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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers and Snacks

    Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu

    January 31, 2024 · Published: March 29, 2021 By: Asian Inspired Eats 36 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Thin slices of sushi-grade salmon will melt in your mouth in this Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu recipe. It's just about the easiest Japanese appetizer on the planet, and so impressive!

    Slices of fresh sashimi salmon on a white platter with sliced cucumbers on top and sprinkles of black sesame seeds, with black chopsticks and a small white bowl of green wasabi on the side.

    Beautiful sashimi salmon is gently bathing in citrusy Ponzu sauce for the most delectable appetizer. The flavor is simply incredible!

    Slices of fresh sashimi salmon on a white platter with sliced cucumbers on top and sprinkles of black sesame seeds, with black chopsticks.

    What ingredients do you need for this Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu recipe?

    This dish is beyond easy! There are only three ingredients needed and a few more for garnish. That's it!

    • Sushi-grade salmon (This is absolutely required to make this recipe.)
    • Ponzu sauce
    • Sliced cucumbers
    • Garnish: black sesame seeds, pickled ginger, wasabi paste
    perfect marbled sushi-grade filet of salmon on a piece of brown parchment paper

    Where to buy sushi-grade salmon?

    Sashimi by definition is made from fresh, raw fish or seafood. It's important that you know and understand fish’s freshness. Not all grocery stores sell sushi-grade fish. Whole Foods often carries it, as well as some specialty markets. I often buy sushi-grade fish at my local Asian market. Do your research!

    How to tell if the salmon is fresh

    The first thing that usually can distinguish one good piece of fish from another is the color. If you are a novice sashimi eater or a skilled chef, you probably know that already. Salmon that has a deep orange color definitely tastes better than the pale and light orange one. But the smell test is everything! Every fish is somewhat fishy smelling, but the freshest fish should only have a slight sea smell and NO odor at all. Ask the fishmonger the date the fish came in! Fresh-frozen is always best.

    Raw fresh salmon fillet cut into slices and a piece on a chef's knife.

    Use a sharp knife to slice the salmon

    Start with acquiring a really sharp knife! I can always count on my Shun Chef's Knife for sharpness. It can be pricey, but if there’s one kitchen tool you will never regret spending money on, it’s a quality knife! Make thin, even slices on this salmon, and make sure to remove the skin before slicing. Eating raw salmon skin is gross!

    • A mound of wasabi paste on a small black platter on top of a wooden surface. this recipe
    • A bottle of Kikkoman Ponzu Sauce on a white background.

    Wasabi paste is great on the side with this appetizer for a little heat. You don't need much though. You don't want to cover up the beautiful flavors from the fish and Ponzu sauce. And of course, you need to serve this with a side of pickled ginger!

    What is Ponzu?

    Ponzu is a citrus soy dressing often used as a tangy dip for sushi or sashimi. Ponzu is so, so good with this dish! You can make your own Ponzu sauce, but I went the easy route and bought it ready-made.

    Slices of fresh sashimi salmon on a white platter with sliced cucumbers on top and sprinkles of black sesame seeds, with black chopsticks, a Japanese tea kettle, and a small white bowl of green wasabi on the side.

    Great looking garnish makes your sashimi dish look even better! I've used thinly sliced cucumbers and black sesame seeds for garnish, but you can use whatever you have on hand, like chopped chives, and lemon wedges. You can even drizzle the fish with toasted sesame oil for a fragrant finish!

    Another easy salmon recipe to try

    This deconstructed, healthy, no-fuss Salmon Sushi Bowl will satisfy all of your sushi cravings without having to go out! Comes together in just 10 minutes!

    Salmon sushi bowl featuring chunks of sushi-grade salmon, sushi rice, sliced avocados, cucumbers, and seaweed strips on a bamboo mat with chopsticks.

    Tips & Tricks

    • You can buy sushi-grade salmon at select grocery stores, like Whole Foods. I often buy mine at my local Asian market.
    • Make sure you are buying the freshest fish! Look for color (deep orange), smell (NO odor at all), and check the arrival date.
    • Use a very sharp knife for the best cuts. You'll want to cut the salmon into thin, even slices.
    • This appetizer will also work as a main course, but you'll have to buy more fish! Serve it with a side of steamed rice!

