Fried rice is such a staple in Chinese cooking and it’s one of those things I never get tired of. No matter whether you’re looking for a quick dish using leftover rice or you want something filling and hearty, fried rice always fits the bill. Salmon fried rice is a step up from your simple five-ingredient egg fried rice. It uses large salmon bites to create a scrumptious fried rice that is colorful, satisfying to eat, and full of healthy protein. It is perfect for a one-pan dinner during the week or for meal-prep ahead of time.
Salmon fried rice ingredients
What cut of salmon to use
You can use any variety of salmon in salmon fried rice. For the best mouthfeel, king salmon and coho salmon are my top choices. The fattier cuts of fish provide a melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture once cooked. On the other hand, sockeye salmon provides a great source of high quality lean protein and has a stunning appearance due to its beautiful red color.
The best rice for fried rice
Jasmine rice or any other medium grain rice is always my top choice for fried rice. Compared to short grain rice, it’s less starchy and easier to separate and get crispy. And it holds together better than long grain rice. When it comes to fried rice, the older the rice, the better the result. For “day-old” rice, it means leftover rice that has been refrigerated or even frozen (and then thawed) for at least a day or longer. When the rice stays in the fridge for days, the grains lose moisture and become drier. So they will separate easily and create a crispier result when made into fried rice.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
Rice, fluffed by hand Marinated salmon Eggs Butter Vegetables (frozen and / or cut fresh vegetables) Sliced garlic Soy sauce Red onion, diced Sliced green onion for garnish (optional)
How to cook salmon fried rice
Cooking salmon fried rice is super easy: The most important thing, if you want to cook great salmon fried rice, is to not overcook the salmon. The marinade in this recipe helps protect the salmon from overcooking. But you should still be careful and not leave the salmon in the hot pan for too long. Especially if you are using sockeye salmon, which is quite lean and can get quite dry if overcooked.
How to serve salmon fried rice
Even though fried rice is often a side dish on the Chinese dinner table, you can totally serve this salmon fried rice as a one-bowl meal. It is balanced and quite satisfying for lunch or dinner. You can also serve it with a simple appetizer, vegetable or soup for a quick meal. You can cook this pickled cucumber or pickled cabbage ahead of time and serve it with the fried rice. Simple soups such as tomato egg drop soup and bok choy soup are great as well.
Other delicious salmon recipes
Crispy Salmon with Ginger Soy Sauce Pan Fried Salmon (香煎三文鱼) Sweet and Sour Salmon with Bok Choy Thai-Style Salmon Curry Steamed Salmon in Black Bean Sauce
