Description

Salmon Crispy Rice is a playful, restaurant-worthy Japanese-inspired appetizer that turns simple ingredients into stunning sushi bites. Crunchy golden rice cakes are topped with creamy, spicy salmon, fresh avocado, and jalapeño for the perfect balance of texture and flavor. It’s a show-stopping recipe for parties, date nights, or treating yourself at home.

Ingredients

Scale

Crispy Rice

600 g (3 cups) cooked sushi rice (short-grain)
30 ml (2 tbsp) rice vinegar
15 g (1 tbsp) sugar
5 g (1 tsp) salt
240 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil, for frying

Spicy Salmon

450 g (1 lb) sushi-grade salmon, finely chopped
60 g (4 tbsp) Kewpie mayonnaise
30 ml (2 tbsp) sriracha
2 tbsp scallions, finely chopped
10 ml (2 tsp) soy sauce
10 ml (2 tsp) sesame oil

For Serving

1 avocado, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
Black and white toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

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Instructions

Season the Rice: Whisk rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Gently fold into cooked rice.
Shape & Chill: Spread rice evenly into a plastic wrap–lined pan. Press firmly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Prepare Spicy Salmon: Combine salmon, Kewpie mayo, sriracha, scallions, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Chill until ready to use.
Fry the Rice Cakes: Cut chilled rice into 16 rectangles. Heat oil in a skillet. Fry rice pieces 2–3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
Assemble: Top each rice cake with avocado, a spoonful of spicy salmon, a jalapeño slice, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Notes

Chill the rice well for clean, firm cuts.

Maintain oil temperature for crispy results—avoid overcrowding the pan.

Fry rice cakes ahead of time and re-crisp before serving, but assemble toppings fresh.

Substitute spicy tuna, crab, or cooked shrimp if sushi-grade salmon isn’t available.

Use regular mayo with a splash of rice vinegar if you don’t have Kewpie.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Appetizer / Sushi-Inspired Bites
Method: Pan-Frying and Assembly
Cuisine: Japanese-Inspired / Fusion