Salmon Patties – quick to prepare, golden and crispy on the outside, moist and savoury on the inside with lovely big flakes of salmon! A very easy salmon cakes recipe that can be made with either canned salmon OR fresh salmon. These are Can’t-Stop-Eating-Them good!
This canned salmon recipe will make you realise you CAN make incredible dishes using canned fish!
Salmon Patties
Good quality fresh salmon is not cheap. So if I buy fresh salmon, I like to cook it whole rather than mixing it up with other ingredients for things like salmon patties. My go-to quick salmon fillet recipes are Honey Garlic Salmon and Lemon Glazed Salmon 🙂
So I’ve always used canned salmon to make salmon cakes.
But one bite of these Salmon Patties, and any thought of compromising by using canned salmon instead of fresh will fly out the window. These taste SO GOOD!! Serve these up to anyone who has wrinkled their nose in distaste at the thought of canned salmon, and I bet you’ll change their mind.
These salmon cakes are SO GOOD whether made with canned salmon OR fresh salmon!
They’re moreish, beautifully seasoned, juicy and tender, studded with flakes of salmon, and a hint of herby freshness from dill.
These are so tasty, I’d proudly serve them up as an appetiser at a gathering! (And to all my friends reading this, don’t be surprised if that happens the next time you come over!)
BAKED Salmon Patties!
These babies are so golden and crispy on the outside, it’s almost hard to believe they’re baked. But they are, they really are.
The trick to the golden crust is to preheat the tray. This makes a difference when baking things that are low in fat, like these salmon patties.
This canned salmon recipe will make you realise you CAN make incredibly delicious food using canned fish!
Making Salmon Patties
The mixture for the Salmon Patties is pretty straight forward. I start with my usual trick to make extra tender, extra tasty patties / meatballs – grating onion over breadcrumbs. This serves two purposes –
-
the onion juices soaks the breadcrumbs which then expand while cooking, creating little air pockets which makes the patties more tender; and
-
avoids the need to precook the onion, which you have to do if you use chopped onion otherwise you end up with raw bits of onion in the patties.
Then toss in egg to bind it, parmesan for umami (food nerd word for savouriness, the 5th taste sensation), shallots / green onions / scallions (global food language inconsistencies = 🤯), garlic, dill (or other herb, dried or fresh) and canned salmon.
Give it a mix, and this is what you end up with. I know the mixture looks loose and you wonder how on earth the patties will hold together, but they do, they really do.
The egg in this recipe keeps the salmon patties from falling apart while cooking. Also, because these are baked rather than pan fried, they are handled less so this also helps.
I’ve never had Salmon Patties fall apart on me.
How to Serve Salmon Patties
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As a meal – try a side of Yoghurt Slaw and Cauliflower Puree (low carb!), I’ve popped these recipes in the notes. You get freshness from the Yoghurt Slaw and low-carb creaminess from the Cauliflower Puree that’s made for smearing over each bite of the Salmon Patties.
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Starter – pile onto platters with dipping sauce and pass around to share!
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Burgers – make giant ones and make salmon burgers
Super tasty dinner, made from a can of salmon. Who would have though, eh?? ❤️ – Nagi x
PS You can, of course, make this with fresh salmon if you happen to be blessed with an abundant supply of them. Tell me all about it, and make me green with envy.
More patties and fritters (I love them!)
Salmon Patties recipe
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Salmon Patties
Ingredients
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs (Note 1 for subs)
- 1 small onion (or 1/2 large), grated
- 1 garlic clove , finely minced
- 400 g/ 14 oz cooked fresh salmon OR canned red or pink salmon , drained (Note 2)
- 2 shallots / scallions / green onions , finely sliced
- 1/3 cup fresh dill , roughly chopped (or 1 tsp dried herbs of choice)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup parmesan , grated or shredded
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
Cooking:
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220C/430F standard (200C fan)
- Place breadcrumbs in a bowl. Grate over onion, including juices. Mix onion into breadcrumbs, ensuring all breadcrumbs are soaked. (Note 3)
- Add remaining ingredients except salmon. Mix well.
