Seafood · Japanese-inspired
Sticky Sesame Teriyaki Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Bite-size salmon cubes cook fast with caramelised edges, then get tossed in a glossy garlic-ginger teriyaki glaze for easy rice bowls.
These sticky sesame teriyaki salmon bites are designed for weeknight rice bowls: quick to prep, fast in the air fryer, and big on sweet-savoury garlic-ginger flavour. Cooking the salmon in cubes gives you more caramelised edges while keeping the inside tender and flaky.
Ingredients
Instructions
Air fryer:200°C / 392°F
Pat the salmon cubes dry with kitchen paper. In a bowl, whisk the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and cornflour until smooth.
Spoon 2 tablespoons of the sauce into a separate small bowl for glazing after cooking. Add the salmon to the remaining sauce and gently toss to coat. Marinate for 10 minutes while the air fryer preheats.
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes. Lightly oil the basket or tray.
Lift the salmon from the marinade, letting excess drip off, and arrange in a single layer with a little space between pieces. Cook in batches if needed; crowded salmon steams instead of caramelising.
Air fry for 6–8 minutes, gently shaking or turning the pieces halfway through, until the edges are sticky and browned and the thickest pieces reach 63°C/145°F internally.
Brush or toss the hot salmon bites with the reserved teriyaki glaze. If you want a darker finish, return them to the air fryer for 30–60 seconds, watching closely so the honey does not burn.
Build bowls with rice, cucumber, edamame and avocado. Top with the teriyaki salmon bites, spring onions, sesame seeds and sriracha or chilli crisp if using.
Tips & tricks
- Cut the salmon into even 2.5 cm cubes so the centres cook through before the glaze over-browns.
- For thicker glaze, simmer the reserved sauce in a small pan for 1–2 minutes before tossing with the cooked salmon.
- If using frozen salmon, thaw it safely in the refrigerator overnight, then pat very dry before cutting.
- Air-fryer models vary, so start checking at 6 minutes and use a thermometer for the safest result.
Air fryer cooking guides
Exact times & temperatures for the ingredients in this recipe.
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