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You are here: Home / Cooking Times / a) 30 mins or less / Air Fried Salmon

Air Fried Salmon

5th June 2018 - By Michelle Minnaar
This post may contain affiliate links.

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Although it might be confusing at first, the term air fried salmon comes from the cooking method of using an air fryer. The end result of cooking the salmon in this manner is a nice flaky and juicy piece of salmon fillet which you can jazz up with your favourite spices. I think it’s the perfect time to enjoy a healthy salmon dinner, and this air fried salmon is no exception to that. Simply serve with some crisp green salad or roast a couple of your preferred vegetables. If you’ve had a hard day at work, don’t forget to pair the air fried salmon with a fruity dry white wine.

Salmon Airfried

air fried salmon

To give you a proper definition, an air fried salmon recipe consists of taking salmon filets and cooking them in the air fryer. Beware, this is a special type of pan and is very different to preparing salmon in a normal frying pan or hot smoking salmon as I did here.  In this case, I seasoned the air fried salmon with salt, pepper and paprika. Or, you can apply different spice rubs for an Asian kick. Next, you’ll have to let the machine do the work for you. A typical salmon fillet takes about seven to ten minutes to air fry, depending on the portion size.

Salmon Fillets Raw

the air

First, for this recipe to work properly, you’ll need a good air fryer. An air fryer is quite different from the traditional frying pan. Pan-fried salmon usually involves placing the salmon with skin facing down straight into the hot pan with olive oil. You then let the skin crisp up and turn the salmon to finish on the other side. On the other hand, the air fryer uses air to cook your salmon. In a way, you can say that this cooking method uses the law of physics and science to make your healthy dinner!

What happens is that the machine circulates hot air using the convection mechanism. In other words, the fan circulates really hot air around the salmon at high speeds and hence you induce the Maillard effect. The Maillard effect is a chemical reaction that involves amino acids (organic compounds) and reduces sugar. This effect was named after Louis-Camille Maillard, who was a French chemist and discovered it in the early 1900’s.

Salmon Fillets Spiced

So what happens is that the sugar in the salmon reacts with its amino acids and forms complex molecules that make up the distinct aromas and flavours. Apparently, air fryers bring out more flavour than other cooking methods. Thus you would find air fried salmon being served in a high-end premium restaurants.

If you’ve got kids at home, it’s a great way to educate them about the transfer of heat, convection and the Maillard effect. Who knows, this little lecture might make your kids want to become a scientist!

Container Salmon Airfryer

With an air fryer, you can also make other delicious recipes like these tasty air fryer meatballs.

the salmon filets

Not only is salmon healthy, but it’s highly versatile to work with and goes well with a multitude of flavour pairings. To learn more about the types of salmon you can use for this recipe, click right here. In fact, there are a lot of different types of salmon that vary in textures and flesh, so make sure you read up on the type of fish that you like eating best.

You can also buy a whole salmon, although I must warn you that salmon in general is an enormous fish. Another great idea is to I think it’s great if you buy fish and cook it whole like I did in my Thai whole baked seabass recipe here. However, if you opt for the whole fish route then you’ll need a sharp knife and some fileting skills. Otherwise, you risk ruining the salmon filets.

If you are a newbie, I recommend just buying a couple of well-sized salmon fillets from the store. You won’t have to take the skin off yourself or pin-bone them, which can be quite a challenge.

Airfried Salmon Spiced

spices & seasoning

Since salmon is a fatty fish, it works well with spice rubs. A typical spice rub that you would use in an air fried salmon is salt, pepper, paprika and a bit of herbs like oregano or basil. However, you can even use more exotic spices to give the salmon even more flavour. For example, for a nice umami and salty rub, you should use this miso spice to recreate a delicious miso salmon recipe. Also, you can opt for jerk spice like this one. A lot of people are under the impression that jerk spices are only used for meat, such as chicken or beef. However, using it with seafood is not unusual at all! For example, you can opt for making jerk prawns like these or even jerk salmon.

So, which spice will you go for? Or will you opt for a more Western version that is simply salmon with onion and lemon? The choice is entirely yours!

Salmon Dinner

salads

Once your air fried salmon is ready and turned that gorgeous pink colour, pair it with something green. Personally, I like to slice a cucumber into circular shapes and serve it as is for a healthy version. Also, a really healthy alternative is a salad of julienned carrots and avocado. You can read more on this type of salad in my baked seabass recipe here. Lastly, I also like pairing salmon with avocado. So, what better way that to prepare a cucumber salad with avocadoes? For more inspiration for a delicious cucumber and avocado salad, click right here.

Salmon Fillet Spiced

roasted vegetables

If you don’t feel like pairing the air fried salmon with salad, then my recommendation would be to serve with a simple side of roasted green vegetables. This includes simple roasted asparagus, find it here. Or, for more fiber, go for these roasted green beans. A bit of butter and garlic will turn this into a heavenly combination.

