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Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon Crispy Rice Salad

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Imagine a dish that combines crispy, golden rice with tender, flaky salmon, all kissed by the zesty brightness of lemon and garlic butter. This Lemon Garlic Butter Crispy Rice Salad brings together the irresistible crunch of air-fried rice and the buttery richness of perfectly cooked salmon, all in one refreshing salad. It’s the kind of meal that feels light, yet satisfying—ideal for a weeknight dinner, but fancy enough for a weekend gathering.

What makes this recipe extra special is the use of an air fryer, which delivers that perfectly crispy texture to both the rice and the salmon without the need for excessive oil. The rice takes on a golden crispiness that contrasts beautifully with the succulent, melt-in-your-mouth salmon fillets. The air fryer does all the magic, leaving you with minimal mess and maximum flavor in a fraction of the time.

The magic happens with the lemon garlic butter sauce, which ties everything together with its vibrant, savory notes. A quick drizzle of this buttery goodness over the crispy rice and flakey salmon not only adds flavor but also gives the salad a refreshing and indulgent quality that you’ll want to savor bite by bite. Fresh herbs and crisp veggies add a burst of color and texture, making this dish as visually appealing as it is delicious.

So if you’re craving something fresh, light, and full of flavor—yet don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen—this Lemon Garlic Butter Crispy Rice Salad is your answer. It’s got all the right ingredients to impress your taste buds and anyone lucky enough to share it with you, without needing a lot of time or effort.

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon Crispy Rice Salad

Recipe by Julia Vuong
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: Main
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Total time

55

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup 1 day old rice

  • 1 tbsp 1 soy sauce

  • 1 tsp 1 sesame oil

  • 1 tbsp 1 garlic chili oil crunch

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 paprika

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic powder

  • Salmon
  • 1 lb 1 salmon fillet with skin on

  • 2 tbsp 2 unsalted butter

  • 1/2 1/2 lemon juice and zest

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 paprika

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic salt

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic powder

  • 4 4 garlic cloves

  • Salad Base
  • 1 1 cucumber

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 edamame

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 mint

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 cilantro

  • Yogurt Sauce
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 whole milk greek yogurt

  • 1 tbsp 1 sour cream

  • 2 tbsp 2 milk

  • 1/2 1/2 lemon juice and zest

  • 5 5 garlic cloves

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic salt

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 paprika

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic powder

Directions

  • Heat up day old rice in microwave for 30 seconds. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, garlic powder, and paprika to rice and mix. Lay onto a piece of foil or parchment paper and air fry at 400F for 10 minutes while tossing it around every 3 minutes for even cooking. Pull it out once the rice is crispy and golden. Make sure to not crowd the basket too much, if needed, cook in batches.
  • Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
  • Pat dry salmon fillet with a paper towel.
  • Add lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, paprika, garlic salt, garlic powder, to melted butter. Brush onto the flesh side of the salmon leaving the skin side dry. Pop into the air fryer at 400F for 8-10 minutes depending how thick your salmon fillet is. Remove the skin and air fry separately for 2-3 more minutes to get it extra crispy.
  • Yogurt Sauce
  • Add yogurt, sour cream, milk, minced garlic, lemon juice/zest, paprika, garlic salt, garlic powder to a bowl and mix until combined. If you want a thinner sauce, add more milk.
  • Assemble the Salad
  • Thinly slice cucumbers and chop up mint and cilantro. Layer the cucumbers, edamame, mint, and cilantro on a serving plate. Add a few scoops of the yogurt sauce and break the piece of salmon fillet over. Place the crispy rice on top.
  • Enjoy!

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