2 Healthy Salmon Jerky Recipes – How to Make Salmon Jerky Without Blowing Your Budget!

Do you love salmon? Or jerky?

If the answer to any one of those questions is “Yes”, then this Salmon Jerky Recipe is a must-try!

Fact: Did you know salmon jerky is a protein-dense snack that is also rich in omega-3 fatty fatty acids? 

If you are a person who snacks a lot and is always on the lookout for something unique. Something that can be grabbed while on the go, there is nothing better than salmon jerky.

It’s healthy, it’s delicious, and you are just about to learn how to make salmon jerky!

It’s the perfect blend between sweet and savoury with the right kind of chewiness that makes jerkies unique.

Related post: Is Catfish A Good Fish To Eat?

Why Make Salmon Jerky?

Salmon jerkies are a treat to eat, but there are a couple more reasons other than the very obvious – flavour.

People make salmon jerkies because it:

  • Makes a healthy, protein-rich snack.
  • Helps preserve the extra catch without the need for refrigeration.

Things To Make Sure, Before Making Salmon Jerky:

1). Making jerky is quite simple. But making salmon jerky can be a little tricky, especially if you are deboning the fillet by yourself.

Although we would suggest purchasing a precut and deboned fillet of salmon, in case you haven’t, then make sure you debone it thoroughly.

Because finding a bone in your salmon jerky can be both off-putting and hazardous.

2). It’s a lengthy process. Although it takes less than 20 minutes to make salmon jerky preparations, it takes anywhere between 8 to 10 hours to dehydrate them and turn the marinated slices of salmon into jerkies.

So it’s not like you have a party in two hours, and you plan to make salmon jerkies. You will have to plan well ahead.

3). To remove the skin or not is the usual question.

Removing skin before dehydrating the product may result in breaking the flesh during the marination, as fish is very delicate.

So it’s recommended to keep the skin on and remove it after dehydration. Before you are about to eat it, the skin will come off as easily as peeling a banana.

how to make salmon jerky banner

How To Make Salmon Jerky?

Salmon jerky is widely available in the market, but nothing beats the taste and freshness of marinated and smoked at home.

Recipe Name: The Best Salmon Jerky Recipe

Short Summary: With the right balance of sweet and savoury, this chewy salmon jerky is perfect for an on-the-go snack.

Servings: 5 to 6 generous servings

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 to 10 hours

Courses: Snack

Cuisine: American

Equipment:

Other than the usual set of bowls

  • Dehydrator /Smoker / Oven
  • Wire rack / Cooling rack
  • Sharp knife
  • Ziplock bag
  • Needle nose pliers*
  • Colander / Strainer

*In case the salmon is not precut and deboned.

salmon jerky ingredient mixture
After mixing all the ingredients, keep ingredients in a cold storage

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb of salmon, boned with skin.

Marinade:

  • ½ cup of soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 2 tsp of black pepper
  • ½ tsp of garlic powder

Instructions to make this recipe in steps:

  • Start by cutting the boned fish into ½ inch strips, lengthwise up to 4 inches. You can keep the salmon’s thickness as little as ¼ inch thick for a more crisp texture.

Pro tip: If the salmon isn’t deboned, begin the procedure by first removing bones using needle-nose pliers.

  • Add all the ingredients of marinade in a gallon-sized zip-lock bag and shake.
  • Now add the precut, boned strips of salmon into the mixture and shake until the marinade has coated well over the fish.
  • Place the ziplock bag in the fridge for at least 6 hours.
  • Make sure to keep shaking the bag from time to time to keep the fish evenly coated with the marinade.
  • Next, using a strainer or preferably a colander, drain out all excess marinade from the ziplock bag.
  • Now on a sheet pan, put a paper towel, place the fish, and pat with another paper towel until all excess marinade has wiped off.
  • Next, place the fish pieces on a wire rack and place them in the oven/dehydrator and let it dry for 150 F. If your oven had an even lower setting, even better!

Pro tip: Make sure to keep enough spaces between the pieces of fish for easy circulation of air. Too many fishes clamped together in one tray may result in soggy aftermath.

  • This procedure may take anywhere between 8 to 10 hours.
  • To ensure that the salmon jerky is ready, touch to see if it’s dry or soggy. In case it is soggy, turn the dehydrator up by a few notches. And if it’s dry, it’s ready to munch!

