Cucumber Salmon Boats

Our Cucumber Salmon Boats are the low-carbhigh-protein meal for sushi and salmon lovers. We could happily eat sushi on a regular basis, but our wallet would not be so happy about that. These sushi-inspired “boats” are our way of getting all the flavor of sushi but in a budget-friendly way that also happens to be healthy. And don’t worry: no raw fish needed; instead we use smoked salmon, which is packed with healthy omega-3 fats, which help keep us full and satisfied.

What stands out

Take all the best parts of sushi remove the complicated rolling technique, add a bit of fresh crunch, and you have the formula for these boats. In this bite, crisp cucumber is met with tender-cooked rice and salty smoked salmon combined with spicy mayo. It’s the marriage of salty, crunchy, savory, and refreshing.

How to Prepare

Cut the smoked salmon into small pieces and mix it with the spicy mayo.

Now, cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out the center. Pat dry the inside of the cucumber with a paper towel. Fill both hollowed cucumber boats with the cooked rice.

Add the smoked salmon mixture on top of the rice. Lastly, garnish with “everything but the bagel” seasoning and fresh parsley or dill, if using.

Kitchen tip

You can easily make your own spicy mayo by combining your favorite mayonnaise with your hot sauce of choice. We like Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayonnaise and Sriracha. If you want to make it totally from scratch, try our Homemade Spicy Mayo.

Swaps

1. Feel free to use sushi-grade raw salmon or tuna but make sure you get it fresh from a trustworthy fishmonger or a specialty fish store. Chop up the fish into tiny pieces before combining with the spicy mayo.
2. You can use steamed or instant jasmine, sushi or short-grain rice here.
3. If you don’t like spicy food use about 1 tablespoon of your favorite mayonnaise and omit the hot sauce.
4. Instead of one large “boat,” you can make bite-size appetizers by cutting the cucumber into rounds and mounding each piece with a bit of rice, followed by the salmon mixture.

Serve it with

• These would be with a few thin slices of avocado served alongside, drizzled with fresh lemon juice and salted to taste.
• Spicy mayo is a must for us. You can make your own Homemade Spicy Mayo from scratch or make this simple 2 Ingredient Spicy Mayo.
• If you don’t like spicy food, then you can try making your own Homemade Mayo without adding any hot sauce. If you don’t eat eggs, try our Egg Free Mayo.
• For a refreshing summery lunch, serve this alongside Hot Honey Watermelon Salad.

Questions

Does this recipe use raw fish?

No! Here, we use smoked salmon, which is straightforward to find in most grocery stores and more affordable than sushi-grade fish. However, you are welcome to use sushi-grade salmon or tuna here instead.

We don’t eat eggs; can i substitute the mayo for something else?

Yes, you can certainly make this recipe egg-free. Try our strong a Egg Free Mayo recipe instead of store-bought!

We're on a low-carb diet; what can we use instead of rice?

Yes, you can certainly swap out the rice for cream cheese instead, which will add richness but still maintain that sushi restaurant-style flavor.

What should i do with the flesh of the cucumber?

Save the insides of the cucumber to use in a strong a Tzatziki or use it in a fresh juice or smoothie.

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

• 100 grams smoked salmon, about 1/4 pound
• 1 tablespoon spicy mayo, store-bought or homemade
• 1 English cucumber
• 1 cup jasmine rice, cooked
• everything but the bagel seasoning, for garnish (optional)
• fresh parsley or dill, for garnish (optional)

Equipment

• Nakiri Knife
• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Cutting Board
• Redmond Real Salt

Method

1. Cook rice as per the package directions. We like to cook 1/2 cup dry rice with a generous pinch of salt.
2. Cut the smoked salmon into small pieces and mix it with the spicy mayo.
3. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out the center. (You can save the seeds and flesh of the cucumber to use in a dip or in a juice or smoothie.) Pat the inside of the cucumber with a paper towel.
4. Fill both hollowed cucumber boats with cooked rice. Tip: wet your hand to help the rice from sticking to your hands.
5. Add the smoked salmon mixture on top of the rice and garnish with everything but the bagel seasoning and fresh parsley or dill, if using. Enjoy!