Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl

Featured in: Weeknight Dinners

This vibrant dish combines crisp-skinned salmon with golden, pan-fried rice, creating an irresistible contrast of textures. Spicy mayo, tangy kimchi, and fresh avocado lend punchy flavor and creamy richness. Topped with crispy garlic, scallions, sesame seeds, and optional nori strips, every bite is savory and satisfying. Assembling is simple: crisp up the rice, cook the salmon to perfection, and finish with an array of colorful veggies. Ideal for a pescatarian meal, it’s both quick enough for busy nights and special enough to impress.

Updated on Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:15:00 GMT
Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl garnished with spicy mayo, kimchi, and fresh avocado slices.  Pin
Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl garnished with spicy mayo, kimchi, and fresh avocado slices. | grillandbites.com

A vibrant, flavor-packed bowl featuring crispy salmon, fluffy rice, spicy mayo, tangy kimchi, and savory garlic for a perfect balance of textures and tastes.

The first time I made this crispy salmon rice bowl, it quickly became a staple. The combination of the crunchy salmon skin and creamy spicy mayo was such a crowd-pleaser at our table.

Ingredients

  • Salmon: 2 salmon fillets (about 150 g each), skin-on, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Rice: 2 cups cooked short-grain white rice (leftover/cold preferred)
  • Spicy Mayo: 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Sriracha or other hot sauce, 1 tsp lime juice, 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • Toppings & Additions: 1/2 cup kimchi (roughly chopped), 2 cloves garlic (thinly sliced), 1 small cucumber (thinly sliced), 1 avocado (sliced), 2 tbsp scallions (finely chopped), 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 sheet nori (cut into strips, optional)

Instructions

Prepare the salmon:
Pat salmon fillets dry, season both sides with salt and pepper.
Crisp salmon skin:
Heat vegetable oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place salmon skin-side down and cook for 4–5 minutes until skin is crispy. Flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest.
Crisp garlic:
In the same skillet, add garlic slices and sauté until golden and crisp, about 1 minute. Remove and drain on paper towel.
Crispy rice:
Wipe skillet clean, then add a touch more oil if needed. Add cold rice, pressing down to form an even layer. Cook undisturbed over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes until bottom is golden and crispy.
Spicy mayo:
While rice crisps, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha, lime juice, and sesame oil.
Assemble bowls:
Divide crispy rice between two bowls. Top with salmon (break into large chunks), kimchi, cucumber, avocado, and scallions. Drizzle with spicy mayo. Garnish with crispy garlic, sesame seeds, and nori strips if using.
Serve:
Serve immediately.
Vibrant bowl of Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl topped with golden garlic and sesame seeds.  Pin
Vibrant bowl of Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl topped with golden garlic and sesame seeds. | grillandbites.com

Our family loves customizing each bowl with extra avocado or swapping in different veggies depending on what's in the fridge. It's always fun to see everyone make their own version.

Required Tools

Non-stick skillet, spatula, small mixing bowl, knife and cutting board.

Allergen Information

This recipe contains fish (salmon), egg (mayonnaise), sesame, and soy (present in kimchi and nori). For gluten-sensitive diets, check all packaged ingredients.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Calories: 610. Total Fat: 32 g. Carbohydrates: 52 g. Protein: 33 g.

Delicious Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl featuring fluffy rice, spicy mayo, and tangy toppings. Pin
Delicious Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl featuring fluffy rice, spicy mayo, and tangy toppings. | grillandbites.com

Serve this bowl right away for the best crunch. Leftovers can be reheated in a skillet for an easy meal the next day.

Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl

Crispy salmon, golden rice, spicy mayo, kimchi, and fresh garnishes come together for a flavorful fusion bowl.

Prep duration
20 min
Cook duration
15 min
Overall duration
35 min


Skill level Easy

Heritage Asian Fusion

Output 2 Portions

Dietary requirements No dairy

Components

Salmon

01 2 salmon fillets (approximately 5.3 ounces each), skin-on
02 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
04 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Rice

01 2 cups cooked short-grain white rice, cold or leftover preferred

Spicy Mayo

01 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
02 1 tablespoon Sriracha or other hot sauce
03 1 teaspoon lime juice
04 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Toppings & Additions

01 1/2 cup kimchi, roughly chopped
02 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
03 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
04 1 avocado, sliced
05 2 tablespoons scallions, finely chopped
06 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
07 1 sheet nori, cut into strips (optional)

Directions

Phase 01

Prepare Salmon Fillets: Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.

Phase 02

Sear Salmon until Crispy: Heat vegetable oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place salmon skin-side down and cook for 4–5 minutes, allowing the skin to become crispy. Flip the fillets and cook an additional 2–3 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer salmon to a plate and let rest briefly.

Phase 03

Crisp Garlic: In the same skillet, add sliced garlic. Sauté for about 1 minute until golden and crisp. Remove garlic and drain on a paper towel.

Phase 04

Crisp Rice: Wipe out the skillet and add more oil if needed. Add cold rice, pressing into an even layer. Cook undisturbed over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy.

Phase 05

Prepare Spicy Mayo: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha, lime juice, and toasted sesame oil until smooth.

Phase 06

Assemble Salmon Rice Bowls: Divide crispy rice between two serving bowls. Top with chunks of salmon, chopped kimchi, cucumber slices, avocado slices, and scallions. Drizzle with spicy mayo. Garnish with crispy garlic, sesame seeds, and nori strips if desired.

Phase 07

Serve: Serve immediately while warm for optimal texture and flavor.

Tools needed

  • Non-stick skillet
  • Spatula
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Allergy details

Review each ingredient for potential allergens and consult healthcare providers if you're uncertain about any components.
  • Contains fish (salmon).
  • Contains egg (mayonnaise).
  • Contains sesame.
  • Contains soy (may be present in kimchi and nori).
  • May contain gluten depending on kimchi or sauces used; verify product labels if gluten-sensitive.

Nutrition breakdown (per portion)

These values are estimates only and shouldn't replace professional medical guidance.
  • Energy: 610
  • Fat: 32 g
  • Carbohydrates: 52 g
  • Protein: 33 g