As a finishing touch, sprinkle some lemon juice over the air fried salmon. Or, grate some lemon zest for some acidity!

What is your favourite salmon recipe?

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A piece of salmon, tomatoes, cucumbers and lemons for Air fried Salmon

Air Fried Salmon


★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Description

Ever wondered how it’s possible to cook an air fried salmon recipe with air? Yes, with the help of science it is possible! For this recipe you’ll need an air fryer, couple of pieces of salmon filets, seasoning and spice rub of your choice, lemon, cucumber and tomatoes. This recipe pairs well with a dry fruity wine.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1.25ml (¼ tsp) salt
  • 1.25ml (¼ tsp) garlic powder
  • 2.5ml (½ tsp) paprika
  • 4 salmon fillets

Instructions

  1. Mix the salt, garlic and paprika together in a small bowl.
  2. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the top of the salmon fillets.
  3. Place the fish in the air fryer and cook for around 15 minutes or until cooked.
  4. Serve immediately with salad or fresh green vegetables with new potatoes.

Notes

  • Feel free to play with different spice combinations.
  • Category: Main
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 237
  • Sodium: 156 mg
  • Fat: 11 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
  • Protein: 34.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 78 mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liam Bishop says

    6th June 2018 at 12:32 pm

    En croute, divine!

    Reply
  2. Hayley F says

    6th June 2018 at 9:15 pm

    I do quite like salmon in a salad x

    Reply
  3. Hayley f says

    6th June 2018 at 9:16 pm

    Subscribed x

    Reply
  4. Natalie White says

    6th June 2018 at 9:26 pm

    I love it with a cream and parsley sauce and some lemon! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kim Neville says

    6th June 2018 at 11:05 pm

    I like Salmon with pesto crust

    Reply
  6. melanie stirling says

    6th June 2018 at 11:52 pm

    I like to cook salmon en papillote with some butter and lemon.

    Reply
  7. Solange says

    7th June 2018 at 2:48 am

    Smoked salmon & lemon risotto.

    Reply
  8. sam macaree says

    7th June 2018 at 9:19 am

    salmon and scrambled eggs

    Reply
  9. Wise Ways says

    7th June 2018 at 10:03 pm

    With a dash of lemon

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Tracy Nixon says

    9th June 2018 at 5:12 pm

    I love Salmon Encroute!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  11. Kelly Hirst says

    10th June 2018 at 8:10 am

    I love salmon in sweet chilli sauce

    Reply
  12. Natalie Crossan says

    10th June 2018 at 8:33 pm

    Salmon en croute – my favourite x

    Reply
  13. Stephanie Coals says

    11th June 2018 at 4:54 pm

    I love salmon with a pesto crust… it’s absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  14. Lydia Frew says

    13th June 2018 at 4:28 pm

    To be honest, my favourite is just simply baked with a drizzle of olive oil and some black pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Sometimes you should let good ingredients speak for themselves.

    Reply
  15. Leila Benhamida says

    13th June 2018 at 8:34 pm

    I love salmon marinated in red pesto sauce

    Reply
  16. Kim Carberry says

    14th June 2018 at 12:27 pm

    I do love Salmon en croute.

    Reply
  17. Kim Styles says

    15th June 2018 at 3:51 pm

    I love smoked salmon with blinis!

    Reply
  18. EMMA WALTERS says

    17th June 2018 at 7:45 pm

    thai fishcakes with salmon mmmmmm

    Reply
  19. sharon martin says

    29th June 2018 at 3:14 pm

    i like mine simple so steamed with a sprinkle of lemon juice

    Reply
  20. Timor says

    13th December 2018 at 6:14 pm

    looks very delicious!
    what temperature did you set the air fryer? and do you pre heat?
    I didn’t know you can even air fry salmon before, Thanks for the awesome recipe

    Reply
    • michelle says

      7th January 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Hi Timor, thanks for your message! So, my air fryer that I’ve used here doesn’t have a temperature setting

      Reply
  21. Stephanie says

    31st December 2018 at 4:15 pm

    What temp is the air fryer supposed to be set to???

    Reply
    • michelle says

      7th January 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Hi Stephanie. The air fryer that I’ve used doesn’t have a temperature setting 🙂

      Reply
  22. Jennifer says

    3rd January 2019 at 7:48 pm

    Do you remove that middle piece of the air fryer that rotates when cooking the salmon?

    Reply
    • michelle says

      7th January 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Hi Jennifer, yes remove the middle piece and then everything stays put. Good luck!

      Reply
  23. Mark V Booker says

    16th November 2019 at 11:39 pm

    What temperature?

    Reply
    • Michelle Minnaar says

      24th January 2020 at 2:23 pm

      Hi, Mark. The temperature I used is 170C/334F. Hope that helps!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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