Sushi Bake Salmon Avocado (Printable)

Baked layers of rice, salmon, avocado, and nori, served warm with soy sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice Layer

01 - 2 cups sushi rice
02 - 2 1/2 cups water
03 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon sugar
05 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Salmon Layer

06 - 14 ounces skinless salmon fillet
07 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
08 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Creamy Layer

10 - 3.5 ounces cream cheese, softened
11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (preferably Kewpie)
12 - 1 tablespoon sriracha (optional)
13 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Toppings

14 - 2 avocados, sliced
15 - 3 sheets roasted nori, cut into small squares
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

→ For Serving

18 - Soy sauce (for dipping)
19 - Pickled ginger (optional)
20 - Wasabi (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Rinse sushi rice under cold water until clear. Combine with water in a saucepan, bring to boil, then cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
02 - Mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Fold seasoning into cooked rice and fluff with a fork. Spread rice evenly into a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
03 - Set oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).
04 - Place salmon on parchment-lined tray. Brush with soy sauce and sesame oil, then sprinkle with black pepper. Bake 12-15 minutes until fully cooked. Flake salmon with a fork.
05 - Combine softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sriracha (if using), and lemon juice until smooth. Gently fold flaked salmon into mixture.
06 - Spread salmon mixture evenly over the rice layer in the baking dish.
07 - Bake assembled casserole for 10 minutes until warmed through and slightly golden on top.
08 - Top with sliced avocado, nori squares, toasted sesame seeds, and sliced spring onions. Slice and serve warm with soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes exactly like your favorite sushi but comes together in less than an hour, no rolling skills required.
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake it just before serving, which means less stress when people are actually hungry.
  • The creamy salmon layer is dangerously good—it feels fancy but it's literally just three ingredients mixed together.
02 -
  • Add your toppings at the very last moment—I learned this the hard way when I topped everything in advance and the nori turned into leather and the avocado oxidized to an unappetizing gray.
  • Don't skip seasoning the rice properly; it's what makes this taste like sushi instead of just baked fish on plain rice.
  • If your salmon is thicker than an inch, bake it a few minutes longer before mixing it in, because the second bake won't cook through the center.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds yourself in a dry pan for thirty seconds—it changes them from pleasant to absolutely incredible and costs nothing.
  • Invest in real Kewpie mayo if you can find it; the difference between that and regular mayo in this dish is genuinely noticeable and worth the few extra dollars.
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