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Spicy baked salmon sushi muffins, which have been viral on TikTok, are bite sized sushi rice muffins with lots of flavor appeal. This TikTok recipe for a salmon appetizer is simple to prepare and, if you love Japanese inspired food with a fun twist, you’ll love it. Everything from the crispy nori cups to the juicy salmon, sushi rice and seasonings make this bite sized treat irresistible to everyone.
Baked salmon sushi cups are a delicious combo of fish, rice and Japanese flavors. It’s such an exciting twist on sushi rolls and makes a great lunch on-the-go or snack.
If you love these, try sesame avocado chicken salad, salmon in white wine cream sauce or shrimp spring rolls. And what about olive salad muffuletta?
Why You’ll Love It
Simple to put together: These spicy salmon rice muffins aren’t nearly as fiddly to assemble as conventional sushi. The seaweed sheets form cups to hold the rice, fish and seasonings together, and you don’t need sushi-rolling expertise.
A tasty way to eat fish: There are plenty of nutrients in raw salmon cubes, one of the main ingredients in sushi bake cups, and the same can be said about the nori seaweed.
Kid-friendly: Conventional sushi can be daunting to the little ones but even younger picky eaters should enjoy these nori cup snacks with rice and salmon.
Spiced Baked Salmon Sushi Muffins Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Nori sheets: To make the muffin cups.
Salmon: Choose good quality salmon for these.
Vegetables: Cucumber, green onions and carrots add color and crunch.
White rice: To make them more filling.
Seasonings: Ginger, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes add flavor.
Hoisin sauce: For a contrasting sweetness.
Sesame seeds: To garnish.
How to Make Baked Salmon Sushi Cups
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare salmon and sticky rice: Cut salmon into cubes and marinate in sauces and seasonings.
Prepare the nori seaweed sheets: Cut each nori sheet into 4 squares so you end up with 12 altogether, then spritz with non-stick cooking spray.
Add the other ingredients: Press the nori into a muffin tin. Add cooked rice, and then the marinated salmon combined with the other ingredients.
Bake in the oven: Cook for about 15 minutes.
Finish them off and serve: Top with the vegetables, then add the sriracha spicy mayo and garnishes and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Salmon: Feel free to substitute tuna or another kind of raw fish for the cubed fish in these salmon cupcakes. Technically it doesn’t need to be sushi-grade (safe to serve raw) because it cooks in the oven.
Spicy mayo: Whip up homemade spicy mayo, make the one in the recipe or buy it.
Rice: You can also substitute brown rice for sticky rice.
Less spicy: If you are not a fan of sriracha sauce, that can be omitted.
Serving Suggestions
As an appetizer: Enjoy a couple of these as an appetizer. You could also make turkey potstickers to go with them.
As the main course: You might prefer to pair them with other Asian favorites, such as salt and pepper pork bites and Asian chicken salad. This crispy ginger beef would also be good, and perhaps some hibachi noodles too.
How to Store Baked Salmon Sushi Muffins
Store: These are best served as soon as they come out of the oven, when the nori is crispy and the salmon is warm. However, they will keep for a couple of days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freeze: Not suitable for freezing, as they become mushy when thawed.
Top Tips
Perfectly cooked fish: Don’t overcook the salmon, otherwise it will dry out.
Sesame seed garnish: Toast the sesame seeds first (in a dry skillet, shaking often) to really bring out their flavor.
Making sushi rice: This usually calls for the addition of rice vinegar, sugar and salt but I recommend you follow the instructions on the package, as brands can vary.
Spicy Salmon Muffins FAQs
Sure, try tuna, mackerel or even sea bass or halibut.
Victoria Minell @torminell on Instagram and TikTok came up with these wonderfully spicy salmon rice muffins. They’re so easy to prepare, as long as you have mini muffin tins to bake them in and an airtight container to keep them in.
Baked Salmon Muffin Cups Recipe
Spicy Baked Salmon Sushi Muffins
Ingredients
- 3 Sheets nori seaweed
- 2 Cups sushi rice, cooked
- ½ Pound salmon filet, skin removed, cubed
- 1 Tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 Teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ Cup carrots, peeled and diced
- ½ Cup cucumbers, diced
For the Spicy Mayo:
- ¼ Cup kewpie mayo
- 1 Teaspoon sriracha sauce, sriracha sauce
- 1 Tablespoon chili garlic sauce
For Garnish:
- sesame seeds
- scallions, diced
Instructions
- Cut salmon into bite sized pieces and add to a mixing bowl.
- Next, add red pepper flakes, ginger powder, salt, hoisin, soy sauce, and sesame oil to the salmon and toss to coat. marinade for up to 1 to 3 hours.
- Cut each nori sheet into quarters using kitchen scissors.
- Lightly spray muffin tin with nonstick spray. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place nori pieces onto a flat surface. Add a spoonful of sushi rice into the center of each nori sheet and press down into the muffin tins.
- Top each muffin tin with a spoonful of marinated salmon.
- Place into the oven on the center rack and bake for 15 minutes.
- Prepare spicy sriracha mayo. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add cucumber and carrots on top each sushi muffin and drizzle with spicy mayo.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Sesame seed garnish: Toast the sesame seeds first (in a dry skillet, shaking often) to really bring out their flavor.
Making sushi rice: Follow the instructions on the package, as brands can vary.
Nutrition
These killer crack salmon muffins are a delicious fish appetizer. You will enjoy this sushi cupcakes TikTok recipe, I know it. Baked salmon sushi muffins make a nice appetizer, snack or part of a meal. Try them once and you’ll be hooked!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This one exceeded my expectations! So flavorful!
This is my kind of muffin! The salmon sushi is perfection.
Made these after seeing the recipe on TikTok and I’m
Now a convert!!! I thought it was going to be a little weird but it’s as good as raw sushi – and way easier to make ahead!
Thank you for all your amazing pictures. It helped me prepare it. We all love the spicy baked salmon sushi muffins. A request has been made again in my family to have them again this weekend. Thank you for the recipe.
At first I thought, “Huh?!” but after making these at the request of my husband, I’m a huge fan! He loves sushi and was so, so happy with these. Thanks!
These sushi cups were such a hit at my party! The perfect little appetizer.
I have been obsessed with everything sushi lately… and these did not disappoint. I love how easy they are and that they are handheld (but easier than making my own traditional sushi). I did omit the red pepper flakes. Will make again!