If you want sushi at home, make my Easy Salmon Sushi Bake! This simple recipe is based on sushi and includes baked salmon, classic sushi rice, and a variety of sushi toppings. It’s a warm and comforting dish that the whole family will love.
Friends, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I LOVE sushi. Like, I could eat sushi every single day and never get sick of it. When I eat a hand roll or one of my famous sushi cups, there is nothing better than sticky sushi rice with a fatty fish and a tasty sauce. In my opinion, it’s the best meal ever!.
But, if there’s one thing that I don’t love about sushi, it’s how hard it is to make. I can’t roll it quite right no matter how many tutorials I watch. Plus, it takes me a long time to make just one roll. And making traditional sushi can take hours of my time that I don’t have when I’m making enough for myself and my two getting bigger and hungry boys. In other words, I love using recipes that are based on sushi to get the flavors I want without having to spend a lot of time making them. Like this sushi bake!.
Let’s be clear about one thing: this is not a traditional sushi recipe, and I’m not saying it is. But it’s based on sushi, so it has all the flavors and ingredients you love! I’d seen a few different sushi bake recipes online for a while, so I decided it was time to make my own. And I have to say. I’m crazy about it! If you want a simple, easy, no-fuss recipe to make for dinner (or even as a fun Game Day appetizer!), this is it!
One new food trend that is taking over home kitchens and Instagram feeds everywhere is sushi bake. This tasty dish combines the tastes of traditional sushi rolls with the warmth and comfort of a gooey casserole. It turns out to be a delicious meal that is surprisingly simple to make at home.
In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make incredible salmon sushi bake from start to finish Whether you are a sushi lover, casserole fanatic, or just looking for an exciting new weeknight dinner, this baked salmon sushi recipe is sure to satisfy!
What is Sushi Bake?
Sushi bake is a fusion dish that brings together elements of Japanese sushi and Western casseroles. It features sushi rice and seafood layered in a casserole dish before being baked to perfection.
The rice acts as the base and is seasoned with rice vinegar for that signature sticky sushi rice flavor. Next a mixture of seafood like salmon spicy mayo, and cream cheese is spread over the rice. Finally, everything is topped off with delicious umami-rich sauces and occasional crunchy toppings.
The sushi bake is baked until the different parts come together to make something new and wonderful. In the end, you’ll have a warm casserole that tastes just like your favorite sushi roll.
Benefits of Salmon Sushi Bake
Many things have led to the huge popularity of this salmon sushi bake recipe:
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Easy to make: With simple prep and only one baking step, this meal comes together in under an hour. No sushi rolling skills required!
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Family-friendly: Kids and adults alike devour this dish. The flavors are familiar yet elevated.
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Versatile: Swap the salmon for imitation crab, shrimp or tuna if you prefer. Get creative with different sauces and toppings too.
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Satisfying: With protein, carbs and veggies, this makes for a complete and tasty meal.
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Impressive: Bring this beautiful baked dish to a party and watch it disappear fast.
How to Make Salmon Sushi Bake
Ready to wow your family with your own salmon sushi bake masterpiece? Follow these simple step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked short grain sushi rice
- 1 lb salmon fillet, skin removed
- 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
- 1⁄2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1-2 tbsp sriracha
- 1⁄4 cup eel sauce or teriyaki sauce
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 sheet toasted nori, cut into strips
- Furikake rice seasoning
- Sesame seeds
Equipment
- Small pot with lid
- Baking dish (8×8 or 9×13)
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
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Cook the sushi rice: Rinse rice until water runs clear. Combine rice and 2 cups water in a pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Stir in rice vinegar and sugar. Allow to cool.
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Prepare the salmon: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place salmon on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through. Allow to cool then break into bite-sized chunks.
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Make spicy salmon mixture: In a bowl, mix together cooked salmon, mayonnaise, cream cheese and sriracha until well combined.
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Assemble the bake: Grease a baking dish with oil or nonstick spray. Spread half the sushi rice evenly into the bottom of the dish. Top with half of the spicy salmon mixture followed by the remaining sushi rice. Press down gently. Spread the rest of the salmon mixture in an even layer.
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Drizzle sauces: Artfully drizzle eel sauce and sriracha across the top. Sprinkle with furikake seasoning and sesame seeds.
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Bake: Cover dish tightly with foil. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned.
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Garnish and serve: Top with sliced green onions and nori strips. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Leftover and Storage Tips
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Leftover sushi bake will keep refrigerated for 3 to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven.
