Air Fryer Crab Stuffed Salmon Bites

Ingredients

• crab meat, to taste
• hot sauce, to taste
• onion powder, to taste
• Creole seasoning, to taste
• Old Bay seasoning, to taste
• Worcestershire sauce, to taste
• 1/2 squeeze fresh lemon
• 1 egg
• mayonnaise, to taste
• fresh parsley, to taste
• breadcrumbs, to taste (just enough for a thick consistency)
• 1 salmon fillet, cut into roughly 1-inch squares
• Old Bay seasoning, to taste (for the salmon — go light)
• cooking spray, to coat the air fryer basket (or line with aluminum foil)
• lemon garlic butter sauce, for topping

How to Make It

1. Add the crab meat to a mixing bowl.
2. Add the hot sauce and stir it in.
3. Season with onion powder.
4. Add the Creole seasoning and season well.
5. Add the Old Bay seasoning.
6. Add the Worcestershire sauce.
7. Squeeze in half a lemon, avoiding any seeds.
8. Crack in the egg.
9. Add the mayonnaise.
10. Add the fresh parsley.
11. Mix everything together well.
12. Stir in the breadcrumbs a little at a time, just until the mixture reaches a nice thick consistency (not too thick).
13. Cover the crab mixture and chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
14. Cut the salmon fillet down the middle, then cut it into roughly 1-inch squares.
15. Season the salmon squares all over with Old Bay, keeping it light since the crab is full of flavor.
16. Cut a "T" slit into the middle of each salmon square to make a pocket for the stuffing.
17. Stuff each square with the chilled crab mixture, keeping the bites even and roughly 1 inch; don't overstuff.
18. Spray the air fryer basket well, or line it with aluminum foil.
19. Place the stuffed bites skin side down in the basket, leaving a little space between each one.
20. Set the air fryer to 300°F and cook for about 9 to 12 minutes, checking around the 9-minute mark.
21. Top the cooked bites with lemon garlic butter sauce and serve.

Curtis's Tips

• This one's meant to be easy and quick — an air-fried recipe you can knock out without fuss.
• Use any seasoning you like; I think the Creole seasoning is a great touch on this dish.
• Be careful with the breadcrumbs — add just enough to get a nice thick consistency, but not too thick.
• Season the salmon before you stuff it. I got ahead of myself once and had to pull the stuffing back out to season the fish, so save yourself the trouble.
• Go light on the Old Bay on the salmon because the crab is already full of flavor.
• Don't overstuff the bites — just put enough in, or stuff them to your preference.
• Air fryers vary, so if you'd rather, line the basket with aluminum foil instead of spraying it.
• Place the bites skin side down with a little space between them.
• Keep checking on them as they cook rather than walking away.
• I finish them with a lemon garlic butter sauce drizzled right on top.