It’s funny--I don’t have TikTok, but I find enough TikTok “recipes” online just from reading around on different food blogs where they test out recipes that go viral. One of the most popular ones lately was a salmon rice bowl from a user named Emily Mariko who made a little video of her salmon rice bowl that is basically a deconstructed and easier version of sushi. I absolutely love salmon and couldn’t wait to try it!

When I saw the video, there is one person that I knew needed to hear about this asap and that is my sister-in-law, Natalie. I have never known someone who was such a hardcore sushi fan and that was evident to me this summer when she drove 12 hours down to see us with her two kids. I was amazed at how full and efficiently she filled her Honda Odyssey with all sorts of cool toys, including bikes, scooters, and Barbie dolls to keep all the kids entertained all week. Not only did she have her kids covered, I found out she makes a sushi roll for herself every single day at home and rolls it herself. She’s got all the fixing and dipping sauces as well so when she showed up with a cooler full of sushi making stuff, I could not have been more surprised and impressed with her determination to continue making it everyday, even when on vacation. When I asked her why she does it and if she ever tires of making it--she simply said it makes her so happy and she loves it so much, it is kind of a pick-me-up for her in the afternoon for lunch and is almost like self-care for her to take the time to make it for herself with all the fresh ingredients everyday. I loved that! But I have to admit that upon learning how to make this easy “sushi bowl”, I feel the need to tell her about it because she could get her sushi fix a lot faster everyday, if she’d want to :)

What is the TikTok Salmon Rice Bowl?

In the video, Emily heats up a bowl of leftover rice and flaked salmon filet in a bowl in the microwave. She puts an ice cube on top of the rice and covers the bowl with parchment paper so it will steam and heat up the rice and salmon and keep it moist. After it comes out of the microwave, she tops it with Kewpie mayo, soy sauce, sriracha, and diced avocado with some kimchi on the side. Then you eat a bite of the rice mixture with roasted seaweed and you have a delicious, very flavorful, easy meal to make for lunch or dinner any time. I also added some Everything But the Bagel Seasoning on top of mine and that was a perfect addition as well.

What if you don’t like salmon?

I made this for lunch with some leftover salmon I had on hand and loved it so much I couldn’t wait to make it for my husband, knowing I'd need to sub out the salmon. I made it with some panko-breaded shrimp I made in the air fryer and added it to the bowl instead and it was just as delicious as the salmon. Feel free to add whatever protein you’d like--I think something like shrimp or tilapia would be good substitutes if you don’t love salmon.

Is this a meal you would try? I love it because it gives you all the flavors you love about the basic sushi roll, without the complicated rolling that goes with it. I’m not as hard-core with my sushi as my sister-in-law and I’m okay with that :) But I’m happy to make this simple salmon rice bowl any time!



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