Air-Fried Salmon Bites

Ingredients

• 1 Pound skinless salmon fillets - 1 pound (450 g), Pat dry before cutting into even 1-inch bites.
• 1 Cup panko breadcrumbs - 1 cup (60 g), About 60 g; used for the crispy coating.
• 0.5 Cup mayonnaise - 1/2 cup (120 ml), Divided: 6 tablespoons for the dipping sauce and 2 tablespoons for coating the salmon.
• 1 Each lemon - 1 count (100 g), Use the zest and 2 tablespoons juice, divided between sauce and coating.
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil - 1 tablespoon (15 ml), About 15 ml; mixed into the panko coating.
• 1 Teaspoon garlic powder - 1 teaspoon (3 g), Divided between seasoned mayonnaise and panko coating.
• 1 Teaspoon paprika - 1 teaspoon (2 g), Divided between seasoned mayonnaise and panko coating.
• 0.75 Teaspoon fine salt - 3/4 teaspoon (4 g), Divided: 1/2 teaspoon in seasoned mayonnaise and 1/4 teaspoon in panko coating.
• 0.25 Teaspoon black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon (1 g)
• 1 Teaspoon Dijon mustard - 1 teaspoon (5 g), Used in the dipping sauce.

Instructions

1. Prep salmon and lemon

   1. *Pat the salmon dry*, cut it into *even 1-inch bites*, then zest the lemon and squeeze *2 tablespoons lemon juice*.

2. Make the dipping sauce

   2. In a small bowl, stir together *6 tablespoons mayonnaise*, *1 tablespoon lemon juice*, the lemon zest, and Dijon mustard; chill the sauce while you cook.

3. Preheat and mix seasoned mayonnaise

   3. Preheat the air fryer to *400°F for 2 minutes*. In a medium bowl, mix the remaining *2 tablespoons mayonnaise*, remaining *1 tablespoon lemon juice*, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper.

4. Coat salmon and prepare panko

   4. Add the salmon bites to the seasoned mayonnaise and *toss gently to coat*. In a shallow bowl, mix the panko, olive oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.

5. Bread and arrange the bites

   5. Press each salmon bite into the panko mixture until *evenly coated*, then arrange in the air fryer basket in a *single uncrowded layer*.

6. Air fry until crisp and cooked through

   6. Air fry at *400°F for 7 to 8 minutes*, turning once halfway through, until the coating is *golden and crisp* and the salmon reaches *145°F* in the center.

7. Serve

   7. Serve the salmon bites *hot from the air fryer* with the creamy lemon-Dijon dipping sauce.