Deep Fried Salmon Recipe

This deep fried salmon recipe is sure to make everyone at the table happy. It's crispy on the outside, soft and flaky on the inside, and filled with flavor in every bite. Seriously, if you're looking for the ultimate healthy and delicious meal - that's also incredibly quick and easy to make - this deep fried salmon is it!

The Best Deep Fried Salmon

Baked or pan fried salmon is our usual go-to when making salmon for dinner.

But, today, I wanted to go outside of the box and make something just as easy but also mind-blowingly delicious.

And that's where this deep fried salmon recipe comes in!

This fried breaded salmon is made with simple ingredients and is ready in just about 30 minutes.  And if you're cooking for the fam this recipe makes the tastiest salmon dinner ever - even the kids will love it. 

It's got a crunchy golden breading that's packed with flavor, wrapped around perfectly tender, flaky salmon fillets.

Seriously, what could be better than that?

Honestly, this deep fried salmon recipe is right up there in my list of the best fish dinners ever, alongside this air fryer catfish and this bourbon glazed salmon. So I can't wait for you to try it and see how good it is for yourself. 

Ingredients

Alright, all the ingredients for this deep fried salmon recipe should be easy to find in your nearest supermarket.

In fact, a lot of these are common pantry staples, so I wouldn't be surprised if you have everything you need on hand already.

Here's everything you'll need for this breaded salmon:

• 6 salmon fillets, or to taste
• 1 ½ cups cornmeal
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1 tsp. lemon pepper
• 1 tsp. white pepper
• 3 eggs
• 4 lemon wedges
• vegetable oil for frying

As you can see, these are all pretty much your basic breading ingredients.

But don't let that simplicity fool you; this deep-fried salmon may be easy to make but comes out tasting restaurant-quality. Kind of like this fried mahi mahi - which happens to have a lot of the same ingredients!

Oh, and if you have to run to the store, grab everything you need to make this Martha White cornbread. It makes the perfect side for the salmon. By the way, you'll want to pick up some extra salmon fillets so you can make these blackened salmon bites for dinner next!

How to make deep fried salmon 

This recipe is easy enough to make on a weeknight and is sure to become an instant family favorite.

Basically, all you have to do is coat the salmon fillets, heat up the oil, and fry them for a few minutes on each side. And, as I already said, this whole process should take you less than 30 minutes.

With all that said, let's dive into this deep fried salmon recipe.

Step 1: Prep Work

First, pour enough oil into a deep pot for frying the salmon fillets. However, if you want to make this a pan fried salmon, you can also fill a large skillet with just enough oil to cover half of the fillet's thickness and have great results too.

Anyway, start heating the oil up to 350°F (180°C) over medium heat. You can do this before - or after - preparing your breading, depending on how quickly your oil will heat up. Be careful not to heat the oil to the smoking point though.

You'll know your oil is ready for deep frying when you throw a piece of bread in and it floats and bubbles. It shouldn't sink in the deep pot or burn too fast.

Step 2: Bread the Salmon

Now, as the oil is preheating, mix the cornmeal, seasonings, and salt into a bowl and combine well.

In a second bowl, crack the eggs and beat until the yolks combine with the whites. 

Then, pour the flour into a third bowl for the breaded salmon process. 

Next, prepare the fish fillets by cutting them into thick strips. Oh, and be sure to keep them all approximately the same size so they finish cooking at the same time.

Now once the breading and salmon fillet strips are ready, start breading the fish.

To do that, dredge the salmon in the flour on both sides to get it completely covered. Then, coat the salmon in the beaten eggs, followed by the seasoned cornmeal.

Step 3: Fry and Serve

Once the oil is hot enough and the breaded salmon is ready, start frying the salmon in batches until golden brown on each side. This should take about 5-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the cuts. And if you're doing the pan fried salmon method, cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side - until golden.

Now, after the salmon has cooked thoroughly, you'll want to transfer it to a drying rack - or a plate lined with paper towels - to soak up any excess oil.

Finally, serve them with a wedge of fresh lemon, and enjoy!

By the way, if you want to go the extra mile, you can make this blove sauce or tartar sauce and these brussel sprouts to serve alongside the fish!

How to store & reheat deep fried salmon 

So, this fried salmon recipe will make 6 servings. And it's perfect for a big family dinner because a few people will definitely want seconds!

But, if you end up having some leftover, the fried salmon actually makes for a great meal the next day. You can use it to make this incredibly delicious salmon rice bowl!

With that said, this deep fried salmon stores best in the fridge in an airtight container. Stored like this it will stay good for 3-4 days.

Then, the best way to reheat this deep fried salmon is in the oven at 350°F (180°C) or air fryer at 325°F (160°C) until warmed through and crispy on the outside - around 5 minutes.

FAQS about this deep fried salmon recipe

Is deep fried salmon healthy?

Deep fried salmon is definitely more of an indulgent kind of salmon dinner. Frying salmon isn't as healthy as baking or pan fried salmon because of the oil, but if you use olive oil, macadamia nut oil, or avocado oil, you will be getting a ton of healthy fats along with the omega 3 fatty acids from the salmon. 

What oil is best for frying salmon?

Vegetable oil or canola oil is the best choice for deep frying any fish in general because it has a neutral flavor profile, a high smoking point, and is affordable in large volumes. But, if you want to use a healthier oil, you can use the oils that I mentioned above.

Is it better to fry or bake salmon?

There really is no better way to cook salmon.

Baking and frying salmon both yield delicious results.

Also, since salmon is loaded with nutrients, any way you cook it is beneficial. But baking is the healthier option for cooking salmon because you don't have to add as much extra fat. That's why I like alternating this deep fried salmon with this baked miso glazed salmon. 

Wrapping it all up

Well, that's how to make deep fried salmon! It's a comfort food that's perfect for any occasion.

And it's easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner but delicious enough for a fancy dinner party as well. I mean, who can resist rich and flaky salmon with a crunchy fried breading? Especially when it's finished with a squeeze of zesty lemon.

Anyway, I hope you like this deep fried salmon recipe as much as I do.

Be sure to leave a comment below if you tried it, and let me know what you think.

And for dessert, be sure to check out our Youtube channel.

We're always posting new tasty recipes on there as well as on our Instagram page.

MORE FRIED RECIPES

If you like delicious fried food recipes, we have a ton of fried recipes on the blog you can to try next!

Check out all of these fried recipes: 

• Fried grouper
• Fried pork chops
• Fried pickles
• Fried jalapenos
• Fried tilapia

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