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Garlic Butter Salmon Bites with Lemon Herb Rice served in a bowl.

Garlic Butter Salmon Bites with Lemon Herb Rice

These Garlic Butter Salmon Bites are quick to make, tender, and packed with flavor, served on a bed of bright and fresh lemon herb rice. Perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Salmon Bites
  • 1 lb Salmon fillets, skin removed if possible
  • 4 tbsp Butter For the garlic butter
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced Fresh is best
  • 1 medium Lemon, zest and juice For flavor enhancement
  • to taste Salt and pepper For seasoning
  • 1 tsp Paprika or chili flakes Optional, for warmth
For the Lemon Herb Rice
  • 2 cups Cooked rice (jasmine or basmati) Warm it up before serving
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil Just a bit for flavor
  • to taste Fresh herbs like parsley or dill, chopped Flexible, use what you have

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and cut it into bite-size cubes, about 1 to 1.5 inches.
  2. Toss the salmon cubes with salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika.
Cooking Salmon Bites
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray or brush the basket.
  2. Arrange the salmon in a single layer and cook for about 7 to 9 minutes, shaking once halfway through. Start checking for doneness at 7 minutes.
Making Garlic Butter
  1. While the salmon cooks, melt butter in a small pan or microwave-safe bowl. Stir in minced garlic, lemon zest, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Keep the heat low to avoid burning the garlic.
Combining and Serving
  1. Toss the cooked salmon bites in the garlic butter and sprinkle chopped herbs on top. Serve hot.
Preparing Lemon Herb Rice
  1. Warm up the cooked rice, then stir in olive oil, a little butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and plenty of chopped herbs.
  2. If the rice feels dry, add a splash of broth or water and fluff with a fork.

Notes

For best results, pat the salmon dry before cooking and avoid crowding the air fryer. Use lemon zest for a fresh flavor kick, and serve the salmon and rice separately if storing leftovers.