This is my take on fried rice using salmon as the star protein. Traditional Chinese fried rice usually sticks to pork, shrimp, or just eggs, but salmon works great when you sear it right and keep the pieces in large bites so they do not fall apart. I use butter instead of oil for a richer, more savory flavor, which makes this more of a fusion dish than a strict classic. If you love my egg fried rice or my easy shrimp fried rice, this is the next step up.
I started making this when I had leftover salmon in the fridge and did not want to eat it plain the next day. Tossing it into fried rice turned out to be the best way to stretch one fillet into a full meal for the whole family. My husband and son both loved it, so now I make it on purpose, not just with leftovers.
I marinate the salmon in lemon juice and cornstarch to protect it from overcooking, then sear it quickly until golden. The eggs get scrambled separately so they stay fluffy. Everything comes together in one pan with day old rice, vegetables, and just enough soy sauce to tie it all together. This is a great weeknight dinner or meal prep option. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.
Ingredients
To make this easy Salmon Fried Rice, I use simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store, though I’m sure you already have some of them in your pantry staples. I like to divide the ingredients into two groups so the salmon can marinate while I prep everything else.
Salmon marinade: I toss diced salmon with lemon juice, black pepper, salt, and cornstarch. The cornstarch creates a thin coating that keeps the salmon from drying out during the sear. This is a technique similar to Chinese velveting (上浆), which I use in many of my stir fry recipes.
Fried rice: I use day old jasmine rice, eggs, butter, red onion, garlic, frozen vegetables, red pepper, and soy sauce. The butter adds a richness you do not get from plain oil, which is what gives this version its fusion character.
Quick Note: If you prefer a more traditional Chinese flavor, you can swap the butter for vegetable oil and add a splash of sesame oil at the end.
How to Make
1. Marinate the salmon: Combine the diced salmon with the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix until evenly coated. Let it sit while you prep the rest.
2. Prep the rice: Use your fingers or a fork to break up any clumps of cold day old rice before cooking. The grains should be separate and dry.
3. Sear the salmon: Heat butter in a large skillet over high heat. Spread the salmon in a single layer and cook without moving until the bottom turns golden. Flip and cook the other side, then transfer to a plate.
4. Scramble the eggs: Add a little more butter to the same pan and pour in the beaten eggs. Scramble until just cooked and transfer to the plate with the salmon.
5. Cook the aromatics: Add the remaining butter and the red onion to the pan. Cook and stir for about a minute, then add the garlic and cook until the edges turn pale golden.
6. Toast the rice: Add the rice and stir to separate the grains and coat them evenly with the butter. Let the rice toast, stirring occasionally, until it looks dry and slightly crispy.
7. Season and add vegetables: Pour in the soy sauce and stir until the rice is evenly coated. Add the frozen vegetables and red pepper, then cook until the vegetables are heated through and any excess moisture is gone.
8. Combine and serve: Add the salmon and eggs back to the pan and stir to mix everything together. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. Garnish with sliced green onion and serve hot.
My Cooking Tips to Consider
Use day old rice for the best texture: Freshly cooked rice is too moist and will steam instead of fry. I always use rice that has been in the fridge for at least a day. If I do not have leftover rice, I spread freshly cooked rice on a baking sheet and let it cool uncovered for about an hour before using it.
Do not overcook the salmon: I sear the salmon quickly over high heat and take it out of the pan while the center is still slightly underdone. It finishes cooking when I add it back to the hot rice at the end. Overcooked salmon turns dry and crumbly, especially if you use leaner varieties like sockeye.
Cook the eggs separately: I always scramble the eggs first and set them aside. If I add raw egg directly to the rice, the moisture steams everything and I lose that crispy texture.
Try leftover salmon: If I have leftover cooked salmon from the night before, I skip the marinade and searing steps entirely. I just flake it into large pieces and fold it into the rice at the very end so it warms through without falling apart.
Add seaweed for extra umami: I sometimes crush a sheet of toasted dried seaweed over the finished rice. It adds a layer of savory, ocean like flavor that pairs perfectly with the salmon. Roasted seaweed snacks from the store work too.
Serving Suggestions
I serve this straight from the pan as a complete one bowl dinner. Most weeknights it is the entire meal because it already has protein, vegetables, and rice in one dish. When I want something extra on the side, I make a quick pickled cucumber or pickled cabbage to cut through the richness.
When I make this for friends or meal prep, I double the recipe and cook it in 2 batches so the pan does not get crowded. It pairs well with a light soup like my tomato egg drop soup or bok choy soup. Leftovers reheat well in a skillet over medium heat with a tiny splash of oil to re-crisp the rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cut of salmon is best to use?
