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    Home > Meal Type > Appetizers and Starters

    Cured Brown Sugar Salmon Skewers

    Updated: Jun 22nd 2021 โ€ข Published: Dec 31st 2017 โ€ข 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    This cured brown sugar salmon is a stunning yet simple appetizer idea. The gorgeous deep orange of the salmon contrasts to the black char, and then the flavour! You will be blown away with the sweet and salty salmon. This is decadent, delicious and dazzling party food! Recipe by Sprinkles and Sprouts | Delicious Food for Easy Entertaining

    These Cured Brown Sugar Salmon Skewers are an impressive finger food perfect for entertaining. They are so easy to make, plus you have to make them ahead of time, so they are a stress free appetizer idea. The salmon is cured in salt and sugar and then grilled so the salmon is crusty and cooked on one side but tender on the other.

    Long white platter, with cocktail stick skewered salmon bites, on a white table with champagne in the background.

    These cured brown sugar salmon skewers are a stunning yet simple appetizer idea. The gorgeous deep orange of the salmon contrasts to the black char, and then the flavour! You will be blown away with the sweet and salty salmon. This is decadent, delicious and dazzling party food!

    And we all known that the 3D's are where party food is at ๐Ÿ˜‰

    The combination of sweet and salty is nothing new, but it is oh so good that I like to use it whenever I can! Then along with the sweet and salty cure we have the deep smoky char. Oh man, my mouth is watering as I write. I love these!!!!

    I love this brown sugar salmon served as little skewers, or lollipops as I like to call them when I serve them at parties. Dipped in a little soy sauce they are just crazy good.

    Perfect with a glass of champers. Pass a platter of these around at your next party and you will be the hostess with the mostess.

    (P.S When everyone asks you for the recipe, because I know they will!! Send them over to say hi)

    Overhead view showing the dark charred edge of the salmon skewers and soft cured inside.
    Just look at that char!!!! These cured brown sugar salmon skewers have it all!

    The real key to the flavour of these salmon skewers is the brown sugar. It adds a deep toffee richness to the salmon and then when they are seared it creates the most amazing crust.

    You don't want to cook these for long. The fry pan wants to be searingly hot and then they need 30 seconds max to get the deep almost burnt toffee finish.

    Do them in batches so you can easily remove them from the pan.

    Plus!!! These skewers don't need to be served hot from the pan! Once charred, plate them up and refrigerate them until needed.

    A brown sugar salmon skewers being dipped into a small white dish of soy sauce.

    These Brown Sugar Salmon Skewers are always the first thing to go at parties! I find people are intrigued by them and once they have a first they go back for a second. It is the smoky salty sweet combo that people just find addictive!

    Enjoy x


    If you love this recipe for Cured Brown Sugar Salmon why not pin it for later.
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    Square picture of brown sugar salmon skewer being dipped into soy sauce.
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    4.42 from 17 votes

    Cured Brown Sugar Salmon Skewers

    These cured brown sugar salmon skewers are a stunning yet simple appetizer idea. The gorgeous deep orange of the salmon contrasts to the black char, and then the flavour! You will be blown away with the sweet and salty salmon. This is decadent, delicious and dazzling party food! And we all known that the 3D's are where party food is at ๐Ÿ˜‰
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Curing time1 d
    Total Time1 d 15 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Modern Australian
    Servings: 10 skewers
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
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    Ingredients

    US Customary - Grams
    • ยฝ cup rock salt (see notes)
    • ยฝ cup granulated sugar
    • โ…” cup dark brown sugar
    • 1 lb salmon (sashimi-grade, bones removed and skin off)

    Instructions

    • Mix the rock salt, granulated sugar and brown sugar together in a bowl.
    • Place a large pieces of clingfilm on a work surface.
    • Spoon half of the sugar mixture into a salmon shaped mound on the cling film.
    • Place the salmon on the sugar mixture. Top with the remaining sugar mixture.
    • Wrap the clingfilm tightly around the salmon and place in a large (non-metal) dish.
    • Top with a small chopping board or plate and add some weights (I like to use a couple of cans of tomatoes)
    • Refrigerate for 12 hours.
    • After this time turn the salmon over, then replace the board and weights and refrigerate for a further 12 hours.
    • Unwrap salmon, scrape off any sugar mixture.
    • Rinse the salmon well and dry the salmon flesh with paper towel.
    • Cut the salmon into thick fingers and skewer each with a cocktail stick.
    • Place a flat grill pan over a high heat and once it is smoking sear one side of the cured salmon skewers.
    • Serve with a soy dipping sauce.