- Add salmon. Stir through gently, leaving flakes of salmon (rather than vigorously mixing salmon into tiny pieces).
- Scoop up 1/4 cup mixture (level, packed standard ice cream scoop, see Video). Form round patties about 1.5 cm/ 2/3" thick and set aside.
- Drizzle oil all over tray. Place in oven for 2 minutes until hot - oil will spread over tray. Tilt tray to spread if needed.
- Place patties on tray - DO NOT press down (makes them stick on tray). Spray surface with oil spray.
- Bake 15 minutes. Flip, spray surface with oil spray, bake 5 minutes.
- Serve with sour cream or yoghurt on the side for dipping / dolloping, and extra fresh dill if desired.
- I served mine with cauliflower puree and Yoghurt Slaw - healthy side options! (Note 3)
Recipe Notes:
- Low carb - 1 cup of raw cauliflower rice
- Guten free - 1 cup crushed rice crackers or almond meal in place of the breadcrumbs.
Nutrition Information:
Salmon Patties originally published February 2019, updated for housekeeping matters in March 2019. No change to recipe.
LIFE OF DOZER
In my pre-Dozer life, I was hooning around in a little 2 seater convertible. I had to give up my little zippy car not only because he grew out of it, but also because he didn’t like the wind in his eyes.🙄
So I reluctantly upsized to a 4WD. Then he grew even more – his head smooshes on the ceiling of the car, smearing it with filth.
I am not getting another damn car for this damn dog. 😖
Claudia, Fl says
Dozer could never be a damn dog. Worthy of complaints yes, and a pain in the butt at times, Oh for sure! But a damn dog, Never.
Dozer, go to your ocean front view daybed with your toy and take a nap to give mum a much needed BREAK!
Nagi, the salmon patties look fantastic. I will make them today since I have everything! Funny, yesterday I saw fresh dill in the frig thinking what am I going to do with that. Your recipe call for 1/3 c. you know the rest. Will get back to you.
ps. since I noticed another Claudia I thought I would indicate Fl to my name. I am the one
if you remember who thought the green hair Dozer wore for halloween was so cute.
Nagi says
Ha! YOU try living with him and see if you don’t use the words “damn dog” within 2 hours! 😂 I thought the green hair on Dozer was cute too….. he did not agree…..
Claudia, Fl says
If you had the number of pets at one time for 14 yrs and still counting like I have had, with the work, time and spending thousands on vet bills , you would think Dozer is a breeze. And none of mine have ever earned
money for me either. He’s probably already paid for your car and then some.
Just say’en
Nagi says
Ba ha ha! I know I know, Dozer IS a breeze. I complain out of love! 🙂 N x
Suzi says
Great! I’ve been wanting salmon patties for some time now. I had them growing up at a friend’s house (fried in plenty of fat) and have missed them in recent days.
My father in law has a friend who fishes in Alaska. He gives us a few pieces of salmon and halibut now and again. Oh, & In case you wondered, it is to die for. Hope I can wait long enough for another treat like that. Perhaps I’ll do a test batch with canned before. Just to get the hang of it (;
P.S. I adore your blog and Dozer.
Cheers from Salk Lake City!!
Nagi says
I’m coming to Salt Lake in May!! 🙂 Excited! N x
Catherine Bast says
Nagi – I think Nissan makes a SUV with a doggie wash right at the tailgate. It’s a great idea for dirt loving dogs.
On another note – I love your recipes, however; I have decided to eat Keto and so am attempting to adapt some of your recipes to that. I checked out the Panko and I saw that the supermarket had Keto friendly Panko crumbs. I didn’t have my glasses, so heaven knows what was in them. lol
Nagi says
NO WAY! Googling it right now….
Regina says
These sound delicious Nagi! I have had salmon patties before but your recipe sounds so much better, I love that you baked them and not fried them. I am going to try them this Friday.
Dozer….I love, love that you show pictures of him and your comments are so great. It really brightens my day. Poor baby,…he doesn’t know how big he is…he always has that “mommy I love you ” face on him…
Nagi says
“Mommy I love you” face?? Not at all. He has a peeved look on his face as he looks longingly out at all his friends still playing in the park!!!
