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    Deep Fried Salmon Recipe

    by Joe Duff 17 Comments

    Jump to 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!

    Three pieces of breaded salmon on top of a plate.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Deep Fried Salmon
      • Ingredients
      • How to make deep fried salmon 
        • Step 1: Prep Work
        • Step 2: Bread the Salmon
        • Step 3: Fry and Serve
      • How to store & reheat deep fried salmon 
      • FAQS about this deep fried salmon recipe
        • Is deep fried salmon healthy?
        • What oil is best for frying salmon?
        • Is it better to fry or bake salmon?
      • Wrapping it all up
    • MORE FRIED RECIPES
    • Deep-Fried Salmon Recipe
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    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. 

    Three pieces of breaded salmon on a grey plate.

    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!

    Four salmon fillets on a rectangular plate, a bowl of salt, a bowl of pepper, and a bowl of seasoning are behind it.

    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.

    A piece of salmon in a bowl of flour with tongs clasping the fillet. Behind it is a plate with three salmon fillets on it.

    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.

    Tongs holding a piece of salmon coated between them over a bowl of flour.

    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.

    Two pieces of fried salmon in a pan that is filled with oil.

    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!

    Three salmon fillets on a plate lined with paper towels.

    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.

    Three pieces of deep fried salmon on a plate. There is a wooden spoon putting some sauce on a piece of the salmon.

    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. 

    Three pieces of breaded deep fried salmon on a plate.

    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

    Print

    Deep-Fried Salmon Recipe

    Three pieces of breaded deep fried salmon on a plate.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 15 reviews

    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. This deep fried salmon really is the ultimate healthy and delicious meal that's incredibly quick and easy to make too!

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Fish

    Ingredients

    6 salmon filets, 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

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oil in a deep pot to 350°F (180ºC), or medium high (you may know it’s ready when you throw inside a piece of bread and it floats and bubbles, it shouldn’t sink or burn too fast).
    2. Mix cornmeal, salt, lemon pepper, and white pepper.
    3. Break the eggs in a bowl and mix them.
    4. Place the flour in another bowl.
    5. Cut the fillets in thick stripes, and dip each in the flour, then in the eggs and lastly in the cornmeal mix.
    6. Fry each one until golden brown on each side.
    7. Serve with lemon.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 368
    • Fat: 5
    • Carbohydrates: 54
    • Protein: 27

    Keywords: Deep fried salmon, Pan fried salmon, Fried salmon, How to cook salmon, Breaded salmon, deep fried salmon recipe, fried salmon fillet, deep salmon fillet, deep fried salmon recipes easy, pan fried salmon recipe, pan fried salmon recipe easy, how to make fried salmon,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Antonia

      May 11, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      Seriously the most delicious salmon that I have ever made!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Neil

      May 12, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      This was superb!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Terry

      May 12, 2022 at 8:03 pm

      Incredible how good this was!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Kim

      May 15, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      This is one of the best salmon recipes I’ve ever made.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Jenine

      May 16, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      This was my favorite salmon that I have ever made. The crispy breading is such an underrated addition to salmon.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Dawn

        August 13, 2022 at 3:37 pm

        I'm confused. The recipe says mix cornmeal, flour etc. Them it says put flour in another bowl. Then it says dip in the cornmeal, egg, then in flour Well the flour is mixed with the cornmeal in step 2?

        Reply
        • Brendan Cunningham

          August 15, 2022 at 10:50 am

          Sorry for the confusion! You mix the cornmeal with the salt and peppers. The flour is in a bowl by itself. The recipe card is updated!

          Reply
    6. Terry

      May 16, 2022 at 5:59 pm

      Fork tender and totally crispy!!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Jamella

      May 17, 2022 at 9:03 am

      The crispy and flaky combination that this makes is so very good. I am going to make it again no question.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Mags

      May 18, 2022 at 5:42 pm

      Loved it.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Mel

      May 20, 2022 at 10:46 am

      Can't get over how good this was.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Nick

      May 23, 2022 at 5:42 pm

      You can't beat this if you like salmon and really any food that is hand breaded.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. MAtt

      May 25, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      The salmon was amazing.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Daniel

      May 27, 2022 at 9:49 am

      Very good. I don't love salmon but I really enjoyed this fried version.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Tammy

      May 28, 2022 at 9:27 am

      A great, different recipe using salmon. My husband loved it,

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Dorris

      June 12, 2022 at 9:39 pm

      Crispy crunchy flakey salmon goodness.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Joy

      January 08, 2023 at 8:17 pm

      I cooked this today, and it was delicious 😋. Definitely will cook again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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