Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (2024)

Published June 12, 2019. Updated April 23, 2020

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Salmon Patties – perfectly crisp on the outside and deliciously tender and flaky on the inside! Made with fresh salmon instead of canned and full of flavor. A hearty salmon dinner that’s sure to impress!

Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (1)

The Best Salmon Patties – AKA Salmon Cakes

Who can resist a freshly pan fried salmon patty? Perfectly golden brown and brimming with fresh flavor!

These aren’t as easy as some versions you may find with canned salmon but I’m telling you it is well worth the extra step of chopping up and using fresh salmon! There’s just no comparison.

These are perfectly seasoned with fresh herbs, lemon zest and dijon and they have just enough fat to keep them tender. And the panko bread crumbs, mayonnaise and egg yolks help hold it all together.

Then that final breading adds a tempting crunch, and frying in olive oil adds more flavor (plus it’s a healthier option).

If you love salmon be sure to try this recipe, it does not disappoint!

Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (2)

What Ingredients go into Salmon Patties?

  • Skinless salmon
  • Panko bread crumbs
  • Fresh parsley
  • Green onions
  • Garlic
  • Mayonnaise
  • Lemon
  • Dijon mustard
  • Old bay seasoning
  • Egg yolk
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper

Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (3)

How do You Make Salmon Patties?

  • Using a sharp knife coarsely chop salmon to a sausage like texture (approx. 1/4-inch pieces). This can also be done in a 3 batches in quick bursts in a food processor.

Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (4)

  • Mix seasoning and binding ingredients: in a large mixing bowl stir together 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, parsley, green onions, garlic, mayonnaise, lemon zest, dijon mustard, old bay seasoning, egg yolk, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

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  • Mix in fresh salmon: add salmon then toss well to evenly coat with mixture.

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  • Divide mixture: scoop mixture 1/3 cup at a time creating 8 equal portions.

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  • Coat in bread crumbs: pour remaining 3/4 cup panko into a shallow dish.
  • Press and shape portions into 3-inch patties.
  • Coat both sides of salmon patties in bread crumbs (lightly press to help it stick).

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How do You Cook Salmon Patties?

  • Preheat oil in pan: pour 3 Tbsp olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet.
  • Fry each patty until golden brown: add four salmon patties (if needed carefully tilt pan for oil to run under salmon if it isn’t already).
  • Let fry until golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes.
  • Carefully flip and continue to cook until second side is golden brown and patties are just cooked through, about 2 minutes longer.
  • Repeat: transfer to paper towels to soak up excess oil then repeat process with remaining four salmon patties.

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Why Use Fresh Salmon Instead of Canned or Leftover?

  • In my humble opinion I say why would we cook salmon twice? If you use canned or pre-cooked salmon then you’ll end up with overcooked salmon that’s not as tender and flaky. This method gives the perfect end result.
  • Update: I’ve had several readers mention they used canned salmon and it worked out well, so just use what you prefer :).

What Sauce Should I Serve On Them?

These are so good they really don’t need anything extra but if you prefer you can try them with one of these:

  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Dill sauce
  • Tzatziki or other Greek yogurt sauce
  • Hollandaise sauce
  • Mustard sauce (mix 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayo, 1 Tbsp lemon, 1 1/2 Tbsp dijon and 2 tsp fresh dill)
  • Tartar Sauce
  • Remoulade sauce
  • Mashed or sliced avocado

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What Sides to Serve with Salmon Patties?

  • Steamed vegetables such as asparagus or green beans
  • Roasted veggies such as Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts or broccoli
  • A rainbow of Roasted Vegetables or this blend of Roasted Potatoes Carrots and Green Beans
  • Side salad with a light dressing
  • Baked French Fries or Baked Sweet Potato Fries

More Salmon Favorites to Try:

  • Seared Salmon with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
  • Panko Crusted Honey Mustard Salmon
  • Parmesan Crusted Salmon
  • Grilled Lime Salmon with Mango Salsa
  • Teriyaki Salmon

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (11)

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Salmon Patties

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Perfectly crisp on the outside and deliciously tender and flaky on the inside! Made with fresh salmon instead of canned and full of flavor. A tempting salmon dinner that's sure to impress!

Plan on 1 - 2 patties per person depending on how much people love salmon, nutrition estimate is per patty.

Servings: 8 patties

Prep25 minutes minutes

Cook4 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Using a sharp knife coarsely chop salmon to a sausage like texture (approx. 1/4-inch pieces). This can also be done in a 3 batches in quick bursts in a food processor.

  • In a large mixing bowl stir together 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, parsley, green onions, garlic, mayonnaise, lemon zest, dijon mustard, old bay seasoning, egg yolk, 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste) and 1/4 tsp pepper.

  • Add salmon then toss well to evenly coat with mixture. Scoop mixture 1/3 cup at a time creating 8 equal portions.

  • Pour remaining 3/4 cup panko into a shallow dish. Press and shape portions into 3-inch patties then coat and gently press into panko, coating both sides.

  • Pour 3 Tbsp oil into a large non-stick skillet and heat to medium-high heat.