    Want more recipes like this?

    If you liked this Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu, you’re going to want these recipes:

    • Salmon Sushi Bowl
    • Sushi Avocado Toasts
    • Sushi Tacos with Salmon and Tuna
    • Sushi Donuts
    • Asian Rubbed Salmon
    Print
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    Slices of fresh sashimi salmon on a white platter with sliced cucumbers on top and sprinkles of black sesame seeds, with black chopsticks and a small white bowl of green wasabi on the side..

    Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 17 reviews

    Print Recipe
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    Thin slices of sushi-grade salmon will melt in your mouth in this Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu recipe. It's just about the easiest Japanese appetizer on the planet, and so impressive!

    • Total Time: 10 min
    • Yield: 4 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • ¼ pound sushi-grade salmon
    • 2 tablespoons Ponzu sauce
    • 1 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced
    • Black sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon pickled ginger, thinly sliced
    • ½ teaspoon wasabi paste

    Instructions

    1. Using a very sharp knife, cut the salmon into thin, even slices, about ¼ inch thick. Set aside.
    2. Drizzle the Ponzu sauce onto the bottom of a serving dish. Place the salmon slices on top of the sauce in a single layer, overlapping the slices slightly. I used a long rectangular dish for presentation.
    3. Top the fish with slices of cucumber and black sesame seeds.
    4. Serve with pickled ginger and wasabi paste on the side.

    Notes

    • You can buy sushi-grade salmon at select grocery stores, like Whole Foods. I often buy mine at my local Asian market.
    • Make sure you are buying the freshest fish! Look for color (deep orange), smell (NO odor at all), and check the arrival date.
    • Use a very sharp knife for the best cuts. You'll want to cut the salmon into thin, even slices.
    • This appetizer will also work as a main course, but you'll have to buy more fish! Serve it with a side of steamed rice!
    • Author: Asian Caucasian
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: No cook
    • Cuisine: Japanese
    • Diet: Low Calorie

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 48
    • Sugar: 0.9 g
    • Sodium: 239.4 mg
    • Fat: 1.4 g
    • Carbohydrates: 2 g
    • Protein: 7.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 14.5 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @AsianCaucasianBlog on Instagram and hashtag #AsianCaucasianEats

    Slices of fresh sashimi salmon on a white platter with sliced cucumbers on top and sprinkles of black sesame seeds, with black chopsticks and a small white bowl of green wasabi on the side.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chef Dennis says

      April 17, 2021 at 8:20 am

      my friends loved the salmon sashimi, next time I have to make a double batch!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 17, 2021 at 3:39 pm

        So glad you all enjoyed it! It's so incredibly easy and delish. We make this quite a bit!

        Reply
      • Marissa Johnson says

        June 21, 2022 at 4:08 pm

        I saw a recipe on YouTube where it says salmon needs to be cured, I am a new sashimi eater and confused. I don’t see a curing process in your recipe, can you shed some light on how necessary curing the salmon before consuming is? This looks absolutely delicious and would love to try!

        Reply
        • Asian Caucasian says

          June 27, 2022 at 8:11 am

          Hey Marissa! Great question! Curing is done to preserve the fish to prevent spoilage. You do not need to cure sushi-grade salmon for this recipe as it is eaten fresh and raw (sashimi style). Just make sure you buy very fresh sushi-grade salmon. Hope that helps!

    2. Lathiya says

      April 10, 2021 at 7:15 am

      I love learning new dishes and this one sounds interesting. Your post is helpful to pick the right sushi-grade salmon to make this dish.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:55 am

        Sushi-grade salmon is a must! Finding it just might be the hardest part of this recipe! 😜

        Reply
    3. Kym says

      April 05, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      We made this over Easter weekend and it was to die for OMG delicious! Super quick and devoured in minutes! A must-try recipe!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:54 am

        So glad you enjoyed this salmon sashimi recipe! We absolutely loved it and will be making this again and again!

        Reply
    4. Kushigalu says

      April 05, 2021 at 1:32 am

      One of the beautiful appetizer that I have seen. Love sushi and i will be trying this soon . Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:54 am

        You will not believe how easy this is to make at home! I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we did!