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You can prep the rice and salmon components in advance. Assemble and bake the dish right before serving.
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Freeze baked sushi bake up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating to serve.
FAQs
Still have some questions about making this sensational salmon sushi bake recipe? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
What kind of rice can I use?
For best results, use short-grain white sushi rice. The sticky texture helps the rice bake up nicely and gives an authentic sushi flavor. Long grain rice varieties won’t have the right consistency.
Can I use canned salmon?
Absolutely! Canned salmon works great in this recipe. Just be sure to drain and flake the salmon thoroughly first.
What if I don’t like spicy food?
No problem. Simply use less or omit the sriracha altogether. You can also substitute a flavorful non-spicy sauce like teriyaki or hoisin.
Does the salmon need to be sushi grade?
Nope, since the salmon is baked, you can use any fresh or frozen salmon fillet. Go wild salmon or budget-friendly farmed. Both taste delicious in this recipe.
What are good sushi bake topping ideas?
Get creative with crunchy or flavorful toppings like toasted sesame seeds, furikake, fried onions, avocado, mango, or microgreens. The possibilities are endless!
Can I prepare this ahead of time?
Yes! Prepare the salmon and cook the rice a day in advance. Cool, cover and refrigerate separately. Assemble and bake the dish right before serving.
More Easy Sushi Bake Recipes to Try
- Tuna sushi bake
- Shrimp tempura sushi bake
- Spicy crab sushi bake
- California sushi bake
- Teriyaki chicken sushi bake
- Kimchi fried rice sushi bake
Now that you’re an expert on how to make crowd-pleasing salmon sushi bake at home, it’s time to get cooking! Break out your favorite baking dish and wow your family with this fun fusion meal.
With its comforting casserole form and delicious sushi flavors, this recipe is sure to become a new weekly tradition. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself whipping up batch after batch of this sensational sushi bake.
What You Need to Make This Sushi-Inspired Dish
- Sushi rice is a shorter-grain rice that sticks together better, which helps this sushi bake stay together.
- If you want to make a sushi-style recipe, you have to use fish. And what better fish to use than my favorite, salmon? Salmon is full of heart-healthy Omega 3s, which makes it a real superfood. You can also use canned salmon instead of fresh salmon if you want to save money.
- If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, you can easily replace the soy sauce with coconut aminos, tamari, or liquid aminos. Soy sauce is an important part of sushi.
- Toasty Sesame Oil: This dish goes well with toasted sesame oil, which has a light, nutty taste. Don’t skip it!.
- Kewpie mayo is a Japanese type of mayo made from only egg yolks and vinegar, which gives it a richer taste. While you can use regular mayo, I think my homemade mayo would taste even better and take this recipe to the next level!
- Sriracha: I like to add sriracha to this sushi bake to make it spicier, and you can change how much you use based on your taste.
- Baking Soda: To make sushi, you need to mix the rice with baking soda. In most grocery stores, you can find rice vinegar in the “international” section.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese makes the sauce for this sushi bake extra creamy, which makes it taste even better.
- Green Onions: This sushi bake tastes great with green onions added to it.
- Furikake Seasoning: Friends, if you’ve never had furikake seasoning, you are not living your life! It is a crunchy, salty seasoning made of seaweed, sesame seeds, herbs, and sea salt. That’s where I get mine, but you can find it in the “International” foods section of most grocery stores!
How to Make This Simple & Easy Sushi Bake
To make this sushi bake, start by preparing the rice according to package instructions. Then, set it aside. Next, cook the salmon. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the salmon filet in the center of it. Then, transfer it to the oven and broil it for 8 minutes. If you don’t want to broil it, you can bake it at 375 for 15-18 minutes.
If you want to shred the salmon, make sure to take off the skin first. Let it cool down. Next, put the salmon that has been shreds into a bowl. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, kewpie mayo, sriracha, rice vinegar, cream cheese, green onions, and furikake. Use a spoon to mix the ingredients together until they’re fully combined.
Next, preheat your oven to 400 F. Get an 8×8 or 9×11 baking dish and press the rice into a flat layer in the bottom of it. Then, add the salmon mixture on top, being sure to spread it out in an even layer. Once the salmon has been added, sprinkle the top of the sushi bake with more furikake seasoning.
Bake the sushi bake for 10 minutes, then turn on the broiler and broil it for 2-3 minutes. Once it’s done, remove it from the oven and serve immediately with tortilla chips or squares of nori. Enjoy!.
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
