauge the oil temperature, you can test it by dropping a bit of panko into the oil. If it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready for frying.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Spicy Cajun Twist: Substitute blackening seasoning with Cajun seasoning and serve with a creamy Cajun dipping sauce.
- Asian-Inspired Flavor: Replace blackening seasoning with a mix of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, and serve with sweet chili sauce.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour and panko breadcrumbs, ensuring all other ingredients are gluten-free.
🍴 Equipment
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Three small bowls
- Whisk
- Plate or tray
- Medium-sized pan
- Tongs
- Paper towels
- Air fryer (optional)
- Cooking spray (for air fryer method)
- Measuring cups and spoons
💭 Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use other types of fish such as cod, tilapia, or trout. However, cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the fish fillets.
Yes, you can bake the salmon nuggets in the oven at 400°F for about 12-15 minutes or until they are cooked through and crispy. However, the texture may be slightly different from frying.
While it's best to enjoy the salmon nuggets fresh for optimal crispiness, you can reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes until heated through. Reheating in the microwave may result in a loss of crispiness.
🥣 Storage & Reheating
- Storage Instructions: Store leftover salmon nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Reheating Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F, bake nuggets on a sheet for 5-7 minutes, or air fry at 350°F for 3-4 minutes until heated through; avoid microwaving.
- Freezing Instructions: Arrange nuggets on a lined baking sheet, freeze until solid, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container, label with date, freeze for up to 2-3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
🍷 Wine Pairing
The bright acidity and citrus notes of Sauvignon Blanc complement the richness of the salmon while cutting through the fried coating, offering a refreshing contrast. Additionally, the herbal and grassy undertones in Sauvignon Blanc can enhance the seasoning of the nuggets, creating a harmonious flavor experience.
👩🏼🍳 Top Tips
- When breading the salmon, use one hand for dipping it into the egg mixture and the other hand for coating it with the dry ingredients. This helps prevent the breading from sticking to your hands.
- To keep track of which pieces to flip first, add the salmon to the oil in a clockwise direction. This simple method ensures an even cooking process and avoids any confusion when it's time to flip the nuggets
🌿 Related Recipes
🥗 Pairing Recommendations
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating & comment below to let me know how it came out. Thanks for visiting!
📋 Recipe
Salmon Nuggets
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Equipment
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Three small bowls
- Whisk
- Plate or tray
- Medium-sized pan
- Tongs
- Paper towels
- Air fryer (optional)
- Cooking spray (for air fryer method)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 3 salmon fillets skin removed
- 2 eggs whisked
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons blackening seasoning
- Neutral oil e.g., canola, vegetable, or avocado oil for frying
Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients:
- Cut the salmon into bite-sized nuggets.
- Set up three separate small bowls: one with flour, one with whisked eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with blackening seasoning.
Bread the Salmon Nuggets:
- Dip each salmon piece into the flour, then the egg, and finally the panko mixture.
- Place the breaded pieces on a plate or tray.
Fry the Salmon Nuggets (Pan-Fried Method):
- Add about a quarter-inch of oil to a medium-sized pan. Ensure there's enough oil for the salmon to be about half-submerged.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat to at least 350°F.
- Once the oil is hot, carefully place the breaded salmon nuggets in the pan.
- Let the salmon cook, undisturbed, for 3 minutes or until golden-brown on the bottom.
- Use tongs to flip the nuggets and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden-brown on the other side.
- Remove the nuggets from the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Optional Air Fryer Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place the breaded salmon nuggets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
- Lightly spray the tops of the nuggets with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the nuggets are golden-brown and crispy.
Video
Notes
🌡️ Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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