Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake (Printable)

Deconstructed sushi casserole with spicy salmon, sushi rice, and creamy toppings. A viral TikTok sensation!

# What You'll Need:

→ Sushi Rice

01 - 2 cups sushi rice
02 - 2.5 cups water
03 - 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 2 tablespoons sugar
05 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Spicy Salmon Mixture

06 - 1 pound skinless salmon fillet
07 - 1 tablespoon neutral oil
08 - 0.5 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 to 3 tablespoons sriracha sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
12 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion

→ Assembly and Toppings

13 - 1 sheet nori, crumbled
14 - 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
16 - 1 avocado, sliced
17 - 3 sheets roasted seaweed snacks
18 - Additional sriracha sauce for drizzling
19 - Additional mayonnaise for drizzling

# Directions:

01 - Rinse sushi rice under cold running water until water runs clear. Combine rinsed rice with 2.5 cups water in a rice cooker or medium saucepan and cook according to package instructions.
02 - In a small saucepan, heat rice vinegar, sugar, and salt over medium heat until dissolved. Pour vinegar mixture over cooked rice and gently fold to combine. Allow rice to cool slightly before assembly.
03 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
04 - Place salmon fillet on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush lightly with neutral oil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until salmon is cooked through. Flake cooked salmon with a fork and allow to cool slightly.
05 - In a mixing bowl, combine flaked salmon, mayonnaise, sriracha sauce, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and chopped green onions. Mix until thoroughly blended and evenly distributed.
06 - Lightly oil a 9 by 9 inch baking dish. Spread seasoned sushi rice evenly across the bottom layer. Sprinkle crumbled nori evenly over the rice.
07 - Spread spicy salmon mixture evenly over the nori-topped rice layer. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the salmon mixture if using.
08 - Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbling.
09 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, avocado slices, and drizzle with additional sriracha sauce and mayonnaise.
10 - Scoop warm sushi bake onto roasted seaweed snacks or serve as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It gives you all the flavor of sushi rolls without any rolling or fancy knife skills required.
  • The warm, melty texture is comfort food that still feels special and a little indulgent.
  • You can prep most of it ahead and just bake it right before serving, which makes entertaining so much easier.
  • It's endlessly customizable depending on what you have in the fridge or how spicy you like things.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, the first time I didn't bother, the rice turned out gummy and sticky in the wrong way, not the good sushi rice texture.
  • Let the baked salmon cool a bit before mixing it with the mayo or the heat will make the mayo separate and get oily instead of creamy.
  • If you're making this ahead, assemble everything but wait to bake it until just before serving so the rice doesn't dry out.
03 -
  • Use a rice cooker if you have one, it takes all the guesswork out and gives you perfect sushi rice every single time.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for a minute before sprinkling them on top, the nutty aroma they release makes a noticeable difference.
  • If you want a crispy top layer, switch your oven to broil for the last two minutes and watch it closely until the cheese gets golden and bubbly.
Return