Salmon sushi bowls will revolutionize the way you eat sushi! These stunning bowls can be whipped up in about 45 minutes, and they are absolutely mouth-watering. Served with nori sheets on the side, there is no need for rolling sushi here!
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To make these salmon sushi bowls, you'll need my sushi rice recipe as the base, plus some cooked salmon, and this easy air fryer salmon is my go-to, but any fully cooked salmon works. For the sauce, whip up my homemade spicy mayo or sriracha aioli if you want a little extra kick. And don't forget to make a fresh batch of eel sauce, which is an essential topping for any sushi, if you ask me! Another option is swapping in these honey garlic salmon bites for a fun twist on the protein. And if you're already a salmon fan, you have to try my pan-seared salmon with firecracker aioli or honey dijon baked salmon next!
Why You'll Love These Sushi Bowls
- No rolling required. Pack it all into a bowl, and you'll get the same flavors with way less effort!
- They are ready fast. All you have to do is cook the sushi rice and the salmon, chop up all the toppings, and you're ready to eat.
- Customize it. Salmon sushi bowls are fully customizable and great for a build-your-own bowl or lazy susan style dinner.
- Endlessly versatile. Use all your favorite fruits, veggies and proteins in these bowls.
- Sushi bowls are meal prep gold. Build them all separately in airtight containers, keep them in the fridge, and enjoy them on demand for the next couple of days.
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Salmon: Replace the salmon filet with these crispy honey garlic salmon bites for an even more delicious sushi bowl. Try these grilled bang bang shrimp skewers or velveted chicken as an additional add-on, too!
- Sesame Seeds: Black sesame seeds are a traditional option, but you can also use toasted sesame seeds for an added flavor boost!
- Spicy Mayo: This recipe uses a quick Kewpie spicy mayo. If you want a from-scratch version instead, try my homemade spicy mayo recipe. Or if spicy mayo is not your thing, my Kewpie roasted sesame dressing is a great swap too!
- Fruits & Veggies: These sushi bowls are very versatile. Feel free to use any vegetable or fruit that you would like to experiment with! Some other fruit and veggie options are: roasted eggplant, raspberries, roasted sweet potato, crispy roasted broccoli, pickled red onions or peaches. The options are unlimited!
- Sushi Rice: Take the rice one step further and make these crispy rice squares to top with all your favorite sushi toppings, instead of eating it bowl style.
A full list of ingredients and measurements can be seen on the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Recipe Variations
- Kewpie Mayo: Kewpie mayo has a strong umami flavour, making it perfect for sushi dishes. But any regular mayo may be substituted if preferred. My homemade avocado oil mayo is a good option, too.
- Marinate the Salmon: Marinate the salmon in teriyaki sauce, cover it in homemade honey garlic sauce, or brush it with bang bang sauce for an extra flavorful bowl!
- Swap the Protein: Try Oven-baked garlic butter shrimp, grilled bang bang shrimp skewers, restaurant-style chicken, or crispy tofu instead.
- Make It Spicier: Use sriracha aioli instead or add extra sriracha into the mayo.
- Add Eel Sauce: Drizzle on some homemade eel sauce for an extra layer of sweet, savory flavor. It is not traditionally a part of this dish, but it's a fantastic addition if you love it on sushi.
- Additional Serving Accompaniments: Serve with wasabi paste, pickled ginger, crispy onions and soy sauce.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
Made this and my 16-year-old son (who LOVES sushi) could NOT GET ENOUGH of it!! Even ate the leftovers straight out of the fridge cold and wanted more. (By the way, I marinated my salmon in teriyaki before grilling) This one is definitely on repeat, and I've already had to make it a second time in as many weeks! -Dani
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How To Make Salmon Sushi Bowls
Aside from the fact that there is quite a lot of chopping, slicing and dicing veggies and fruits for this recipe, I promise that it is super easy to make!
Sushi Rice
The first part of this recipe that you will have to make is sushi rice. I have an entire post explaining sushi rice and what kind of rice you will need to use.
The sushi rice can be served warm or cold in this recipe, whichever you prefer. I prefer cold sushi rice.
Salmon
For the salmon in this recipe, this air fryer salmon recipe is perfect! But any cooked salmon you prefer can be used in this recipe.
Like the sushi rice, the salmon can be served warm or cold (just make sure it is fully cooked).
Easy Spicy Mayo
To prepare the spicy mayo sauce for the salmon bowls, all you have to do is combine the Kewpie mayo and sriracha in a small bowl, then stir it up! Or make this homemade sriracha aioli sauce, which also pairs perfectly with these sushi bowls and has a bit more spice to it.
Assembling The Bowls
There are two ways to serve these sushi bowls. The first is to prepare the sushi bowls and serve them straight up. The second (more fun) way is to put out all of the ingredients on a lazy susan in the middle of the table and let everyone build their own sushi bowl! There are so many pretty colours that making the bowls is almost a work of art, and they are so fun to put together!
