Air Fryer Soy Honey Salmon
Ever since I got my new Cusinart Air Fryer for Christmas I have been on an air frying binge. Working from home during a pandemic really gives you some flexibility to be a little extra when you cook, so I tend to aim high when it comes to prepare a good old weekday dinner for my family. Normally I’d make this on my cast iron skillet, but this Soy Honey Salmon air fryer recipe is even better because of how simple it is and how much time it gives you to embellish on the rest of the meal. Also forget 30 minute meals – this baby can be done in 12-15 minutes tops.
Time
5 minute prep
12 minute cook
Ingredients
1 lb salmon filet
1-2 pinches of MSG (monosodium glutamate)
½ cup soy sauce
4 tbs granulated sugar
3 tbs honey
1 tsp sesame oil
Green onions and sesame seeds to garnish
Materials:
Air Fryer
Small-med saucepan
Whisk
Steps
- Make sure your salmon is chilled but defrosted. Prep your salmon by feeling across the top for any stray bones. If you find a small bone you can use your fingers or kitchen tweezers (or a pair of needle-nose pliers if you are desperate) and carefully pull them out.
- Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel then sprinkle on a pinch or two of MSG. No need to add more salt as the soy will do that for you.
- Place the salmon skin down in the air fryer basket and cook in air fryer mode at 400 degrees for 12 minutes until you hear the ding!
- While you wait, place the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and honey in a small or medium saucepan over a low heat. Give it a whisk and allow it to cook on low heat for a few minutes until it begins to bubble. At that point turn off the flame and keep whisking until all ingredients are incorporated. Set it aside and leave to cool until your salmon is done.
- When the salmon is finished cooking, remove from the air fryer. Carefully use a thin spatula (or butter knife) to get under the edge of the salmon skin. You want to slowly lift the salmon skin off the fryer basket without tearing it. Once you get under the edge the spatula should do the rest.
- Plate the salmon in a serving dish or a dinner plate with a rim. Pour the soy honey glaze over the salmon (it’s fine if it pools around the fillet – that’s what the rim is for). Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions and serve!
I cannot stress enough how much I love that an air fryer can manage the cooking of your main protein for you. Once you prep your protein and put it in, you can spend the rest of the time doing sides or sauces. It really allows you to spruce up the rest of your meal and make any weekday meal a special one.
Tonight’s dish was paired with one of my favorite greens: Chinese broccoli with garlic and sesame oil. Chinese broccoli sits somewhere between crunchy regular broccoli and a leafy shard, with the texture of spinach when cooked. It’s hard to explain but I find it tastes less bitter than regular broccoli with a more enjoyable crunch. So if you’re asking me – ditch the florets.
Make sure to check out my recipe for the Chinese broccoli with garlic and sesame dish below.
Bon appetit