You can use any variety of salmon in salmon fried rice. For the best mouthfeel, king salmon and coho salmon are my top choices. The fattier cuts of fish provide a melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture once cooked. On the other hand, sockeye salmon provides a great source of high quality lean protein and has a stunning appearance due to its beautiful red color.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
I keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. I reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a small splash of oil to re crisp the rice. The microwave works in a pinch, but I find the stovetop gives me a much better texture.
Can I use a different type of rice?
I prefer jasmine rice because it is less starchy and fries up crispy. Short grain rice works but tends to clump more. For a healthier option, I sometimes use brown rice or mix in cauliflower rice to add volume without extra carbs. Any cooked, cold rice will work as long as the grains are dry and separated.
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Salmon Fried Rice (三文鱼炒饭)
Ingredients
Marinating
- 8 oz salmon , skin removed and diced into 3/4” (1 cm) squares
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Rice
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or vegetable oil, or a combo of both) (*Footnote 1)
- 1/2 small red onion , small dice
- 2 cloves garlic , sliced
- 4 cups cold day-old jasmine rice (or medium grain rice)
- 1/3 cup frozen veggies of your choice (I used green peas and corn) (*Footnote 2)
- 1/2 red pepper , small dice (*Footnote 1)
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce (or seasoned soy sauce for seafood)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 3 eggs , beaten
- Sliced green onion for garnish (Optional)
Instructions
- Combine the salmon with the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix until evenly coated. Let marinate while preparing the other ingredients.
- Use your fingers or a fork to separate any clumps of rice before cooking.
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter over high heat in a large skillet until hot. Spread the salmon into a single layer in the pan. Cook without moving until the bottom turns golden, 2 minutes or so. Flip to cook the other side until golden, another 2 minutes. Stir a few times, then transfer to a plate. (*Footnote 3)
- Add 1/2 tablespoon butter to the same pan and pour in the beaten eggs. Scramble the egg until just cooked, then transfer to the same plate with the salmon.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter and the onions. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the garlic. Cook and stir until the edge of the garlic turns pale golden, 1 minute or so.
- Add the rice and turn to medium-high heat. Stir to separate the grains and coat the grains evenly with the oil. Let the rice toast, stirring occasionally, until the rice appears dry and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn to medium heat if the pan gets too hot.
- Pour in the soy sauce. Stir and cook until the rice is evenly coated.
- Add the frozen vegetables and pepper. Sprinkle the salt evenly over everything. Stir and cook until the vegetables are fully thawed and the excess moisture is cooked off, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked salmon and eggs back into the pan. Stir to mix well. Turn to low heat and taste the rice. Adjust seasoning by adding more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with green onion if using. Serve hot as a main or side dish.
Notes
- I prefer to use a mix of vegetable oil and butter for a buttery yet balanced taste. But feel free to use only butter or oil according to your taste.
- You can use many types of vegetables here, about 1 cup total combined. For example, 100% frozen veggie mix, or 1 red pepper. If using harder fresh vegetables such as carrot or green beans, you should dice them small. You can either add them during step 5, together with the onion. Or you can quickly cook them in the microwave until al dente, before adding to the fried rice.
- If you use sockeye salmon, make sure to cook until the pieces are just cooked through or slightly medium rare. And add them back to the fried rice at the very end after you turn off the heat. Sockeye salmon is quite lean and you should avoid overcooking it for the best texture.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating ⭐️ and share your thoughts in the comments further down the page. It really helps others discover the recipe too.
Barbara
This is a great recipe! I have made it a couple of times, and will be making it again. Instead of whole salmon, I cut up three salmon patties, because that is what I had on hand, into slightly less than 1/2″ squares. I doubled the recipe, since it was for 6 people, and they all enjoyed it.
Maggie Zhu
Salmon patty sounds really delicious! I’d love to try out your method next time 🙂
Thank you for leaving a positive review and I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the dish!
Paul M
Excellent ! Love salmon Love Chinese
Jeff the Chef | Make It Like a Man!
This is so my kind of thing. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Mark Paterson
Have added to my list of useful “really must eat more salmon recipes” and look forward to trying. Meanwhile note that chicken appears to have sneaked into the recipe at paragraph 9. Anywayu, keep up the great work, love what you do.
Maggie Zhu
Thanks for letting me know about the typo! Just fixed it.
Bill Zigrang
Barbara, one skins the salmon BEFORE cutting it up into small bites. I’ll bet there’s a YouTube on that subject.
Barbara
Mmmmm! Do you have any suggestions on how to remove the skin from the salmon pieces, easily?
Maggie Zhu
I follow the instructions from this article: https://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/how-to-remove-salmon-skin-before-cooking/ It is a little different since I was using a smaller pieces of salmon, and sometimes there’s still a bit salmon flesh that got left on the skin. I haven’t found a better method than this one.