Hot Honey Salmon Bites (Printable version)
Crispy salmon cubes tossed in a sticky, spicy-sweet hot honey glaze. Ready in just 30 minutes.
# What you need:
→ Fish
01 - 1 lb skinless salmon fillet, cut into bite-sized cubes
→ Marinade
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/4 tsp salt
06 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Sauce
07 - 1/3 cup honey
08 - 1–2 tbsp hot sauce (such as sriracha or chili garlic sauce, adjust to taste)
09 - 1 tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce alternative)
10 - 1 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
→ Garnish
11 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or green onions
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the salmon cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated on all sides.
03 - Spread the seasoned salmon pieces on the prepared baking tray in a single layer, ensuring space between each cube for even cooking.
04 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the salmon is just cooked through and lightly golden on the edges.
05 - While the salmon bakes, combine the honey, hot sauce, tamari, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly until smooth and just beginning to bubble, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
06 - Remove the salmon from the oven and transfer to a large clean bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over the salmon bites and toss gently until evenly coated.
07 - For a stickier, caramelized glaze, return the sauced salmon bites to the baking tray and place back in the oven for 2 to 3 additional minutes. Otherwise, proceed to serving.
08 - Transfer the hot honey salmon bites to a serving platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped fresh chives or green onions. Serve immediately.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The sticky sweet heat clings to every golden cube and honestly tastes like something from a restaurant menu.
- Start to finish in thirty minutes with one baking tray and a small saucepan, which is my kind of weeknight math.
02 -
- Do not walk away from the saucepan once the honey mixture starts bubbling because it goes from silky to burnt in seconds.
- Cutting the salmon into uniform cubes is the single most important step for even cooking and avoiding dry pieces alongside raw ones.
03 -
- A pinch of cayenne in the sauce takes the heat to a whole new level if you are brave enough to try it.
- Letting the sauced bites go back in the oven for those extra two minutes creates a tacky glaze that rivals anything from a takeout box.