Salmon jerky such a delicious tasty goodness

Ways To Use Salmon Jerky:

Like any other jerky, salmon jerky can be both savoured on its own and used in an array of things.

  • Use it in place of a cracker to eat with sour cream and cheese. Who wouldn’t want to ditch the carb-loaded crackers for a protein-dense snack?
  • Add it to salads for a protein-rich meal. Other than adding more nutritional value to your salad, salmon jerky will also add the right sweet and savoury flavour along with that unique chewiness.
  • Add to your pasta and quesadillas for added flavour and crust.
  • You can also make cheddar biscuits using salmon jerky—an apt appetizer for parties. Salmon jerky adds the perfect balance of crunch, sweetness, and savoury to it.

Are you looking for a spicier version of how to make salmon jerky?

We got you covered!

Spicy Salmon Jerky:

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ lb of salmon fillet, with skin
  • ½ cup of soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp of molasses
  • 1 tbsp of white sugar
  • 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp of lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp of chilli flakes
  • ¾ tbsp of ground black pepper
  • 6 dashes of hot sauce

Method:

  • Cut the fish into thin flat strips and place them in a bowl.
  • In another bowl, mix soy sauce, molasses, white sugar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, chilli flakes, hot sauce, and black pepper. Give it a whisk and pour over the fish strips.
  • Stir it to ensure every piece of fish is covered in the marinade.
  • Cover the bowl with a lid or cling film and let it sit in a cool and dry place, preferably fridge, for at least 6 to 8 hours.

Pro tip: The more time the fish remains in marination, the stronger and better flavours it will absorb.

  • Next, drain the excess marination and place each piece of fish on an absorbent paper towel to remove excess moisture.
  • According to each appliance’s manual, place on a wire rack and set to dehydrate in the oven, smoker, or dehydrator.
  • The procedure will take 8 to 10 hours to complete.
  • Once one, store in an airtight jar and munch on!

Try these salmon jerky recipes now, and let us know how they turned out! Do you also have other salmon jery recipes to share? Use the comment section below to share your feedback with us. We would be more than delighted to hear from you on how to make salmon jerky.

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This is just one example of some of the fresh seafood and related products available at Kabaia.com!

You may also be interested in How to Make Catfish Tacos

Salmon jerky is a healthy snack for all occassions

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make Salmon Jerky:

What if I Don’t have a dehydrator?

No problem, a smoker would work. If you don’t have a smoker either, an oven will work perfectly fine too. The only difference is that a smoker will take half as little time as the dehydrator or oven. But more or less, all of them will bring out the same results

Why use salmon?

In case you don’t have salmon available, you can use any other type of white fish, preferably one with high-fat content, just like salmon

How Do I Store Salmon Jerky?

Salmon jerky can be stored for up to 3 months in an airtight container. The idea behind turning salmon into jerky is to prolong its shelf life. It doesn’t mean that it will go rancid if it’s kept without an airtight jar. It’s just that in an airtight container, it will remain fresher. The salmon jerky can be kept in the open, in your bag, car, or even your gym bag. It’s one of the easiest to travel with snacks

Does Salmon Jerky Go Bad?

Like everything, salmon jerky, too, has a shelf life. Although more extended than a lot of things, salmon jerky also goes bad. It can catch mold, attract moisture and start smelling bad. Sometimes slight discoloration and weird aftertaste also hint that the salmon jerky may have gone bad.
Although salmon jerky requires no refrigeration, it will lose its long shelf life if kept out in the sun or a hot, humid place

Is Salmon Jerky Healthy?

Unlike beef jerky, salmon jerky has various benefits, including high amounts of protein, omega 3s and other essential minerals like zinc, vitamin b12, etc.
But as they say, moderation is key to everything good. Excess amounts of anything may be dangerous

Is Salmon Diet-Friendly?

It is not just diet-friendly but nutrient-dense and healthier than many other snacking options with as low as 119 calories in a 30 gram serving of salmon jerky.
It has a high Protein and Fat content, with little to no carb content making it a popular snack option for those doing the Keto diet or are running gluten-free

Festus Otasowie
Festus Otasowie
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