My mother often made tuna patties for us, and less frequently, because they were more expensive, salmon patties. For several years, my father and I tried to talk my mother into making these salmon cakes again for us. For some unfathomable reason, she refused, even going as far as to claim that she never made salmon cakes in the first place. After a while, we gave up and made our own version of the recipe.
How To Make Salmon Patties
Salmon patties, or salmon cakes, are wonderfully easy to make. You make salmon patties with just a base of canned salmon, shredded bread (or breadcrumbs or even saltines), chopped onion, and egg to bind it all into patties. Then, these salmon cakes are quickly fried. In this easy salmon patties recipe, we dress up the salmon cakes with garlic, dill, bell pepper, paprika, lemon zest, and lemon juice. You could also add parsley, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, or cilantro. Feel free to improvise and make these salmon cakes your own!
What To Serve With Salmon Patties
Salmon patties can be served with a wedge of lemon, or a dollop of mayonnaise or tartar sauce. Round out your meal with a simple side salad or a scoop of coleslaw.
Storing and Freezing Salmon Patties
Once cooked, leftover patties can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. Eat them cold, or warm them up briefly in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave. Salmon patties also freeze well. Wrap them in plastic and foil, and defrost them in the fridge before reheating.
Love Fish Cakes? Try These Recipes!
Tuna Patties Fresh Salmon Cakes with Spicy Mayo Classic Crab Cakes Fish Cakes with Tarragon Mayo Shrimp Cakes
Tips for Buying Canned Salmon
There are a variety of canned salmon options out in the marketplace, but we prefer those with sustainable fishing practices (they will be listed as such on the label). It’s easier to use the ones without bones or skin for salmon patties, unless you like the texture of the bones and skin. We like St. Jean’s Canned Wild Salmon sustainably farmed in the Pacific Northwest. This recipe is bet with canned salmon, but if you have leftover cooked salmon, we have a patty for that, too.
