This is the best umami air fryer salmon marinade you will ever need. It is sweet, sticky, and, more importantly, delicious. The fish is tender, moist, and simply melts in your mouth. In today's post, you'll learn not only the best marinade for cooking fish but also the temperature to cook salmon in the air fryer.
Do you love DIY marinades and spice blends? Try my pork steak marinade, fish seasoning, and Italian dressing chicken marinade.
Enjoy a delicious fish dinner in under 30 minutes, from prep to finish! The salmon only needs 15 minutes of marination time, and it cooks to perfection in 9 minutes or less. What's not to love?
Salmon is a star on its own, though not cheap. But, when you add this tasty marinade, it takes it to a whole new level. The blend of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and a hint of chili paste creates an irresistible umami flavor that will keep you asking for more.
The marinade gives the salmon a perfect balance of sweet and rich flavors. It's incredibly delicious! I serve honey garlic soy salmon with fluffy jasmine rice. A squeeze of fresh lemon and garnish with sesame seeds, furikake, or seaweed adds an extra oomph. Trust me, it's delicious!
Related recipes: furikake salmon, pesto butter salmon, baked paprika salmon and air fryer honey soy salmon
Why you will love this recipe
- It requires minimal effort yet is packed with maximum flavor.
- Sweet, sticky, and slightly spicy. You can always adjust to taste.
- It only takes 5 minutes to make
- There is no need to measure any of the ingredients used in making this recipe. You can eyeball them to suit your needs.
What you will need
Salmon fillets: substitute salmon with trout. Both fish have similar flavor profiles.
Honey: Use runny honey for easy measurement. Substitute with maple syrup.
Soy sauce: I used reduced-salt dark soy sauce. You can also substitute dark soy sauce for light soy sauce.
Smoked paprika: substitute with regular or hot paprika.
Garlic paste: I used garlic paste as it sticks well to the fish. There's no need to worry about it burning.
Chili paste: Substitute with red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Olive oil: substitute with avocado or vegetable oil
How to make air fryer salmon marinade
Make the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, olive oil, honey, garlic paste, chili paste, paprika, salt, and black pepper until combined.
Pour the marinade over the salmon fillets or salmon side (whichever you are using). Gently massage the marinade on the salmon so that it is flavored evenly.
Leave to marinate for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking in the air fryer.
Note: Take the fish out of the fridge right before you marinate it. That way, you can leave it out with the marinade, allowing it to come to room temperature before air frying. This will also ensure that the salmon cooks evenly.
Watch how to make it
Other ways to use this marinade
This marinade is versatile; it can also be used for other types of fish, such as trout (it has a similar flavor profile to salmon), tilapia, cod, or mahi-mahi. You can also use it as a glaze for chicken, pork, tofu or even as a dipping sauce for veggies.
How long to cook salmon in air fryer at 400
Air fry salmon fillets or sides between 7-9 minutes, depending on the thickness, and there is no need to flip it except if you are using frozen salmon. If you are cooking frozen salmon, add an extra 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
You will know the fish is properly cooked when it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Also, cooking time may vary based on the size of the salmon fillets and your air fryer model, so it's always best to keep an eye on it.
Tips for cooking perfect air fryer salmon
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before cooking the salmon. It will ensure even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave enough space between each fillet for hot air to circulate.
- Do not overcook your salmon. It will dry out and become tough; you don't want that. It's better to slightly undercook it and let it rest for a few minutes before serving, as the residual heat will continue to cook the fish. For safe consumption, the internal temperature should reach 145F /63C.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the wattage and make of your air fryer.
- Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your taste and preference. For example, if you prefer a sweeter marinade, add more honey.
- If you don't have an air fryer, you can still enjoy this delicious recipe by baking the marinated salmon in a preheated oven at 400F / 200C for about 12-15 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
More marinades and spice blend recipes you will love
4 ingredients chicken marinade
Air Fryer Salmon Marinade
Equipment
- Ziploc bag or a plastic bowl
Ingredients
- 4 Salmon fillets
- ¼ cup honey substitute with 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅓ Tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon chili paste
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk together soy sauce, olive oil, honey, garlic paste, chili paste, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until combined.¼ cup honey, 1 Tablespoon Olive oil, 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ⅓ Tablespoon garlic paste, Salt and ground black pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon chili paste
- Pour the marinade over the salmon fillets or salmon side (whichever you are using). Gently massage the marinade on the salmon so that it is flavored evenly.4 Salmon fillets
- Leave to marinate for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking in the air fryer.Note: Take the fish out of the fridge right before you marinate it. That way, you can leave it out with the marinade, allowing it to come to room temperature before air frying. This will also ensure that the salmon cooks evenly.
Notes
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before cooking the salmon. It will ensure even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave enough space between each fillet for hot air to circulate.
- Do not overcook your salmon. It will dry out and become tough; you don't want that. It's better to slightly undercook it and let it rest for a few minutes before serving, as the residual heat will continue to cook the fish. For safe consumption, the internal temperature should reach 145F /63C.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the wattage and make of your air fryer
- Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your taste and preference. For example, if you prefer a sweeter marinade, add more honey.
- If you don't have an air fryer, you can still enjoy this delicious recipe by baking the marinated salmon in a preheated oven at 400F /200C
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious marinade recipe you can make at home in 5 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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