If you are looking for an easy smoked salmon nigiri recipe to make at home, this is a simple and elegant place to start. Delicate sushi rice, rich slices of smoked salmon toro and a bright pickled cucumber salad come together in a dish that feels refined but takes very little effort. Light, fresh and full of contrast, it is the kind of recipe that lets a great ingredient do the talking.
Nigiri is one of the best-known styles of sushi: a simple combination of hand-shaped rice and fish or seafood that puts quality at the centre of every bite. Because it is so minimal, every detail matters: from the rice itself to the cut of fish used, and even the traditional way nigiri should be eaten.
This recipe also happens to be the perfect introduction to something new. At the centre of it is our upcoming salmon toro, a richer, softer and more luxurious cut that will soon be available on the Smokin’ Brothers online shop. If you have been wondering what salmon toro is, think of it as a beautifully indulgent cut with a silky texture and deep flavour, ideal for simple dishes like nigiri where it can really stand out.
In this homemade nigiri recipe, the richness of the smoked salmon toro is balanced by the crunch and acidity of a quick cucumber pickle, lifted with rice vinegar, sesame oil and a touch of chilli oil. Add soy sauce, ginger and wasabi if you like, and you have a Japanese-inspired smoked salmon recipe that feels both clean and indulgent at the same time.
Here’s how to make our Smoked Salmon Toro Nigiri with Pickled Cucumber Salad.
Ingredients (Makes 8 pieces)
- 125g sushi rice
- 100g Smokin’ Brothers smoked salmon toro
- 1 cucumber
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp mirin
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp chilli oil
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- Wasabi, ginger and soy sauce, to serve if you like
- Sesame seeds, optional
Method
- Start with the pickled cucumber salad. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways, scoop out the middle, then slice it thinly. Add it to a bowl with the grated garlic, salt, sugar, mirin, sesame oil, chilli oil and rice vinegar. Mix well, gently massaging everything together with your hands, then leave it to sit while you prepare the rest.
- Cook the sushi rice according to the instructions on the packet. While the rice is cooking, slice the smoked salmon toro into thin diagonal sashimi pieces.
- Once the rice is cooked, lightly wet your hands and shape it into 8 small oval portions. Place a slice of smoked salmon toro over each one, pressing gently so it sits neatly on top. If you like, finish with a few sesame seeds.
- Serve the nigiri with the pickled cucumber salad on the side, along with soy sauce, ginger and wasabi if using.
Simple, balanced and full of character, this is one of those dishes that shows exactly why ingredient quality matters. And if this is your first introduction to salmon toro, it certainly will not be your last.
Keep an eye on our online shop — Smokin’ Brothers salmon toro will be landing very soon.