Crispy Fried Salmon Skin

By
Hank Shaw
Hank Shaw
Hank Shaw
Hank Shaw is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and author of four cookbooks. He has expertise in wild foods and has written over 1,000 recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/6/23
Pieces of crispy fried salmon skin with a small bowl of soy sauce on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Brine: 15 mins
Total: 32 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

This recipe is a great way to use salmon skin, especially since the skin is something that would normally be ignored or discarded. Frying salmon skin results in a tasty treat. Consider it similar to salmon bacon, or "salmon rinds," as opposed to pork rinds.

This recipe works for any type of salmon and gives the skin an Asian flair, but you could season it any way you'd like. The keys to tasty flavoring are the oil you use and the post-fry seasoning. 

As with most fried foods, you'll want to serve this right away. These crispy salmon skins are a perfect light appetizer for your salmon dinner. You can deskin the fish, prepare and serve the skins, and then serve the salmon separately. Perhaps the skins would make for a crunchy topping on a Japanese-inspired salad. Another option is to serve the crispy skins alongside a tasty salmon tartare. If they are crispy enough, the skins could replace crackers and be used to scoop up the diced fish.

Ingredients

  • Salmon skin, from 1 large fillet

  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt

  • 1 cup vegetable oil, more as needed

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sesame oil, or other flavored oil

  • Soy sauce, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for crispy fried salmon skin recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  2. With a very sharp knife, slice the salmon skin into 1/4-inch thick strips from top to bottom (from belly to back, not head to tail). This will result in long strips since they will shrink upon cooking.

    Salmon skin being sliced into thick strips on a cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  3. In a medium bowl, toss the salmon skin strips with the kosher salt. Set aside to brine for 10 to 15 minutes.

    Salmon skin strips tossed with kosher salt in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  4. Pat the salmon skin strips dry with a paper towel. To avoid oil splatter and ensure the skin gets crispy, it is important that the salmon is completely dry.

    Salmon skin strips on paper towel being patted dry with paper towel

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  5. In a frying pan or wok, add enough vegetable oil to be about 3/4 inch up the sides. Add the sesame or flavored oil and turn the heat to medium-high.

    Sesame oil being added to a frying pan with oil

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  6. Once the oil is hot, add the salmon skin to the oil, and fry over medium-low heat. Stir frequently so they don't stick—a chopstick is a good tool that can delicately stir them around. It can take a full 10 to 15 minutes for them to crisp up—they will look rubbery at first, but be patient.

    Salmon skins frying in a pan with oil

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  7. When crispy, remove the skins from the oil and drain on paper towels.

    Browned fried salmon skins on paper towels

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  8. Serve with soy sauce and enjoy.

    Crispy brown salmon skins with a bowl of soy sauce on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

Recipe Variations

  • If you aren't using sesame oil or Asian flavors, you can skip the soy sauce. Experiment with other dipping sauces.
  • If you want to take this dish in another direction, use olive oil and some smoked paprika for a Spanish flavor, olive oil and lemon for Greek or Italian, butter and thyme for French, or bacon fat and cayenne powder for a Cajun feel. The possibilities are limitless.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
430 Calories
43g Fat
4g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 430
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 55%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 1282mg 56%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 44mg 3%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 165mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)