Salmon Stir Fry Recipe

Juicy salmon, seared stir fry style with a delicious Asian inspired simple sauce. A quick and easy dinner recipe the whole family will love.

It’s safe to say I am without a doubt a salmon lover. Therefore, I’m no stranger to making epic salmon recipes (like these salmon cakes, air fried salmon, and coconut crusted salmon with chimichurri), but this is definitely going to the top of the list for favorite dinners hands down.

I love how simple and healthy stir fry recipes can be, and this salmon stir-fry definitely checks all those boxes. This recipe is the ideal version of “healthy comfort food”.

It’s loaded with fresh and delicious vegetables and topped with flavor packed seared salmon pieces for a versatile and addictive week night dinner you will be cooking on repeat.

You can eat it as is with just the salmon and veggies, over soba noodles, with basmati rice or brown rice, or with this roasted cauliflower rice recipe too.

Grab all the details below on what ingredients to use, how to make your own healthier stir fry sauce, and tips for cooking, serving, and reheating. Let’s dive in!

“School” Supplies:

• Large Skillet or Wok
• Knife & Cutting Board
• Whisk
• Small Bowl or Glass Jar
• Spatula / Tongs

“Class” Notes:

This recipe has three main parts – The salmon, the sauce, and the veggies. Use the outlined notes below to help guide you through and answer any common cooking questions you have.

If you’re a big fan of salmon and this recipe or need to provide feedback, please leave a comment and a review to help other readers with this dish!

Pro Tip: To make an effective stir fry, you need to ensure you’ve completed your mise en place. Meaning, prep all of your ingredients (sauce, salmon, and the stir fry veggies) before cooking!

Is salmon stir fry healthy?

Salmon seared and stir fried is a great way to enjoy a lean meat that is high in Omega-3 fatty acids (aka the good fats), protein, and is zero carb. Fresh salmon provides you with other vital nutrients as well like B vitamins, potassium, selenium, and is great for reducing risk of heart disease.

Salmon paired with a large pile of colorful vegetables and a serving of your favorite rice or noodles is a well balanced meal to keep your energy up, your metabolism balanced, and your stomach full.

Simple Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients:

This is a very simple, base sauce that you will use to flavor the salmon filet as well as the stir fried vegetables. I build this sauce in a small bowl or jar (the jar is nice because you can shake it all together).

Here is what you will need:

• Soy Sauce (or coconut aminos)
• Chicken Broth
• Sesame Oil (or sub with extra virgin olive oil)
• Honey or Brown Sugar (Use low carb sugar alternatives if desired here)
• Fresh Ginger
• Fresh Garlic
• Rice Vinegar
• Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder
• Red Pepper Flakes (optional for heat)

If you’d like to make a teriyaki salmon stir fry try this homemade teriyaki sauce recipe instead.

Stir Fry Salmon Ingredients:

• Salmon Fillets: Use pieces of salmon that are similar thickness if possible for even cooking, skin optional.
• Bok Choy: Sliced into pieces about 1/4 -1/2 inch thick.
• Broccolini: Trim the ends, but leave mostly whole.
• Green Onions: Slice into small, thin pieces.
• Red Bell Pepper: Remove the seeds and slice into thin pieces, do not chop.
• Snow Peas or Snap Peas: Leave whole or slice in half if desired.
• Carrots: I used a peeler to create carrot ribbons and added them after the stir fry was off the heat. You can slice or dice your carrots if desired though as well.
• Fresh Garlic and Ginger: Mince both well and set aside.
• Sesame Seeds (garnish): Toasted is the best way!

Prepping and Cooking the Salmon:

Here is what you need to do to prep and cook your salmon-

• Remove your fresh or frozen salmon from the packaging. Pat it dry with a paper towel to remove moisture. The moisture will prevent it from searing and browning.
• Remove any pin bones and the skin if you desire (I removed the skin and cooked it in the air fryer to get it extra crispy).
• You can leave the salmon whole, but I prefer making salmon cubes for this recipe. Slice them into even pieces if you choose to do this as well.
• Season with a little salt, black pepper, garlic powder, ground ginger, paprika, sesame seeds, and some sesame oil.
• Pre-heat a large frying pan or wok to medium-high heat.
• Quickly sear the salmon pieces in the pan, about 2 minutes per side (do not overcook).
• Remove the salmon from the non stick skillet and place salmon fillets on a sheet pan and set aside. You will toss them in the sauce at the end!

Cooking the Vegetable Stir Fry:

Vegetables can vary on cooking time based on their density and how they were sliced and prepared. Here is the order in which I like to cook the vegetables –

• Heat oil in the wok over medium-high heat.
• Add the red pepper, bok choy, garlic cloves and minced fresh ginger. Toss in the green onion as well (if you have diced carrot pieces and not ribbons, add them in here as well).
• After about 2-3 minutes of cooking, add in the broccolini and the peapods. Toss for about a minute, then add in a few tablespoons of your stir fry sauce.
• Let the sauce cook down and move the veggies around in the pan. Cook until they are tender but not mushy. Remove the pan or wok from the heat and add the carrot ribbons.

Assembly and Serving:

Take your cooked vegetables and place them on a platter or a large serving bowl with your favorite whole grains. Because your salmon has been sitting aside, it needs a quick and brief reheat (but we don’t want to over cook it).

The trick here is to return your wok or pan to the stove and pour the remaining marinade into the pan and reduce it over medium-high heat until its thickened and syrup like.

Take your cooked salmon chunks and toss it back into the pan (off the heat) and coat it in the warmed stir fry sauce. This will give the salmon so much flavor without over cooking it.

Place the cooked salmon right over the top of the veggies. Serve it up for a quick dinner and enjoy for a healthy weeknight meal!