To assemble the sushi bowls, follow these basic steps:
Rice Base
First, add a layer of sushi rice to a large shallow bowl.
Add Salmon
Next, add a piece of your prepared salmon.
Add Toppings
Layer on the rest of the toppings.
Add Sauces
Finally, add the spicy mayo, eel sauce, additional Kewpie mayo, or soy sauce, and all that is left to do is dig in and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- An easy way to distribute the spicy mayo is to put the spicy mayo into a small zip top baggy. Squeeze all of the sauce down to one corner of the bag and snip off a very small part of the corner of the bag. Now you will be able to squeeze the spicy mayo all over the tops of the bowls!
- Serve warm or cold, whichever you prefer!
- Make sure the salmon is fully cooked through if you are planning on serving these sushi bowls cold.
Storing the Leftovers
Store the leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy within 2 days. Salmon has a very short shelf life in the refrigerator, so use at your own discretion.
I think these bowls are best enjoyed cold, but if you would like them warm, store all the components separately and reheat the salmon and rice in a microwave or frying pan before building the bowls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, yes, but I am no expert on this, so you will have to do your own research on how to safely consume raw salmon and buy it from a reputable fishmonger.
Look for "calrose" or "sushi" rice in the grocery store. It is a short-grain rice, and I have a full post on how to make sushi rice that you might find helpful as well.
No, Kewpie mayo is made with only egg yolks, spices, and mixed with a blend of vinegars to create a unique, more savory umami mayo flavor.
More Bowl Style Recipes To Try
Looking for more bowl-style recipes like this? Try these:
If you made these Salmon Sushi Bowls or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating, a 💬 comment and share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Salmon Sushi Bowls with Spicy Mayo
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Sushi Rice
- 2 cups Water
- 1 ½ cups Sushi or Calrose Rice
- ¼ cup Rice Vinegar
- ¼ cup Maple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Neutral Oil like avocado or vegetable oil
Spicy Kewpie Mayo
- 2 ½ Tablespoons Kewpie Mayo
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Sriracha
Sushi Bowl Toppings
- 4 Prepared Salmon Fillets
- 1 Mango diced
- 2 Avocados sliced
- 4-5 Mini Cucumbers thinly sliced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper finely diced
- 2 Carrots finely diced
- 2 Spring Onions diced
- Black Sesame Seeds for topping (optional)
- Nori Seaweed Sheets, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Make the Sushi Rice
- In a large saucepan, add the water and sushi rice, cover with a tight fitting lid, and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to medium-low and continue cooking for another 10-12 minutes, until all of the water is absorbed. In a small bowl, stir together the rice vinegar, maple syrup, and oil. Pour into the prepared rice, stir well, cover with a lid and let sit for an additional 10-15 minutes.👉 See the full sushi rice guide for more detailed instructions
Make the Spicy Kewpie Mayo
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the Kewpie mayo and the sriracha. Stir together. Set aside.👉 Or try my homemade spicy mayo recipe for a different version
Assemble the Bowls
- Add ½-¾ cup of the prepared sushi rice to the bottom of a shallow bowl. Add one filet of cooked salmon on top of the rice. Layer on the rest of the fruits and vegetables. Top with black sesame seeds, place some nori sheets on the side, and drizzle with spicy mayo.
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Notes
- Salmon: Easily prepare this air fryer salmon for a quick and easy option, or try my honey garlic salmon bites instead.
- Spicy Mayo: If you'd like to try a different version, try my regular spicy mayo sauce or sriracha aioli for an extra boost of spice.
- Switch Up the Fruits and Vegetables: Use any fruits and vegetables you like on these sushi bowls. Some good options are crispy baked broccoli, roasted eggplant, raspberries, or peaches.
- More Sauce Toppings: Try adding a drizzle of homemade eel sauce, soy sauce, or teriyaki sauce on top.
- To easily distribute the spicy mayo onto the bowls, transfer the spicy Kewpie mayo to a small zip top bag and snip off one of the bottom corners.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
Eddie says
This is a refreshing and flavourful bowl that has made its way into our regular line up. Healthy and absolutely delicious, we can’t get enough.
Dani says
Made this and my 16 yo son (who LOVES sushi) could NOT GET ENOUGH of it!! Even ate the leftovers straight out of the fridge cold and wanted more. (Btw I marinated my salmon in teriyaki before grilling) this own is definitely on repeat and I’ve already had to make it a second time in as many weeks!
Jessica says
Yay! We are so happy that you and your son love the recipe!
Jessica says
These bowls will make all your sushi dreams come true, and the best part: no rolling required. Don't skip the spicy mayo or eel sauce either!