Learn how to make these healthy salmon dishes at home for a quick and tasty fix.

Salmon is a nutritious ingredient that packs a punch in terms of protein and healthy fat. Usually served raw in Japanese restaurants as sushi or sashimi, and in western restaurants as a fillet, salmon is a pretty healthy pick.

The only drawback, though, is that salmon dishes usually cost a fair bit, whether you order them at a cafe or restaurant. In contrast, a pack of raw salmon from the supermarket costs under $10.

Here, we walk you through healthy salmon recipes that you can whip up easily, so you don’t have to cough up hefty sums for salmon dishes outside. Buying your own ingredients may seem like a bigger investment, you can usually cook up a bigger portion than what is served in restaurants, making your cost per meal cheaper.

Note that for sashimi, you should buy the freshest available sashimi-grade salmon and consume it as soon as possible. It should also be handled on its own and not mixed with other raw ingredients. Normal raw salmon can be bought fresh or frozen, though fresh salmon is usually easier to prepare.

(Also read: Recipe: Healthy Salmon Burgers That Won’t Ruin Your Diet)

Salmon sushi

Ingredients:

• One serving of Japanese rice
• One serving of sashimi-grade salmon

This healthy but delicious dish is hardly a recipe to learn. All you need to do is take a bowl of cooked rice – Japanese rice tastes best – and make small oval shapes. Then, get your sashimi-grade salmon and cut it into thin slices that will lay nicely over the rice. And that’s it! You can experiment and mix in different ingredients such as wasabi, tempura, cucumbers, and seaweed too.

(Also read: Kamiakari, One Of Japan’s Healthiest Rice Grains Is Now In Singapore)

Lemon salmon steak

Ingredients:

• 200g of raw salmon
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Lemon, to taste
• Parsley, to taste

If you’re not into sashimi, you can opt to pan-fry your fish. Not only will this give it a smoky flavour, but it’s also a healthier version of a red meat steak. Find a 200g salmon fillet that’s about one inch thick. Try to get one that is evenly shaped to make cooking easier.

Simply drizzle a little olive oil on your pan, place the fillet skin-side down and wait for a few minutes. Once the skin is crispy, flip over to cook the bottom and the sides. Finish by adding a pinch of salt and pepper. You can squeeze a lemon or add some parsley leaves for extra flavour.

(Also read: Greendot Launches A Vegetarian Poke Bowl That Will Satisfy Your Raw Salmon Cravings)

Salmon poke bowl

Ingredients:

• One serving of rice
• 200g of sashimi-grade salmon
• Vegetables of your choice

Poke bowl is a new classic salmon dish that unfortunately costs about $15 per bowl. To make it at home, you’ll only need raw salmon, fresh vegetables, and a healthy grain.

Simply wash your ingredients, dice them up into even cubes, and place on top of your bowl of warm rice. It’s really that simple. You can beautify the bowl by arranging the ingredients separately or according to their colours.

(Also read: Recipe: Make Your Very Own Salmon Poke Bowl In 5 Simple Steps)

Salmon salad rice bowl

Ingredients:

• One serving of rice
• 200g of raw salmon
• One carrot
• One large tomato
• One avocado
• One portion of button mushrooms

Sounds similar, but the difference is in the way the ingredients are prepared. A poke bowl is usually made with raw ingredients, but this warm bowl will suit those that prefer a stronger taste.

Prepare the ingredients similarly, but stir-fry each ingredient with a sauce of your choice. Arrange it like you would do for a poke bowl, with rice as the base, then layering salmon and veggies on top for a nice crunch.

(Also read: Review: Healthy Salmon Bowls at Amoy Street Food Centre)