Forget the same old baked salmon fillets! This super easy recipe for my sticky honey garlic salmon bites is one of my favourite ways to prepare salmon. Ready in 15 minutes, and there’s hardly any work involved besides making a sticky glaze, and searing some salmon. With ginger, garlic, honey, and coconut aminos (instead of soy), these salmon bites are coated in a sticky, glistening, flavour-packed glaze. Served over coconut rice and a refreshing cucumber salad, they’re perfect for a family weeknight dinner!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- It’s quick, and super easy! Once you make the glaze and sear the salmon, you’ve done most of the work! All in 15 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner for the family.
- It’s healthy! Salmon is packed with bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and K, as well as B12, and more! Plus it’s an excellent source of protein. Wild-caught (not farmed) is best if you can find it!
- It’s delicious! The glaze is packed with flavour thanks to the fresh ginger, garlic, honey and coconut aminos (a soy sauce substitute).
- It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free! Perfect for those who are sensitive to various allergens, have intolerances, or are fasting for religious reasons (a fantastic option for some days during Lent!)
Ingredients for Sticky Honey Garlic Salmon Bites
Of course, you’ll need salmon. Any cut will do (tail, fillet, whatever floats your boat!) I actually prefer the tail because it’s fattier and more delicious! If you can get your hands on salmon belly, even better. It melts like butter in your mouth, and is prized for it’s irresistible flavour and fattiness (which means more omega-3s!) Plus, it’s much more affordable than the fillet. If you can source wild-caught salmon instead of farmed salmon, even better still!
For the sticky glaze, you will need honey, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, sesame oil and coconut aminos. I use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for health reasons, and for flavour reasons! I find it’s not as overpoweringly salty as soy and has more of a fruity, slightly sweet taste.
Some optional but highly recommended garnishes for your sticky honey garlic salmon bites include black and white sesame seeds, fresh red chilli, coriander, and spring onions. It gives the dish a pop of colour and a final hit of different textures and flavours.
How To Make Sticky Honey Garlic Salmon Bites
First, make your glaze by whisking coconut aminos, honey, freshly grated garlic and ginger together. Set aside and let the flavours infuse.
Then cube your salmon and sear it until barely cooked. You can use any oil you like. I use coconut oil but avocado oil is also a great option! After you sear the salmon, remove it from the pan.
Note: You’ll likely see some clear gel-like liquid at the bottom. That’s albumin, a flavourless protein that is released from the salmon while cooking. Do not throw it out! As it cools, it coagulates, and so it’s perfect for thickening the glaze and turning into a gloriously sticky coating.
In the same pan, pour in your glaze, and gently simmer it for a few minutes until it thickens. Continually stir, making sure the honey does not burn. Once it has thickened, turn the heat off and stir through the sesame oil.
Return the salmon back into the pan, and gently toss in the glaze. How easy is that?!
How to Serve Sticky Honey Garlic Salmon Bites
These sticky honey garlic salmon bites are so moreish you’ll want to eat them as is, straight out of the pan. A perfect little protein-packed snack! But for a dinner the whole family will love, serve these sticky honey garlic salmon bites over a bed of coconut rice, with a side of refreshing cucumber salad. Oh and of course, pour all that deliciously sticky glaze over the top!
Garnish with black and white sesame seeds, finely sliced spring onion, fresh red chilli, and coriander. Absolutely delicious!
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe! If you tried it and loved it, I would be so grateful if you left a 5-star review and a comment to let me know how it went! xxx
Easy Sticky Honey Garlic Salmon Bites (15 Minutes)
Ingredients
Method
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First, make the glaze by adding the coconut aminos and honey to a bowl. Peel the ginger, and garlic, and grate both into the bowl. Whisk to combine, and set aside to let the flavours infuse.
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Cube your salmon into bite-sized (2.5cm/1 inch) pieces. Heat the coconut oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Place your salmon in the pan and season with salt. Sear the salmon for 2-3 minutes until it's barely cooked. You still want it to be pink in the middle (see Note 2).
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Once seared, remove the salmon from the pan.
You'll likely see some clear gel-like liquid at the bottom. That's albumin, a flavourless protein that is released from the salmon while cooking. Do not throw it out! As it cools, it coagulates, and so it's perfect for thickening the glaze and turning into a gloriously sticky coating! -
In the same pan, pour in your glaze, and turn the heat to low. Gently simmer the glaze for 4-5 minutes until it thickens. Continually stir, making sure the honey does not burn. Once it has thickened, turn the heat off and stir through the sesame oil.
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Return the salmon back into the pan, and gently toss in the glaze. Top with recommended garnishes, and serve with coconut rice and an Asian cucumber salad. Enjoy!
Note
- Soy sauce is typically much saltier than coconut aminos. If using soy sauce, start with 2 tablespoons, and adjust according to taste. Do not over-salt the salmon while searing since the glaze with soy sauce will more than likely be salty enough!
- The salmon should not be cooked all the way through at this stage. It will continue to cook as it rests, and it will cook a tiny bit more when tossed through the hot, sticky glaze. So take it out of the pan while it's still a touch raw in the middle, and it will be perfectly cooked and juicy by the time you serve up!
