This miso salmon bowl comes together in under 30 minutes. 10 minutes to marinate, 4 minutes in the air fryer. Plus, cutting the salmon into bites means more caramelized edges. My kids were already salmon fans, but the bite-sized format makes it even easier to eat and perfect for building custom bowls.
Why Salmon Bites (not filets?)
I love a bite-sized anything, but salmon even moreso because:
More caramelized surface area. That sweet-savory miso glaze? You get it on every side of every bite instead of just the top of a fillet. More edges = more flavor.
Faster cook time. Whole fillets take 8-10 minutes in the air fryer. Bites take 4. On a busy weeknight after the kids jiu-jitsu practice that makes a difference!
Perfect for bowls. No awkward cutting at the table. Just scoop salmon, rice, and veggies onto your fork and go. Everyone can build their bowl exactly how they like it.
Ingredients You'll Need
Yellow miso paste — Adds that rich, savory umami depth. Yellow miso is mild and earthy, but white miso (sweeter) or red miso (bolder) work too. Look for it in the refrigerated section near the tofu.
Light soy sauce — Amplifies the salty-savory notes. Liquid aminos or coconut aminos are great substitutes if you're avoiding soy.
Honey — Balances the saltiness and helps the glaze caramelize in the air fryer. Maple syrup works if you prefer.
Fresh garlic — A tablespoon of minced garlic gives the marinade a little bite. Jarred minced garlic is fine in a pinch.
Rice wine vinegar — Adds brightness that cuts through the richness. Don't skip it! It makes the whole marinade sing.
Salmon — About 2 pounds, cut into 1-2 inch cubes. Look for fillets that are firm and smell fresh, not fishy.
How to Shop for Salmon
When shopping for salmon, the best choice depends on your priorities, like flavor, sustainability, and nutrition.
Wild-caught salmon, such as sockeye or king salmon, is often considered the best for its rich flavor, firm texture, and lower risk of contaminants, though it's pricier.
If you opt for farmed salmon, look for responsibly raised options certified by organizations like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) to ensure sustainability and quality.
How to Make Miso Salmon Bowls
- Make the Marinade: Whisk together the miso, soy sauce or liquid aminos, honey, garlic, and rice vinegar in a large bowl.
- Marinate the Salmon: Add cubed salmon to the marinade and let it sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your air fryer to 400F.
- Air Fry the Salmon: Add the salmon bites to the air fryer. Ensure plenty of space between pieces for proper caramelization. Don't overcrowd and work in batches if you need.
The salmon is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145F.
- Build Your Bowl: I added cucumbers, scallions and quinoa mixed with wild rice to my bowl since that's what I had on hand.
Note on Cooking Times
All air fryers cook a little differently, so use the 4-minute mark as a starting point and adjust from there. Thickness matters too! Thinner pieces may be done in 3-4 minutes, while thicker chunks might need an extra minute or two.
Storage and Reheating
Leftover salmon bites keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Store the salmon separately from your grains and veggies if you want everything to stay at its best texture.
To reheat, microwave for 60-90 seconds until warmed through. The salmon won't be quite as crispy as fresh out of the air fryer, but the flavor holds up super well. It's a great meal prep option for the week.
Joanie's Balanced Bites for Blood Sugar
This is one of those meals that's naturally blood sugar-friendly without even trying.
What's working for you here:
- Protein powerhouse — 34g of protein per serving keeps you full and stabilizes energy
- Omega-3 rich salmon — Healthy fats slow digestion and support steady glucose levels
- Fermented miso — Beyond its umami flavor, miso is a probiotic-rich fermented food that supports gut health, and a healthy gut microbiome plays a role in how your body processes glucose
- Minimal sugar — Just a tablespoon of honey across the whole recipe
Make it even better: Build your bowl with fiber-rich complex carbs like quinoa, farro, or black forbidden rice instead of white rice, and load up on veggies. The protein, fat, and fiber combination is exactly what keeps blood sugar steady.
Browse ➡️ Blood Sugar-Friendly Recipes
More Bowl Recipes
Miso Salmon Bowls (Air Fryer Recipe)
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: fish
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
Miso Salmon Bowls are a restaurant-quality dinner in under 30 minutes thanks to a quick homemade marinade and the air fryer.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon yellow miso paste
- 1 Tablespoon light soy sauce (or liquid aminos or coconut aminos)
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 lb salmon fillet, cut into 1 inch to 2 inch cubes
- Add other components to the bowl like rice, quinoa, whole grains, fresh or steamed veggies and other toppings like kimchi and sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 1 Tbs miso paste, 1 Tbs light soy sauce, 1 Tbs honey, 1 Tbs fresh minced garlic and 1 Tbs rice wine vinegar.
- Cut 2lbs of fresh salmon into 1 to 2 inch pieces. Add the fish to the marinade and toss so that all of the pieces are coated. Let the fish marinate for 10 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 400F for 10 minutes.
- Place marinated salmon in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces.
- Cook for 4 minutes, until salmon is caramelized and crispy.
- Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the basket.
- Serve the salmon bites over a bed of rice or other preferred grain or complex carbohydrate along with steamed or fresh veggies. See suggestions below.
Notes
Pairing options for the salmon: Black forbidden rice, fonio, barley, wheatberries, farro, brown rice, roasted sweet potatoes. Broccoli, bok choy, shiitake mushrooms, green beans, edamame beans. Cilantro, mint, avocado, shredded carrots, red onion. Hot honey, lime juice, chili crisp, sesame oil, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, kimchi
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 219
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 190.8 mg
- Fat: 7.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.5 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 34.3 g
- Cholesterol: 77.2 mg
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!