Description
This Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake is a delicious and comforting twist on traditional sushi, featuring tender baked salmon mixed with spicy mayo and cream cheese layered over seasoned sushi rice. Baked to perfection and topped with flavorful sauces, sesame seeds, avocado, and jalapeños, this dish is perfect for sharing and easy to prepare in advance.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Layer
- 1 cup sushi rice or short grain rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
Salmon Layer
- 1–1.5 lbs salmon fillet
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 clove crushed garlic
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 2 tbsp spicy mayo
- 2 tbsp cream cheese
Sauces & Toppings
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/3 cup sriracha
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Eel sauce (unagi sauce), or other sweet sauce like teriyaki, for drizzling
- Furikake (savory Japanese rice seasoning) or crushed seaweed snacks
- Sesame seeds
- Additional scallions, chopped
- Sliced jalapeños
- Avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the salmon.
- Cook rice: Rinse the sushi rice thoroughly and combine with water in a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and season with rice vinegar, salt, and sugar. Stir well and set aside.
- Season and bake salmon: While the rice cooks, season salmon fillet with salt and pepper. Mix coconut aminos, honey, and crushed garlic, then rub this marinade over the salmon. Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes, depending on thickness, until cooked through.
- Prepare salmon mixture: Remove the salmon skin once baked, and flake the salmon into a bowl. Add chopped scallions, cream cheese, and spicy mayo. Mix thoroughly to combine all flavors.
- Increase oven temperature: Raise the oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the assembled dish.
- Assemble rice layer: Spread the cooked sushi rice evenly into a 9×9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle furikake seasoning or crushed seaweed snacks evenly over the rice.
- Add salmon layer: Spread the salmon mixture over the rice layer. Drizzle eel sauce or teriyaki and additional spicy mayo on top of the salmon layer for extra flavor.
- Bake the sushi bake: Bake the assembled dish for 10 minutes at 400°F. Then, place it under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to brown the top and enhance flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the sushi bake from the oven and garnish with sesame seeds, extra sauces, sliced avocado, chopped scallions, and sliced jalapeños to add freshness and heat.
- Make ahead tip: If preparing ahead, layer the cooked rice and salmon mixture in the baking dish, then refrigerate. Bake just before serving to maintain freshness and best texture.
Notes
- Use short grain sushi rice for the best authentic texture and stickiness.
- Coconut aminos serve as a low-sodium soy sauce alternative; regular soy sauce works as well.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha in spicy mayo according to your desired spice level.
- Broiling at the end adds a nice char and flavor but watch closely to prevent burning.
- This dish can be served with nori sheets or as a bowl over greens for a low-carb option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Japanese Fusion
Keywords: Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake, sushi bake recipe, baked sushi, salmon recipe, Japanese fusion, spicy mayo recipe, sushi casserole
