This Thai curry-inspired air fryer salmon noodle soup is the perfect quick, flavourful, and easy-to-make dish. And it will save you time, energy, and washing up. Thanks to the air fryer, everything cooks together in one basket, making it a convenient, one-pan meal that’s both satisfying and delicious. Inspired by the classic ramen dish that’s a favourite in our house, this recipe brings all the flavours of Thai cuisine into a comforting soup that’s ready in no time.
The beauty of this recipe lies in how the salmon cooks beautifully in the rich, fragrant sauce. As it cooks, the fish becomes tender and flaky, infusing the broth with its savoury goodness. The noodles, meanwhile, absorb all of those delicious Thai flavours – spicy, sweet, and tangy – making each bite a delightful experience. The combination of salmon, noodles, and the flavourful broth makes for a balanced meal that’s comforting without being heavy, and it’s perfect for a cosy dinner or a weekend fake-away.
So you can find this air fryer salmon noodles recipe on page 123 of The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: One Basket Meals. This is a light yet filling dish that combines tender fresh salmon, crispy pak choi and flavourful noodles in a quick and easy recipe. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for a mid week dinner. The recipe is packed full of Asian inspired flavours with zest and spice. Such a healthy and delicious meal that is sure to please all of your family and friends at any time of the year.
PREP 10 minutes excluding marinating time
COOK 20 minutes
SERVES 4 people
KIT you will need an air fryer
Ingredients for air fryer salmon noodles
4 salmon fillets (fresh not frozen)
Olive or vegetable oil spray
550ml of hot fish stock
3 to 4 tablespoons of red Thai curry paste, or to taste
A thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 stalks of fresh lemongrass, crushed
A 400ml tin of coconut milk
4 small pak choi, halved
A 275g bag of fresh rice noodles
To serve:
A handful of fresh coriander
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced
Method
Start by removing the crisper plate from your air fryer drawer to allow space for the soup base later on. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C. Once it’s ready, place the salmon fillets directly into the base of the drawer. Lightly spray the fillets with a little olive oil to help them crisp slightly as they cook. Close the drawer and cook the salmon for 8 to 10 minutes. Or until the fish is almost cooked through and just starting to flake at the edges. The salmon will finish cooking in the broth later.
While the salmon is cooking, prepare your hot fish stock by heating it in a pan or using boiling water and a stock cube. Once the salmon is nearly done, carefully open the drawer. And add your curry paste, hot fish stock, freshly grated ginger, and a couple of bruised lemongrass stalks. Pour in the coconut milk and gently stir in the pak choi, making sure the leafy greens are well submerged in the liquid to soften properly.
Cook everything together for a further 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times to ensure even heating and to keep the pak choi immersed. Then add the fresh rice noodles, stirring again to combine everything. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the soup is piping hot and the noodles are tender.
Before serving, remember to remove the lemongrass stalks from the broth. They’ve added flavour but aren’t pleasant to chew.
To finish, carefully ladle the salmon noodle soup into bowls and top with freshly chopped coriander and a few slices of red chilli for a vibrant, spicy kick. Serve immediately and enjoy this aromatic, warming meal – perfect for a quick, healthy dinner.
You can watch the video of this cookbook recipe on my YouTube channel.
Tips for Air Fryer Salmon Noodles
1. Cook the salmon separately
For best results, air fry the salmon fillets first before combining with the noodles. This gives you perfectly cooked, flaky fish with a golden top, without overcooking the noodles.
2. Use skin-on fillets (optional)
If your salmon has skin, place it skin-side down in the air fryer to help keep it juicy and prevent sticking. You can remove the skin after cooking if preferred.
3. Marinate for extra flavour
Marinate the salmon for at least 15 to 30 minutes in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, or your favourite glaze to infuse flavour before air frying. A quick honey soy or teriyaki mix works brilliantly.
4. Cook noodles on the hob
Air fryers aren’t suitable for boiling noodles. So prepare your noodles on the stovetop and toss them with sauce and veg separately. You can mix everything together at the end.
5. Add stir-fried veg for balance
Toss in stir-fried vegetables like peppers, spring onions, or mangetout to make the dish more colourful and nutritious. These can be cooked briefly in the air fryer or wok.
6. Flake the salmon gently
Once cooked, break the salmon into chunks with a fork and fold it gently through the noodles to avoid overmixing or breaking it up too much.
7. Finish with a drizzle of sauce
Save a little marinade or dressing to drizzle over the finished dish. As this gives extra flavour and helps keep everything moist and glossy.
8. Garnish for a fresh finish
Top with sesame seeds, chopped coriander, or a squeeze of lime for a zingy, restaurant-style finish.
Similar recipes
So if you love this vibrant air fryer salmon noodles soup then you might also like this tasty air fryer tomato soup or the air fryer prawn noodles recipe.
If you are looking for more air fryer inspiration, then visit my Amazon shop front to order your copy of my best selling cookbooks.
Or check out my brand new Club App, with exclusive calorie-counted recipes added weekly, customisable meal plans, printable shopping lists and many many more useful features to make all your meal prepping so much easier!