  • Add four salmon patties (if needed carefully tilt pan for oil to run under salmon if it isn't already). Let fry until golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes.

  • Carefully flip and continue to cook until second side is golden brown and patties are just cooked through, about 2 minutes longer.

  • Let drain on paper towels then repeat with repeat process with remaining four salmon patties. Serve warm with lemon wedges for spritzing over.

Notes

  • Update: I've had several readers mention that canned salmon worked well for them so just use whichever you prefer.
  • Recipe inspired by ATK

Nutrition Facts

Salmon Patties

Amount Per Serving

Calories 243Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 70mg23%

Sodium 219mg10%

Potassium 365mg10%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 18g36%

Vitamin A 200IU4%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 17mg2%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Salmon Patties

Author: Jaclyn

Salmon Patties Recipe {Salmon Cakes} Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep salmon patties from falling apart? ›

Refrigerate The Mix, Use A Sheet Pan

The cooler temperature of the mix will help everything stick together better when the patties are pan-fried, crisping them up nicely. If you have a lot of salmon patties to make, you can even forgo the pan altogether and bake them on a sheet tray in the oven.

Why are my salmon patties mushy? ›

Cooking the salmon patties at too high a temperature or for too short a time can result in a mushy interior.

How do you get the fishy taste out of salmon patties? ›

How to Control Salmon's Fishiness with a Milk Bath. You can also lessen salmon's strong flavor by soaking it in a milk bath for 20 minutes and then draining it and patting it dry before cooking. The casein in milk binds to the TMA, and when drained away, it takes the culprit that causes fishy odor with it.

How do you know when salmon patties are done cooking? ›

When the salmon burger reaches 145 degrees F, it is done. – If you don't have a thermometer, check that your burger is lightly crisp on the outside and that the meat inside is pink and flaky. It should not still look raw.

Why won't my salmon patties stay together? ›

Canned salmon varies in moisture and fat content, so if your patties seem to fall apart, you might need to add more “glue” in the form of eggs. Just add in another egg, plus some extra bread crumbs, until you get a very sticky consistency.

How to stop fish cake falling apart? ›

The eggs used in this recipe act as a binder to hold the rest of the ingredients together, which helps to prevent breakage. Another way to prevent fish cakes from falling apart is to ensure that you allow them to cook on the pan until the bottoms are golden brown before flipping them over.

How do you make salmon not mushy? ›

While it's steaming, you want the skin against the hot pan so it crisps up instead of getting soggy. Cook until the salmon is opaque throughout and flakes easily when you insert a paring knife between the layers, 7 to 9 minutes depending on the size.

How to keep salmon from falling apart while cooking? ›

Place the salmon fillets on the grill flesh side down first (so the skin is facing you). Raw salmon is relatively firm, so starting it off with the flesh facing down is a great way to get some nice grill marks on the salmon without it falling apart.

What makes salmon taste better? ›

I'm talking about brining! Soaking salmon in a simple, quick brine for as little as 10 minutes (up to overnight, if you like planning ahead) is all it takes. To make it happen you need two very basic ingredients: water and salt. Combine 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water.

What is the white stuff coming out of my salmon patty? ›

The white stuff on salmon is called albumin.

As the meat cooks, the coagulated albumin gets squeezed out and appears in the form of the weird, slimy, white substance that you are probably familiar with (and weirded out by).

What cancels out fishy taste? ›

Also, you can marinate the fish in a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and water for 30 minutes. This will help to neutralize the fishy taste. Cooking the fish using a cooking method that will not allow the fishy flavor to become pronounced, such as grilling, baking, or steaming can help as well.

Why do my salmon patties fall apart when cooking? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

What cheese is best with salmon? ›

Getting soft cheeses like Neufchatel cheese, brie, and cream cheese is an amazing way to pair them with the smoked salmon! We also definitely recommend you try some sort of cheese spread. You can do plain cream cheese, or something flavored and more elevated. For example perhaps a creme fraîche with dill.

What to eat with salmon patties? ›

Salmon patties can be served as a main course or as an appetizer. Serve with a variety of sides, such as brown rice, crispy potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a side salad. Salmon patties can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How do you cook salmon so it doesn't fall apart? ›

Grill salmon flesh side down FIRST, then flip over once.

Place the salmon fillets on the grill flesh side down first (so the skin is facing you). Raw salmon is relatively firm, so starting it off with the flesh facing down is a great way to get some nice grill marks on the salmon without it falling apart.

How to stop patties from falling apart? ›

Chill or freeze your burgers

"This will help them keep their shape when they're cooking and stop them falling apart." You can also freeze them before cooking.

Why is my salmon falling apart before I cook it? ›

Salmon that's gone bad will often feel almost like it's about to fall apart, or sometimes mushy. Other things to watch for when examining your fish by touch are slimy or sticky residues, both indicators of spoilage.

How to make fish cakes stay together? ›

A classic choice is breadcrumbs, but you could integrate crushed up crackers, almond flour, or even mashed (or smashed) potatoes into your fish cake mix. Not only will these ingredients help to hold your fish cake together; they'll help to keep your cakes from becoming dense pucks of protein.

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