As we approach the height of summer, there’s no better time to gather around friends and family for a lively barbecue, fun get-together or large party. Spending time with loved ones while noshing on delicious summertime snacks like pasta salad and grilled corn is the absolute best, and the newest food craze sweeping the internet is sure to introduce a new flavor to the lineup.
Candied salmon is a smoked, sweetened version of the popular fish that food influencers are raving about. The snack is traditionally cut into small pieces or strips, making it the perfect size to serve as hors d’oeuvres at summer parties!
What are people’s thoughts about it online?
TikTok influencer Grace Kellyann, @gracekellyanneats, shared a video of her trying candied salmon for the first time, where she praised the snack’s balance of sweet and savory flavors as well as its jerky-like texture. “I feel like you might even like this if you don’t like fish,” Kellyann said.
Kellyann certainly isn’t alone in admiring candied salmon’s lack of fishy taste. Another influencer, Danielle Zaslavskaya, @dzaslavsky, tasted the maple-glazed fish and echoed sentiments of its salty and sweet taste, chewy consistency, and a lack of a strong fish flavor. “It’s smoky, it has a little bit of sweetness, it’s not overpowering with the maple, it has a little bit of chew,” Zaslavskaya said. “It just tastes candy.”
What is candied salmon?
Candied salmon, also known as salmon candy, aptly gets its name from one of the first steps of cooking it — mixing the salmon in a select sweetener, whether honey, brown sugar, or both. Most recipes call for combining this sugar with salt, creating the sweet and savory blend of flavor that is sweeping TikTok.
The fish is cooked by smoking it, a process that can take between a few hours to a few days. While it’s smoking, a glaze, commonly made with maple syrup, is applied to give the candied salmon its distinct shiny, candy-like appearance.
Traditionally, candied salmon was cooked by Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest who used smoking as a method to preserve fish. Over time, cultures throughout the world have developed their own spins on candied salmon, like Asian recipes for the treat which often add ginger and sweet chili sauce to the seasoning.
Where can you buy candied salmon?
Most of us probably don’t want to spend multiple days smoking salmon for a quick bite, no matter how delicious, but don’t worry – plenty of seafood companies are happy to ship their candied salmon. Solovey Kitchen’s candied cold smoked sockeye salmon is the exact product capturing the hearts of TikTok food influencers and will run you $60 for a whole fillet of the sweet snack.
Numerous other seafood companies and smokers across the United States also sell their candied salmon, from Seattle-based City Fish to Miami-based Latitude 45. Can’t wait for this smoked delicacy to ship? Check out seafood markets near you, candied salmon is popular across the country and may be available locally.
Whether you’re looking for the newest dish to feature at your summertime gatherings or just hoping to taste a new snack, candied salmon is worth the try!