How to Make Delicious Salmon Sushi Bake at Home

Salmon sushi bake is a delicious and easy way to enjoy the flavors of sushi without having to meticulously roll sushi. It’s a baked casserole that layers sushi rice, salmon, spicy mayo, and other sushi ingredients into a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish. With just a few simple steps, you can have restaurant-quality salmon sushi bake ready in under an hour.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make salmon sushi bake at home, you’ll need:

• Salmon fillets or steaks (about 1.5 lbs)
• Sushi rice (2 cups uncooked)
• Rice vinegar (1/4 cup)
• Mayonnaise (1/2 cup)
• Soy sauce (1-2 Tbsp)
• Sriracha or other hot sauce (2 Tbsp)
• Furikake seasoning (2-3 Tbsp)
• Sesame seeds
• Chopped scallions
• Nori sheets for serving

The key ingredients are the sushi rice, salmon, and spicy mayo sauce. Using high-quality salmon like fresh wild-caught or sustainably-raised farmed salmon will give you the best flavor. Medium grain sushi rice gives the dish the right sticky texture.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for foolproof salmon sushi bake:

Cook the Salmon

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place salmon fillets skin-side down on the baking sheet. Brush with a little oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Make the Sushi Rice

• Rinse sushi rice several times until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch.
• Combine rice and water (1.5 cups water per 1 cup rice) in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Remove rice from heat and stir in rice vinegar and sugar. Allow to cool.

Assemble the Sushi Bake

• Press cooled sushi rice into a 9×13 baking dish in an even layer.
• Flake the cooked salmon into bite-sized pieces and mix with spicy mayo sauce (mayo, sriracha, soy sauce).
• Spread the salmon mixture over the rice.
• Top with furikake seasoning, sesame seeds, and extra spicy mayo sauce if desired.
• Bake at 450°F for 10 minutes to warm through.
• Garnish with chopped scallions, serve alongside sheets of nori.

And that’s it! With these simple steps you’ll have an easy homemade version of this trendy sushi bake

Helpful Tips for Making Perfect Salmon Sushi Bake

Follow these tips for the best possible results when making salmon sushi bake

• Use sushi-grade salmon if possible for the best taste and texture. Look for salmon labeled as sushi-grade or sashimi-grade.
• Be gentle when folding rice vinegar into the cooked rice to avoid mashing the grains. Use a rice paddle or wooden spoon.
• Cook the salmon until just opaque throughout but not dry or overcooked. Check for doneness after 15 minutes.
• Mix the salmon with mayo, sriracha, and soy sauce before adding to the rice to prevent it from drying out.
• Add any additional fresh toppings like avocado or cucumber after baking so they don’t get mushy.
• Play around with different flavors! Swap out the salmon for tuna or shrimp, use spicy crab meat, or add crispy tempura bits.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Sushi Bake

One of the great things about sushi bake is that it keeps well for several days in the fridge. Here are some tips for storing and reheating leftovers:

• Let the sushi bake cool completely before covering tightly and refrigerating.
• Store in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
• To reheat, place the chilled sushi bake in a 350°F oven covered with foil for 8-10 minutes until warmed through.
• The rice may dry out when reheating so add a splash of water to restore moisture and cover with foil.
• Add any toppings like scallions, avocado, or roe after reheating so they stay fresh.

With proper storage, you can enjoy delicious leftover sushi bake all week long! The rice retains its sticky texture remarkably well.

Serving Suggestions and Recipe Variations

Salmon sushi bake is very versatile. Here are some delicious ways to serve it:

• For appetizers, serve pieces with fried wonton skins or panko-crusted shrimp for dipping.
• Add sliced avocado, edamame, shredded carrots, cucumber, or radish on top.
• Drizzle with spicy mayo, unagi sauce, or Japanese kewpie mayo.
• Serve alongside miso soup and a green salad for a complete meal.
• For a vegetarian version, use cooked tofu instead of salmon.
• Swap the salmon for other fish like tuna, halibut, or snapper.
• Use hot smoked salmon for an extra flavor boost.

The possibilities are endless when making your own customized sushi bake at home! Play with textures and flavors to create your own signature baked salmon sushi dish.

Why Make Homemade Salmon Sushi Bake?

Here are some of the best reasons to try making your own salmon sushi bake at home:

• It’s simple and easy to make. With just a few basic ingredients and steps, you can skip fussy sushi rolling.

• Budget-friendly. Making your own sushi creation is much cheaper than ordering rolls from a restaurant.

• Customizable. Add any of your favorite sushi toppings to create your perfect baked roll.

• Fun presentation. Bring this beautiful baked dish straight to the table for a fun, sharable meal.

• Makes great leftovers. Sushi bake keeps well refrigerated for quick lunches or dinners later in the week.

• Kid-friendly. The mild salmon flavor and finger-food style appeal to kids’ palates.

• Impressive. Salmon sushi bake looks and tastes gourmet but is easy to pull off.

Next time a sushi craving strikes, give this simple baked salmon sushi bake recipe a try! With a few basic techniques, you can master this fun dish and customize it to your taste.