Spicy Salmon Sushi Bowl

Dr. Stephanie Bartolotti

Jun 18, 2023

3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Craving sushi but don't feel like ordering takeout? This easy spicy salmon sushi bowl gives you all those delicious sushi flavors in about 10 minutes—without having to roll a single piece of sushi.

This has always been one of my favorite quick lunch recipes because it's packed with protein, healthy fats, crunchy vegetables and mineral-rich seaweed. It's also naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free when you use coconut aminos.

Instead of rice, we're using seaweed snacks to scoop up the salmon and vegetables almost like little sushi tacos.

And yes, eating sushi like a taco is completely acceptable in my kitchen.

Why I Use Cooked Salmon

Traditional sushi often includes raw fish, but for this recipe I use cooked wild-caught salmon. A 6-ounce can or pouch makes this incredibly easy to throw together when you need a quick lunch and don't want to cook an entire meal.

Salmon is an excellent source of protein and provides omega-3 fatty acids, while the avocado adds satisfying healthy fats.

The seaweed is another nutritional bonus because sea vegetables naturally provide minerals, including iodine.

A Chinese Food Therapy Perspective

From a Chinese medicine perspective, I generally favor more cooked and warm foods for patients with weaker digestion, particularly when there is bloating, loose stool, fatigue or a Spleen Qi deficiency pattern.

This recipe contains several cooling or raw ingredients, including cucumber and avocado, so I like adding ginger and a little sriracha to bring some warmth and balance to the meal.

Ginger is traditionally used in Chinese food therapy to warm the digestive system and support digestion.

If you tend to run hot, you can use less sriracha. If you love spicy food, add a little more.

That's one of my favorite things about food therapy: your food doesn't always have to look exactly the same as someone else's.

Ingredients:

1 6-ounce can or pouch wild-caught salmon, drained
1 tablespoon avocado oil mayonnaise
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon coconut aminos
1/2 teaspoon sriracha, or more to taste
1 package seaweed snacks
1 tablespoon organic sushi ginger
1/2 organic cucumber, diced
1/2 cup organic shredded carrots
1/2 avocado, sliced
1/2 teaspoon Eden Shake or sesame seeds

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the salmon, avocado oil mayonnaise, rice vinegar, coconut aminos and sriracha. Mix until everything is well combined.
Transfer the salmon mixture to a serving bowl and add the shredded carrots, diced cucumber, sliced avocado, sushi ginger and seaweed snacks.
Finish with a sprinkle of Eden Shake or sesame seeds.

That's it. Lunch is ready in about 10 minutes.

How to Eat Your Salmon Sushi Bowl

Here's the fun part.

Take one sheet of seaweed and add a spoonful of the spicy salmon mixture to the center. Top it with a few carrots, cucumber, avocado and a little ginger.

Fold it slightly and eat it like a taco.

Continue until the bowl mysteriously disappears.

Make It Your Own

This recipe is incredibly easy to customize.

If you'd like more carbohydrates, serve it with a side of warm jasmine rice or add rice directly to the bowl.

For additional vegetables, try adding shredded cabbage, radish, edamame or lightly cooked bok choy.

Want more protein? Increase the salmon or add a soft-boiled egg.

And if you're making it ahead for lunch, keep the seaweed separate until you're ready to eat so it stays nice and crispy.

Dr. Stephanie's Tip: If you struggle with bloating or tend to feel cold after eating raw foods, lightly sauté or steam some of the vegetables rather than eating everything straight from the refrigerator.

You can also serve the salmon mixture with warm jasmine rice and keep the ginger.

This creates a warmer, more digestion-friendly version while still giving you the sushi flavors you're craving.

A Quick, Protein-Packed Lunch

Healthy eating doesn't need to mean spending Sunday afternoon prepping 27 matching containers.

Sometimes you just need a meal you can make in 10 minutes.

This spicy salmon sushi bowl gives you protein, healthy fats, vegetables and seaweed in one simple meal, and it's easy to adjust depending on your nutritional needs and Chinese medicine pattern.