Furikake Salmon Recipe

I love how this Furikake Salmon turned out to be crunchy on the outside, but tender on the inside! Find out what’s the secret to perfectly browned crumbs that has me falling in love all over again.

Jump to:

• Trick to Perfectly Browned Crumbs
• Baking with Air Fryer
• Air Fryers Worth Buying
• Do Air Fryers Work?
• How to Air Fry a Salmon
• Does an Air Fryer Brown Food?
• Ways to Cook Salmon
• Ingredients
• Steps by step instructions
• Notes
• Furikake Salmon Recipe

Trick to Perfectly Browned Crumbs

Adding panko crumbs to your baked food (like this Furikake Salmon recipe) creates a wonderful crunchy texture to the moist, juicy salmon fillet. However, I noticed that the breading doesn’t result in toasty brown toppings due to the short cooking time. Don’t fret, we’ve got your fix!

It’s super easy! Just pre-toast the crumbs. Simply dump the panko crumbs in a hot, dry skillet and stir continuously until you’ll get that toasty beautiful brown breadcrumbs. I normally, toast a big batch and store it on the fridge for future use. Best used for baking food like veggies and fish or even steaks.

Baking with Air Fryer

Anyway, I never thought making this recipe using an air fryer would result in the juiciest, most tender salmon each time. It’s salty, sweet, nutty, and bursting with umami!

Because of this, I am certain that this Furikake salmon will be the latest variation of salmon in our home kitchen.

At first, I was strongly against purchasing an air fryer. I thought it would be a small appliance that’s just a white elephant in the kitchen. Who could possibly use an air fryer all the time?

I also didn’t want another appliance displayed on the kitchen counter. I don’t want items thrown on the kitchen counters. It’s one of my pet peeves.

I just didn’t want this brand new appliance and thought it would just be a waste of money. But my husband insisted on purchasing one. He ended the debate and ordered one. In the end, I’m glad he was stubborn.

Air Fryers Worth Buying

Generally, air fryers are a bit ugly. They often remind me of the masks in Star Wars, but they are really the best small appliance ever.

They are worth every penny! Though there are many air fryers on the market, I love my air fryer in particular. With an air fryer, everything always cooks in a short period and is crispier and juicier. I tried to cook tater tots in it and the tots were amazing!

Breaded or plain seasoned chicken cooked in an air fryer is tender, tasty, and juicy. I even tried it on steaks and it really worked! It’s a versatile tool that’s worth your money.

You don’t have to worry about preheating it. Cleaning up after is no hassle at all. All the juices are locked in so you don’t have much of anything to clean up. You can also make a crostini with it. Just don’t get an air fryer that’s smaller than 5.3 quarts because it would just limit you.

Do Air Fryers Work?

How does an air fryer work? It works efficiently because it circulates the extremely hot air with very little oil around the food.

If you have an air fryer, you already have a mini convection oven on your kitchen counter. The food you cook in it does not taste like it was deep-fried in oil and it is so delicious. The crunch is a lot better than regular deep-fried food.

It’s the circulating hot air that makes an air fryer work like a mutated convection oven. This type of heat allows me to get a perfect roast corn-on-the-cob each time.

As a personal investment, an air fryer can benefit you in myriad ways. The possibilities are endless with this appliance.

How to Air Fry a Salmon

• Spray some oil first before placing the salmon fillets in your air fryer basket. Remember not to over-crowd.
• Press the ON button of your air fryer and set the temperature at 390 F degrees for 10-12 minutes (depending on the size). It is most certainly that quick and easy!
• Once the time is up, check the doneness of the fillets in the air fryer basket.
• The salmon, flakes beautifully after the cooking time. Perfect, right?

With this, air fryers most certainly work in creating the best tasting dishes.
For your air fryer Salmon Furikake, use fillet cuts with the same thickness of 1 ½ inches. If frozen, place them in room temperature to thaw before cooking.

Does an Air Fryer Brown Food?

The color of the food is beautiful when they come out of the air fryer. They’re extremely tender and juicy as well.

