How many recipes can be made from a whole salmon?

May 21 2023 Updated

How many recipes can you make with a whole salmon?

Photos from Tokyo Sushi Academy

There is a saying in Finland that “No part of the reindeer is to be wasted”. Besides using it for food, people tan the skins and use them for shoes and clothing etc. Here in Japan, the cooks of olden times had an adage that “No part of the fish is to be wasted”.

This means there are recipes to put to use all parts of the fish, head, skin, bones, fillets, etc.

Salmon is a fish available in most parts of the world, and today we want to list some of the many Japanese recipes that you can make with it. Japanese chefs overseas also have a variety of salmon recipes to use up all parts of the fish.

Take a look at the following recipes, you may be able to make two or three new dishes!

You can make salmon sashimi from salmon fillets that are kept fresh by being frozen. This is a very standard item in Japanese restaurants.

Salmon sashimi allows us savor the original taste of the salmon, and no one will be fooled by low quality fish. Therefore, always try to use the freshest and highest quality salmon available if you are making sashimi.

Salmon Sashimi

Salmon Nigiri Sushi

In a similar vein, you can make Salmon Nigiri Sushi from fresh salmon fillets. The fatty part of the salmon is called Salmon Toro, it’s popular with young people the world over.

Salmon Nigiri Sushi

Salmon Hosomaki (Thin-Rolled Sushi)

This is thin slices of salmon fillet and vinegared rice wrapped in seaweed. Salmon Hosomaki is one of the most popular rolled sushi, after Tuna Hosomaki.

Salmon Hosomaki

Philadelphia Roll

Inspired by salmon and cream cheese eaten on a bagel, the Philadelphia Roll is a popular salmon sushi recipe invented in the United States. Besides Philadelphia rolls, there are many sushi roll recipes that use salmon.

Philadelphia Sushi Roll

Spicy Salmon Roll

This sushi roll is made by placing grilled salmon fillet in a Gunkan Maki roll with spicy mayo. This recipe is a rich combination of salmon and spicy seasoning.

Spicy Salmon Gunkan Roll

Salmon Oyako Don (Salmon and Salmon Roe Rice Bowl)

This is a parent / offspring kind of dish, a rice bowl filled with salmon and salmon roe, sort of like chicken and egg bowl.

Salmon is at its most delicious when seasoned with soy sauce.

Salmon Oyako Don

Salmon Carpaccio

Carpaccio is a dish made with beef originating in Italy, however, due to the recent boom in Japanese food, it has become popular using seafood. Japanese restaurants often serve it as an appetizer.

Salmon Carpaccio

Salmon Tartare

European Beef Tartare is another dish that has been fused with Japanese cuisine, it’s now popular to eat salmon, tuna, or hamachi (Yellow Tail) as a tartare mixed with olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice etc.

Salmon Tartare

Teriyaki Salmon

Teriyaki chicken is the most famous way to use this sweet and spicy sauce, but teriyaki salmon is also a popular recipe.

Teriyaki Salmon

Salmon Shio-yaki

A simple dish of salmon salted and grilled, this delicious recipe is a staple of Japanese breakfasts.

Salmon Shio-yaki

Deep-fried Salmon

Similar to deep-fried shrimp or mackerel, this salmon is deep-fried in a batter of flour, egg, and bread crumbs and is a popular Western-style dish in Japan.

Fried Salmon

Salmon Kama-yaki (Grilled Salmon Neck)

Grilled salmon neck is an amazingly delicious dish. The rich fatty part of the neck is always good, whether grilled with simple salt or cooked teriyaki style with soy sauce, mirin, sugar etc.

Grilled Salmon Neck

Salmon Arajiru

“Jiru” (or Shiru) means soup, and “Ara” means the head, bones, gills, fins, and meat attached to such parts after removing the fish guts. Using these parts that many shops simply discard, you can make a “dashi” (soup stock), which is added to miso soup made with vegetables for an amazing final product called Arajiru.

Many traditional style Japanese sushi restaurants, as well as revolving sushi restaurants, use the “Ara” from cleaning the fish to make this delicious soup.

Salmon Arajiru

Salmon Skin Roll

The salmon skin roll invented by NOBU has become a popular sushi dish around the world. It’s a sushi roll made from salmon skin dried in the oven until crispy and then seasoned with teriyaki sauce. Even the skin can be used in this delicious way, so don’t throw it away.

We hope you found a new recipe or way to prepare salmon from this list!

What would you like to know more?

For those who want to learn Japanese cuisine in Japan

Culinary Schools in Japan

Tokyo Sushi Academy

The first and the most popular sushi school in the world.

Tokyo Sushi Academy
Japan Culinary Institute

Japanese culinary training including sushi, kaiseki, yakitori, wagashi and more.

Yakitori & Chicken Dishes
Miyajima Ramen School

More than 1,000 graduates from over 50 countries.

Miyajima Ramen School
International Ramen School

Ramen study program combined with OJT

International Ramen School