    Notes

    Using rock salt ensures your salmon isn't too salty.ย 
    As you don't eat all of the salt and sugar it is hard to calculate the exact nutrition, so I took the nutritional value from some store bought cured salmon from the sushi section.ย 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 3.2g
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts
     
    The cured Brown Sugar Salmon skewers being dipped into a white bowl of soy sauce.

    Cured Brown Sugar Salmon Skewers Anecdote (aka my recipe ramble for those who love the waffle)

    These delicious brown sugar salmon skewers are an idea from my days in wedding catering. When I worked in the hotel, cured salmon bites served on a small spoon were one of the higher end canapรฉs.

    We didn't see them that often, but when we did it was a happy day as the off cuts always made their way to staff lunch! I loved staff lunch when it was wedding season! So many delicious canapรฉs and leftovers ๐Ÿ˜€

    But, I never asked for a recipe (no idea why!!), so through a bit of trial and error I came up with my own cure. The finished salmon is a little firmer than I remember but the flavour is so delicious! And I like the slightly harder cure that my recipe provides. It makes these even more perfect for parties, because now they can be skewered! And anything that can be eaten with off a stick is a winner in my party book.

    Mr 10 can't get enough of these, I made this batch as a nibble for our Sunday board game and I am pretty sure he ate over half of them!!!!

    If you are a lover of smoked salmon and gravlax then these brown sugar salmon skewers are going to be your new favourite thing!! Plus if cured salmon is your thing you have to check out my Blueberry, Gin and Dill Cured Salmon, it is just so pretty!!!

    Have a great day xx

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hanita Dagan says

      August 12, 2019 at 8:45 pm

      When you say "serves 10" is that 10 skewers,or enough for 10 people?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        August 13, 2019 at 6:50 pm

        Hi Hanita, the recipe makes 10 skewers. I will update the recipe to make that a little clearer.

        Reply
    2. Victoria says

      July 31, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      Yeeeep, I'm now craving this whole plate and I don't care it's not even 7am yet. Holy MOLY!! This salmon is dropdead gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        August 07, 2018 at 4:17 am

        Thank you so much Victoria ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    3. Danielle says

      April 13, 2018 at 2:21 am

      5 stars
      I LOVE these skewers. Any kind of cured salmon is amazing, but these crisped ones just look awesome. LOVE it!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        April 13, 2018 at 8:45 pm

        Thank you Danielle, they are always a big hit when I serve them at parties.

        Reply
    4. Linda Nortje says

      March 26, 2018 at 6:58 pm

      5 stars
      We are huge salmon lovers and I know this will be an immediate hit with my family and friends ! Also just in time for all the celebrations coming this Easter weekend ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        March 27, 2018 at 9:45 am

        These will be just perfect for Easter!
        I am certain they will be a hit, I haven't met someone who doesn't love them ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    5. Amanda says

      March 06, 2018 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      These salmon skewers are so genius for a party!!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        March 06, 2018 at 11:14 pm

        Thank you Amanda. Skewers are just easy to eat at parties aren't they ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    6. April says

      March 06, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      Anything on a stick is A-OK in my book ๐Ÿ˜‰ (Also, I love salmon and those look incredibly delicious)

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        March 06, 2018 at 11:15 pm

        Haha!!! That is a book I like ๐Ÿ˜‰
        I love how easy food on a stick is to eat (No need to put your wine down!!)

        Reply
      • Tanya says

        November 30, 2022 at 6:22 am

        Hi there
        Just wondering how long I can keep the salmon in the sweet & salt mixture? If my cocktail party is a Saturday can I do the salmon on the Thursday / Friday up to charring them? Then charr them Saturday?

        Warm regards
        Tanya

        PS. I love gravlax so looking forward to trying these ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
        • Claire McEwen says

          December 01, 2022 at 10:57 am

          Hi Tanya,
          I would start the salmon on the Friday. It needs around 24 hours in the mixture.
          It could do a little longer but I feel that 48 hours makes it very firm and it can be a bit salty.
          Hope that helps
          Cx

          Reply
    7. krishi says

      January 26, 2018 at 3:44 pm

      5 stars
      Just amazing and lovely. Thank you for sharing this recipe

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        February 17, 2018 at 1:52 pm

        You are welcome Krishi, hope you enjoy it ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    8. kelly says

      January 09, 2018 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      This looks amazing!!! Gimme all the salmon skewers, please! Can't wait to see you at the conference, friend! Beautiful recipe ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        January 09, 2018 at 10:58 am

        Thank you! I love how dramatic the black and orange is too ๐Ÿ˜€
        I am so excited about the conference, and my trip to the States ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    9. Marlee says

      January 09, 2018 at 4:27 am

      5 stars
      These are delicious bites! I would be happy to see these at a party!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        January 09, 2018 at 10:58 am

        Thank you, party food is just the best isn't it? ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply

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