A versatile and relatively quick to cook protein, salmon is a superstar ingredient in the kitchen. It pairs beautifully with countless flavors and cuisines, and its ability to adapt to different cooking methods makes it a favorite for busy weeknight dinners and special occasions alike.
When paired with the ease and convenience of Minute Rice, creating delicious salmon and rice dishes becomes even easier, allowing you to enjoy wholesome, flavorful meals without spending hours in the kitchen.
Tips for Cooking Great Salmon at Home
Salmon is an incredibly versatile protein that can be prepared in a number of ways to suit a wide variety of recipes and tastes. You’ll find many different cooking preparations for salmon in recipes, including smoked, grilled, baked, poached or served raw.
Some recipes call for fresh salmon, but pre-cooked, packaged salmon is also common in many recipes, such as smoked or canned salmon. These options are a great way to use this satisfying source of protein when you’re short on time.
If you’re cooking salmon at home, you’re likely preparing it on the stove, in the oven or on the grill. Here are a few quick tips to ensure your salmon turns out delicious every time:
Cook salmon skin-side down:
To ensure a crispy skin, cook salmon skin-side down until it is lightly browned and crisp, then turn the salmon over to finish cooking.
Use a non-stick pan
When pan frying salmon, a non-stick pan will make the fish easier to cook and flip and prevent the skin from sticking to the pan.
Check the internal temperature:
To avoid overcooking salmon, use a meat thermometer to check if the fish’s internal temperature is what you’d like it to be. To cook salmon to a medium temperature, you’re looking for it to reach between 120-125 degrees.
Use foil on the grill:
Salmon can be messy on the grill—it can easily stick to the grates and doesn’t flip well. To avoid a mess and ensure the fish stays moist, cook salmon in foil packets on the grill, with an opening to allow steam to escape.
Season your poaching liquid:
When poaching salmon, using plain water will result in a bland fish. You’ll want to at least add salt and aromatics like garlic or herbs, but you can also explore using other poaching liquids, like wine, stock or even coconut milk to add more flavor to the fish.
Salmon and Rice
Salmon and rice are a common combination, seen in sushi, poke bowls and other classic salmon dishes. Both of these staple ingredients are relatively easy to prepare, making salmon and rice a great option for weeknight meals and quick lunches.
Using Minute Rice, your next salmon and rice dinner can be even more hassle-free—it’s fast and easy to prepare to help you make mealtime a breeze. Minute Instant Rice is ready in as little as five minutes for a quick addition to any family meal, while perfectly-portioned Minute Rice Cups are ideal for quick rice bowls or meals on-the-go.
Simple & Delicious Salmon and Rice Recipes
If you’re looking for inspiration for salmon and rice dishes, the recipes below are a great place to begin. Using Minute Rice, these dishes are all quick and easy to prepare while still being filling and delicious.
Enjoy the simplicity of these recipes or get creative by incorporating your own favorite ingredients and techniques!
Ginger Seared Salmon
This Ginger Seared Salmon is a great place to start with a classic salmon and rice meal. The salmon is first seared, then simmered along with sesame ginger salad dressing, red bell peppers and snow peas so it comes out perfectly flaky and packed with flavor. Served over a bed of hearty Minute Instant Brown Rice and tasty veggies, this is a well-rounded meal that’s easy to prepare for lunch or dinner.
TikTok Salmon Bowl
Our whole grain take on the viral TikTok Salmon Bowl is fast, flavorful and foolproof! We use pantry staples so you can whip up this dish whenever the craving for salmon strikes. Plus, using Minute Rice Cups, ready in just 60 seconds, this dish comes together in just a few minutes. Simply combine the Minute Brown Rice Cup with flaked salmon, mayonnaise, soy sauce and Sriracha hot sauce in a serving bowl. Use nori as a wrap for the mixture, scooping up small bite-sized portions, and enjoy!
Everything Bagel Salmon Crispy Nigiri
For a creative twist on classic sushi, try this Everything Bagel Salmon Crispy Nigiri. The innovative dish layers smooth cream cheese and smoked salmon on crispy, toasted rice, perfectly seasoned with everything bagel spice for an exciting fusion of flavors. This dish uses Minute’s Sticky Rice Cups, which provide the perfect sticky base to hold the toppings secure, so you can enjoy sushi without the hassle of preparing traditional sticky rice.
Crispy Salmon
For a colorful, tasty and easy dinner that will delight your family, try this Crispy Salmon with Cilantro Lime Mango Rice from recipe creator Purely Healthy Living. After dredging fresh salmon in egg whites, flour and spices, the pieces are air fried to get them perfectly crispy and flaky. Minute’s Cilantro & Lime Rice Cups make a delicious base combined with mango and cilantro for a meal that’s bursting with color and flavor.
Lox in a Bowl
The classic combination of smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers and dill get a new twist in this Lox in a Bowl Mix It Up recipe. Rather than putting them on a bagel, mix these classic ingredients into a Minute Organic White Rice Cup and enjoy the taste of lox on the go!
Salmon Creamy Risotto with Peas
This Salmon Creamy Risotto with Peas from recipe creator Andrea Kunkel is an elegant dinner that’s surprisingly easy to prepare. Air fry salmon filets and flake the cooked salmon into smaller pieces. The risotto comes together incredibly quickly thanks to Minute Butter & Sea Salt Rice Cups, which are added to a mixture of onions, white wine and chicken stock to make the base of the risotto. After simmering with heavy cream and butter, add in the flaked salmon along with parmesan cheese and peas before serving.
Quick Kale Salad with Smoked Salmon
Looking for a filling salad to fuel your day that doesn’t take forever to put together? This Quick Kale Salad with Smoked Salmon will help you refuel to tackle the rest of your day and comes together in just three simple steps. Start with preparing a Minute Brown & Wild Rice Cup, then combine the rice with kale and smoked salmon. Mix with a simple dressing of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard and you’re ready to enjoy a delicious and filling salad!
Sushi Grazing Board
Preparing sushi may seem intimidating, but it’s easy to enjoy sushi at home with this Sushi Grazing Board. Fresh, sliced salmon and other classic sushi elements like nori, cucumber, radish, avocado, ginger, and wasabi are arranged around Minute Sticky Rice. Sauces including eel sauce, ponzu sauce, soy sauce, spicy mayo, and sriracha sauce are placed in small bowls around the bowl to finish the grazing platter. Simply combine your desired ingredients and enjoy getting creative with different combinations!
Salmon Poke Bowl
A classic way to enjoy salmon and rice is in a poke bowl, like this easy Salmon Rice Poke Bowl from recipe creator Meghan Allen. On a bed of aromatic Minute Instant Jasmine Rice, the bowl combines sushi-grade salmon, marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, green onion, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and ginger juice, with a simple and flavorful cucumber salad.
Salmon & Rice Recipes You’ll Love
Versatile and easy to work with, salmon and rice are a match made in culinary heaven. Whether you’re creating a quick weeknight dinner or an elegant meal to impress, this duo can adapt to countless flavors and cuisines. Salmon’s rich, delicate taste pairs beautifully with the fluffy texture and hearty taste of rice, offering endless opportunities to experiment in the kitchen.
With Minute Rice, preparing these delicious salmon and rice recipes is faster and more convenient than ever, allowing you to spend less time cooking and more time enjoying your meals. From simple bowls to sophisticated dishes, these recipes prove that cooking with salmon and rice can be both effortless and satisfying.