Barbara L Fitzgerald says
The salmon patties look delicious! I have been making them for years, but not this way. Will have to try soon. Isn’t amazing what we will do for our ‘furkids’? 😛
Nagi says
It’s outrageous how he has changed my life! I used to have a MUCH higher standard of cleanliness in the house, a beautiful VERY EXPENSIVE shaggy rug, lovely new cushions…. they are all memories of LBD (Life Before Dozer)
Eleanor Gibson says
This sounds like a great way to use left over salmon, never tried the canned stuff. I am on the Keto diet plan which eliminates the bread crumbs. Would coconut or almond flour work?
Nagi says
Oh wait – duh 🙂 Keto = low carb, so rice cakes are out I guess! In which case I’m thinking almond flour 🙂
Nagi says
Hi Eleanor! As odd as this might sound, what I was thinking was crushing up rice cakes into “breadcrumbs” 🙂 I think that would work a treat!
Ron says
A globally acclaimed dog such as Dozer deserves a Land Rover…..
Good looking patties. In my youth, salmon patties were an every Friday night thing in our house. I must admit, I don’t believe I’ve had them since. But you’ve inspired me and I’m going to give it a go. Cheers….
Nagi says
Ha! No – I deserve a Land Rover, nothing fancy for Dozer because it’s totally wasted on him, he just makes it filthy!!!
Eha says
Damn it, Ron – ‘he’ reads this! Am afraid I make salmon patties far ahead of any other ‘patties’: great!!!
Nagi says
You do???!!!
Eha says
Naturally !!! Nagi: you better know – you have an Swedish US expat and an Estonian Australian expat singing YOUR TUNE!! Were I you I would smile and sing along . . .
Nagi says
❤️
Lyn says
These look fantastic…now I know what to do with my canned salmon in closet:)
Consider yourself lucky with Dozer one of my dogs throws up and drools when ever she is in the car….:(
Catherine says
Hi Nagi, I live in Tenerife and (so far ☺) have never seen Panko Breadcrumbs in the shops. As an alternative could I just blitz some lightly toasted bread in the blender to make my own?
Thanks
Nagi says
Hi Catherine! What I do is let hunks of bread go stale then I grate them using a box grater, that makes perfect larger breadcrumbs just like panko breadcrumbs 🙂 Otherwise, toast some bread on a lowish oven eg 300 or so for around 10 minutes until dried all the way through (ie not like toast where it’s crisp on the outside but soft on the inside) then blitz. Or do the same with chunks of torn bread 🙂 Hope that helps! N xx PS Last resort, use normal breadcrumbs and just handle the patties gently ie don’t squeeze them super tightly, just pat them gently into shape. This way they stay nice and soft even using normal breadcrumbs 🙂 N x
Tamarra says
Nagi you are a genius! I have always loved the idea of salmon patties but never made them because who has left over mashed potato? (Not us!) love the use of breadcrumbs. And the suggestion to try tuna. You are just so practical! This is on next weeks menu plan!! CANT wait to try them! 🙂
Nagi says
I HEAR YOU! I very rarely have leftover mash, hence why all my patties and patty type things are always made with breadcrumbs!!!!
Donna Rae says
These salmon patties look delicious. I’m trying to understand the nutritional value – it’s just for the salmon, correct? and not including the slaw and cauliflower. Why are the calories and fat contents so high?
Nagi says
Hi Donna! That’s a great question. It’s because of 2 things: 1) salmon is natural high in fat and therefore high in calories BUT it is good fat. Fish oil rocks. 2) I use 2 tbsp of oil on the baking tray so it spreads to cover the whole tray, but realistically, not all of it is used, just the part for the surface area touched by the salmon patties. 🙂 N x
Gillian Didier Serre says
Delicious salmon recipe we love salmon in Canada..
DOZER YOU AND LUCA SHOULD MEET.. LUCA LOVES ROLLING AROUND IN THE WET PARK FILTHY DOG THEN JUMPS INTO THE VENZA 😈😂
Nagi says
Oh no! DOUBLE TROUBLE!