        Reply
    5. Julie says

      April 04, 2021 at 2:09 pm

      Oh my goodness! I love that you can easily create this at home and it looks just as tasty as the restaurant. Such a great meal.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:53 am

        Yes! You can make this beautiful salmon sashimi dish at home! So, so easy and delish.

        Reply
    6. Amy Liu Dong says

      April 04, 2021 at 12:12 pm

      By just looking at it, makes you hungry. The presentation is perfect, definitely looks so delicious and so enticing. Got to make this at home.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:53 am

        It's beyond easy to make, and so delish too! Sashimi is perfect to make at home.

        Reply
    7. Jacqueline Debono says

      April 04, 2021 at 5:42 am

      I love salmon sashimi but never had it with ponzu sauce. Definitely need to find some of that. It sounds so good!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:51 am

        Ponzu sauce is SO good with sushi and sashimi! You really need to try. 😋

        Reply
    8. Jere Cassidy says

      April 03, 2021 at 11:57 pm

      This salmon does look incredible and super easy to make. Gotta give this recipe a try.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:45 am

        You will love how easy and delicious this salmon sashimi appetizer is! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Jamie says

      April 03, 2021 at 10:22 pm

      I love all the flavors of this salmon sashimi! It's such an easy dish to make with just a few ingredients which is perfect for a quick appetizer!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:45 am

        You cannot believe how easy this is! It's just melt-in-your-mouth goodness!

        Reply
    10. Robin says

      April 03, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      This simple sashimi treatment is so lovely alongside a salad or vegetables. Ponzu sauce combined with wasabi paste is a delightful, flavor explosion!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 12, 2021 at 10:45 am

        Exactly, Robin! This sashimi is perfect as a stand-alone appetizer or paired with other dishes!

        Reply
    11. Marta says

      April 03, 2021 at 11:06 am

      Our local fish monger had sushi grade salmon arrive in yesterday's shipment! It was the first time the kiddos had sashimi, so we were wondering how they would react. Everyone loved it! The ponzu dressed the salmon slices perfectly. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 03, 2021 at 12:41 pm

        Sushi-grade salmon can sometimes be hard to find, so I sub it out for tuna which is more readily available. Either fish would be great with the Ponzu!

        Reply
    12. Linda says

      April 03, 2021 at 1:07 am

      Ponzu with salmon sashimi? Love the flavor combo in every bite.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 03, 2021 at 12:40 pm

        It's melt-in-your-mouth delicious! The ponzu elevates this salmon sashimi to a new level!

        Reply
    13. Stine Mari says

      April 02, 2021 at 5:39 am

      We have some great sashimi salmon here in Norway so this is the perfect recipe. Love to serve it with ponzu sauce.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 02, 2021 at 1:41 pm

        When I lived in Sweden I would eat Norwegian salmon twice a week! Nothing like it. Yes, this sashimi recipe would be perfect with your salmon!!

        Reply
    14. Natalia says

      April 02, 2021 at 4:48 am

      This salmon sashimi with the ponzu looks irresistible! I'm a great fun of Japanese food. Was looking for an easy recipe for this weekend and yours look just perfect!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 02, 2021 at 1:40 pm

        I think you'll love this salmon sashimi! It literally melts in your mouth! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Natalie says

      April 01, 2021 at 11:09 am

      I never tried ponzu sauce. Sounds delicious. Thanks for this lovely dinner idea. I will definitely make this.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        April 02, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        Ponzu is a lot like soy sauce with citrus. It's very tasty. Enjoy!

        Reply
    16. Leslie says

      March 30, 2021 at 3:24 pm

      I just got this serving dish (or at least one just like it)! This is the PERFECT recipe to present on my new dish! LOVE!!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        March 31, 2021 at 2:36 pm

        Presentation is everything, as they say! Enjoy!

        Reply
    17. Lisa Ann Saunders says

      March 29, 2021 at 9:18 am

      This does look incredible! I’ve always been afraid to make sushi at home but now I must try this!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        March 29, 2021 at 9:19 am

        I cannot tell you how easy this is to make at home! The key is really fresh sushi-grade fish. Then it's just a few more ingredients!

        Reply

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    Slices of fresh sashimi salmon on a white platter with sliced cucumbers on top and sprinkles of black sesame seeds, with black chopsticks and a small white bowl of green wasabi on the side.