Homemade Crispy Bang Bang Salmon Bites – Sweet and Spicy Recipe
These Homemade Crispy Bang Bang Salmon Bites are a deliciously sweet and spicy appetizer or snack made from tender salmon cubes coated in a flavorful spice mix and air fried to perfection. Finished with a creamy bang bang sauce, they are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, perfect for serving alone or alongside rice, greens, or an Asian pasta salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes per batch (2-3 batches recommended)
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American with Asian-inspired flavors
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon Bites
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless salmon filets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons Diamond Crystal Kosher salt (reduce to 0.75 teaspoons if using Morton’s kosher salt)
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Nonstick cooking spray or oil for the air fryer basket
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 batch of bang bang sauce (homemade or store-bought, creamy, sweet and spicy sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 400ºF and allow it to preheat fully to ensure even cooking of the salmon bites.
- Prepare the Salmon: Cut the salmon fillets into 1-inch cubes and place them into a mixing bowl for seasoning.
- Season and Coat the Salmon: Add olive oil, granulated garlic, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper to the salmon cubes. Gently stir to evenly coat all pieces with the seasoning. Add half of the bang bang sauce to the bowl and stir gently again to coat the salmon with the sauce.
- Prepare the Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or brush lightly with oil to prevent sticking.
- Air Fry the Salmon Bites: Place the coated salmon cubes in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd and to leave space between pieces for proper air circulation. You may need to cook in batches depending on air fryer size. Cook for 8 minutes at 400ºF without turning.
- Serve: Remove the salmon bites and drizzle with the remaining bang bang sauce. Serve warm as a snack or with sides like rice, greens, or an Asian pasta salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even, crispy cooking.
- If you use Morton’s kosher salt, reduce the salt amount by half to prevent over-salting.
- The bang bang sauce adds both flavor and moisture, so use half to marinate and the remainder for drizzling.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on air fryer brand and model.
- These bites are best served immediately to enjoy their crispy texture.
Keywords: salmon bites, bang bang sauce, air fryer salmon, crispy salmon appetizer, sweet and spicy salmon
