If the recipe for your salmon dinner calls for skinless filets, do not throw the salmon skin away. Not only is that wasting a nutritious part of the fish, it is also depriving you of an addictive seafood snack: crispy salmon skin chips. The best part is, you already have everything you need to make them.
Salmon skin chips are a good snack because they are crispy, salty, and crunchy. They do not taste fishy. You can eat them alone or with a dip like hummus or guacamole. You can also put them on top of other dishes like salmon, salads, or vegetables.
The skin of salmon contains nutrients that are good for your heart. Look for wild salmon, which has more of these nutrients than most other types of seafood.
After the salmon skin is scaled and dry, cut it into thin strips. Cut the strips into small pieces so they will cook faster.
Most importantly, make sure the salmon skin is very dry before cooking it so the skin will be crispy. Use paper towels to pat and blot away any extra moisture.
If you do not know how to descale or remove skin from the fish, you can ask the seafood counter to do it for you. Most fishmongers will be happy to do it.
There may be a few scales left on the skin, but it’s OK. The scales will crisp up when you fry them.
Salmon skin will separate from the skillet when it is ready to be flipped. If the skin is stuck, wait a moment before trying to remove it again.
Make your salmon skin chips more interesting by adding some seasoning. A bit of salt and pepper is necessary, but you can also add things like sweet or smoky paprika, Cajun spice, Old Bay, or curry.
Leroy Allen is a veteran news reporter who has been in the business for over 20 years. He has worked for some of the biggest news outlets in the country, and has covered some of the biggest stories in recent history.