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Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale

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Crispy sesame and everything bagel seasoning baked salmon bites over a super simple Asian kale salad: this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe is the best way to kick off the new year!

Crispy sesame and everything bagel seasoning baked salmon bites over a super simple Asian kale salad: this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe is the best way to kick off the new year!

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I’m super into salmon these days… well, I guess I should say that I’m alllways into salmon, but that it’s definitely my fish of choice this time of the year. I’m a big fish eater (practically a pescatarian + chicken), but find myself not wanting a lot of my favorite white fish varieties when it’s super cold. I just simply don’t crave it. That being said, I always crave salmon, and am always looking for new, unique ways to eat it. Now, Asian salmon may not seem revolutionary. It’s very typical to serve with a soy glaze or something like that. In all honesty, however, I’m just not super into a glazed salmon. Personally, I prefer a crispy exterior on a fish. That’s why I created this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe. You get the amazing Asian flavors from some sweet chili sauce, yet you still get a crispy sesame crusted exterior that’s out of this world. You have to try this one!

Crispy sesame and everything bagel seasoning baked salmon bites over a super simple Asian kale salad: this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe is the best way to kick off the new year!

the breakdown…

This Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale is seriously one of the quickest salmon recipes I have on the blog. I seriously make this one on repeat. Start off with some diced salmon. Slicing up salmon may seem strenuous, but if you have a sharp knife, it’s super easy. Plus, I always ask the fishmonger to remove the skin and bones (if it has bones) for me. They almost always help out!

Once you have diced up that salmon into 1-2 inch pieces, go ahead and toss everything up with some sweet chili sauce. Sweet chili sauce can definitely be made homemade, but, in all honesty, I usually go with the store bought variety. It’s just so much easier than boiling all those flavors and jarring it up, and it still tastes delicious. Plus, the store bought variety is sure to be super sticky — making for the perfect binding agent for the sesame seeds and everything bagel seasoning that gets tossed in next. I love using both plain sesame seeds and the everything seasoning. The everything seasoning brings in some salty and smoky flavors, but can be overpowering if use it as your main seasoning agent. So, with a few plain sesame seeds for the necessary amount of crunch but a bit of everything seasoning for some flavor, it’s the perfect balance. 

Crispy sesame and everything bagel seasoning baked salmon bites over a super simple Asian kale salad: this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe is the best way to kick off the new year!

onto the salad…

Send those salmon bites to the oven to get super crisp and cooked through and get moving onto the salad! This is a super customizable salad, and can seriously be made in the short amount of time that the salmon is in the oven. Start off by preparing a super simple dressing of all of the classic kitchen Asian staples. I’m talking more of that sweet chili sauce, some sesame oil, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Nothing crazy, just such good flavors. Plus, this dressing has such a unique thick consistency from the sweet chili sauce and the hoisin sauce… basically making it into a sauce for the kale. I personally think that greens as thick as kale (and cabbage, if using) desperately need a good bit of a thick dressing to really wilt it down, so this one is perfect. 

Speaking of which, thinly slice up that kale and cabbage for the optimal texture. Toss it together with a few scallions for a bite and some toasted and roughly chopped cashews for some crunch. Then, using your hands or some tongs, really massage that saucy dressing into the mix. Kale in and of itself is super tough, so you really need to work it with some dressing to get that perfect soft texture. Then, with 2 whole tablespoons of garlic powder, you really get the perfect crunch of the kale that’s so unique. It may seem strange, but just trust the process. It’s really worth it in the end! 

Crispy sesame and everything bagel seasoning baked salmon bites over a super simple Asian kale salad: this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe is the best way to kick off the new year!

how to serve it up…

Lastly, mix in a grain if you are feeling something a bit heartier. In all honesty, this dish is delicious either way. I love throwing in some brown rice when I’m a bit hungrier, and leaving it just as kale if I’m looking for something lighter. Either way, when you top everything off with those crispy salmon bites, this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe will seriously be delicious. Oh, and definitely feel free to hit everything with some sriracha or red pepper flakes at the end… I say bring on the spice. Really, this recipe is just the perfect super simple Asian salmon recipe for your average weeknight dinner. Plus, with so many nutrients and veggies, it’s the perfect way to kick off the new year!

I hope you love these Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale as much as I do! Let me know what you think in the comments below:)))

Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale

Recipe by Annie PatrickCourse: Main Course, Salad, BowlCuisine: Asian, FusionDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

Crispy sesame and everything bagel seasoning baked salmon bites over a super simple Asian kale salad: this Sesame Salmon Bites with Sweet Chili Shredded Kale recipe is the best way to kick off the new year!

Ingredients

  • salmon:
  • 1.5 lb salmon, skin removed and diced into 2 inch pieces

  • ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce, store bought or homemade

  • 3 tbsp sesame seeds

  • 3 tbsp everything bagel seasoning (or additional sesame seeds)

  • Olive oil or olive oil spray, as needed

  • kale salad:
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil

  • 2 tbsp water

  • 3 tbsp hoisin sauce

  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

  • ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, store bought or homemade

  • 2 limes, juiced

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

  • Red pepper flakes, to taste

  • 2 bunches tuscan kale, stems removed and thinly sliced

  • 1 cup shredded purple cabbage, optional

  • 2 bunches scallions, thinly sliced

  • ½ cup cashews or almonds, toasted and roughly chopped

  • 2 tbsp garlic powder

  • 1-2 cups brown rice, quinoa, or basmati rice, optional

  • sriracha, to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and a greased wire baking rack.
  • In a large bowl, toss the salmon bites with the sweet chili sauce, sesame seeds, and everything bagel seasoning, making sure the seeds are securely pushed into the salmon. Line each bite up on the baking sheet, and spray or drizzle with olive oil. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 8-12 minutes (depending on the size of your pieces), or until the salmon is cooked through and crisp.
  • Meanwhile, in the bottom of a large bowl, whisk the sesame oil, water, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Toss in the kale, scallions, and cashews, and, using clean hands or a pair of tongs, massage the kale and cabbage, if using, for a minute or two. Then, toss in the garlic powder and grain, if using.
  • Divide the kale salad among your bowls and top with a few of the crispy salmon bites. Drizzle with some sriracha, if desired. 7Serve and enjoy!
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