Bang Bang Salmon

Once you try this Bang Bang Salmon, it's guaranteed to be a staple meal in your home! By now you guys know I love sharing salmon recipes, I mean it's been my favorite fish for years! I always like to switch up how to enjoy it and recently I've been coming back to this recipe. That's because it's simple, easy to make and ready in 20 minutes so it ticks all the boxes, especially these days as I barely have time to cook with a cheeky crawling baby and already in my 3rd trimester...can you believe!

Here I've made my own homemade bang bang sauce that's a little healthier than the classic sauce, but no one will know as it tastes exactly the same. The salmon is sliced and marinated into cubes to make yummy salmon bites which gives it more surface area for caramelization and crispy edges. It's then drizzled with more bang bang sauce which is creamy with a spicy kick and makes you want more with each bite!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Salmon is the star here providing lean protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. I've sliced the fillets into cubes to make a salmon bowl, however you can leave the salmon fillet whole if you prefer
• Soy sauce, garlic clove and bang bang sauce make part of a light marinade for the salmon bites for extra flavor. The hero is really the bang bang sauce which is then drizzled on top of the salmon once cooked

Bang Bang Sauce

• Mayonnaise is half of the sauce base. To make this recipe healthier, I've halved the mayonnaise quantity with thick Greek yogurt, you can of course skip the yogurt and use 100% mayo. I've used Japanese kewpie mayonnaise which has a delicious creamy rich taste but any will do
• Greek yogurt forms the other half of the base giving it a lighter healthier result. Always use a thick style yogurt so your bang bang sauce doesn't end up too runny or watery. To make it even healthier, you can use 100% yogurt and skip the mayo completely for extra protein. I prefer non fat yogurt but both work well
• Sweet chilli sauce adds sweetness and a mild spicy kick to the sauce
• Sriracha hot sauce brings the heat and works well with the sweet and creamy elements. Adjust the amount to your preference, my recipe has a mild spice level but feel free to increase or decrease
• Lemon juice brings extra brightness to balance out the flavors but you can also swap with lime juice too

Tips and Tricks

• Cut salmon pieces evenly, so that the cooking time will be consistent. If cut too small they can fall apart - I find 1 inch / 2.5 cm cubes works well
• Marinate longer - this will give an extra punch of flavor. If you can, make it in advance and leave to marinate for a few hours in the fridge
• I've cooked the salmon using a broiler method which gives more caramelization and crisp edges to the salmon bites. Make sure they are in a single layer and not touching
• You can also pan or air fry - all work great! Just be mindful to not overcrowd the skillet or air fryer basket and cook in batches if needed. This way, everything cooks evenly with a delicious caramelization on the outside

Storage Instructions

• Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
• Reheat on a pan with a tiny splash of water for a few minutes until heated through so it doesn't overcook the salmon. You can also use the oven, air fryer or microwave
• Freeze salmon pieces in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Once thawed, reheat in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through

Serving Suggestions

For this recipe I've made a salmon bowl for a complete meal which hits the spot every single time! Think of it like a cooked poke bowl. For carbs, I've paired it with rice such as basmati rice, jasmine rice or brown rice. Then I've made a fresh edamame salad or my avocado salad would work great too. Alternatively, steamed veggies such as broccoli or asparagus or mixed roasted vegetables work well also.

FAQs

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