Since I started making Furikake Salmon with Mayo on my air fryer, salmon has become a regular menu item in our home.

If there are leftovers from the dish you cooked with the air fryer, they are still tender and juicy even if you reheat them. The moisture of the food was locked in. It is truly awesome!

The possibilities are endless with an air fryer. I have tried using the air fryer in making the usual chicken nuggets and the kids loved it! You should try this baked furikake salmon, it’s really yummy!

Ways to Cook Salmon

Cooking salmon the best way involves heating it for a short period at a high temperature. This is the reason grilled and oven-baked salmon are always tender and flaky.

How to Cook Salmon in the Oven

• To achieve a flaky and succulent baked salmon, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Get your sheet pan and line it with parchment or baking paper.
• Brush the baking paper liner with olive oil or spray it with cooking spray.
• Place the marinated salmon fillet on the sheet pan you prepared (If your fillets have skin, place them on the sheet skin side down.
• Bake the fillets for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness.
• After you bake them, broil the fillets for 1 to 2 minutes or until the surface is golden.

How to Cook Salmon on the Grill

• Set the heat of the grill to medium-high.
• Place the prepared salmon fillets on the grill pan or grill rack.
• Cook for four to six minutes on one side.
• The salmon will loosen itself from the grill at the right time. Please do not force it.
• When ready, turn the fillets and cook for three to four minutes or until cooked completely.

How Long to Bake the Salmon?

• Remember that the cooking time in the oven varies based on the thickness and size of the salmon fillets.
• Usually, it takes 12-15 minutes to bake a 1.5″  thick cut of salmon in a 400-degree oven.
• Bake until the salmon is cooked through but light pink in the middle. The flesh of the fish must be flaky.
• If you’re using a thermometer, the inner temperature of the salmon should read 120°F to 130°F (medium-rare) or 135°F to 145°F (well-done).
• Make sure to check the internal temperature by injecting the probe into the fillet’s thickest part.

Our new air fryer definitely changed my perspective on air fryers in general. It most certainly made a difference in making this Furikake Salmon Recipe or Hawaiian Salmon Recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Salmon Fillet
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp white pepper
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 1½ tbsp Paprika

For the Top Crust:

• ½ cup Panko crumbs
• 2 tbsp Furikake + more for garnishing
• 2 tbsp butter melted

Steps by step instructions

① Preheat oven to 400 degrees or (preheat the air fryer). Cut your salmon fillet into individual portions.

② Brush a baking tray with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Place salmon skin side down on the oiled baking tray. Brush the flesh of the salmon with sesame oil and season with 1 tsp salt and ¼ white pepper.

③ In a separate bowl, mix the panko crumbs with 2 tbsp furikake, melted butter, and a pinch of salt. Mix until evenly combined.

④ Rub mayonnaise using a butter knife or spoon. Place the Furikake / Panko crumbs on top of the salmon fillets and sprinkle with paprika.

⑤ Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until fish is cooked through but still flaky. Note: baking time depends on the thickness of the salmon fillets.

⑥ Remove from the oven and and sprinkle the fillets with a little bit more furikake powder. Drizzle with homemade Teriyake sauce. Serve warm with a side of steamed rice and your favorite vegetables.

Notes

1. For a toasty, browned crumbs. Just pre-toast the crumbs. Simply dump the panko crumbs in a hot, dry skillet and stir continuously until you’ll get that toasty beautiful brown breadcrumbs. I normally, toast a big batch and store it on the fridge for future use. Best used for baking food like veggies and fish or even steaks.
2. Furikake is a Japanese savory seasoning to sprinkle over rice. I love to sprinkle these over noodles, my Onigiri Balls, soup, toast! The most standard variation is a mixture of seaweed, bonito (dried fish), sesame seeds, salt, and sugar.
3. There are plenty of varieties to choose from. Adding Furikake to the breadcrumbs create complex flavors to a very simple dish. It’s salty, sweet, nutty, and bursting with umami!