Description
Flaky, crunchy edges give way to buttery salmon in every bite — this air fryer recipe yields reliably crisp exteriors and moist interiors in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- Salmon, skinless, trimmed and cut into 24 pieces (450 g / 1 lb)
- Kosher salt, 1 tsp
- Granulated sugar, 1 tsp
- Freshly ground black pepper, ½ tsp
- Paprika, 1 tsp
- Garlic powder, ½ tsp
- Lemon zest from 1 lemon
- Olive oil, 1 tbsp (15 ml)
- Panko breadcrumbs, 60 g (1 cup)
- Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp (15 ml)
- Optional: hot sauce or cayenne, ¼ tsp
Instructions
- Cut and season the salmon: Trim the salmon and cut into 24 even cubes, toss with salt, sugar, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and lemon zest; let sit for 3–5 minutes.
- Make the coating: In a bowl, whisk the Dijon and olive oil. In another bowl, combine panko and cayenne. Brush each piece with the Dijon mix, then press into crumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes.
- Arrange and cook: Place the bites in a single layer in the basket and cook for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway until golden and internal temp reaches 63°C (145°F).
- Rest and finish: Let the bites rest for 2 minutes before serving, squeezing fresh lemon over top and sprinkling with flaky salt.
Notes
Use uniform pieces to ensure even cooking. If desired, spray a mist of oil over the crumbs before cooking for extra golden color.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 bites
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg