To think that six months ago I didn’t like salmon and now I’m not only eating it, I’m making Salmon Cakes out of it.
It’s not that I didn’t try to like salmon, as a chef, I kept experimenting with specials stuffing, seasoning and cooking it as many ways as I could think of. But it just never tasted good to me…sigh
Which Salmon is the Best to Eat?
When I found Pacific Northwest Salmon everything changed! I’m not sure why those flavors agreed with my taste buds, but I’ve been enjoying salmon, sauteed, roasted, blackened and on salads since discovering this healthier version of salmon.
I say healthier because it’s wild-caught (not farm-raised) from the pacific northwest waters where the better varieties of salmon can be found. Sockeye and coho have been the two that I’ve tried with Sockeye being my favorite because of the less fishy flavor and beautiful color.
Wild Alaskan salmon is all wild caught. They spend most of their lives in open waters, and generally have very low levels of toxins.
Coastal and farmed salmon, depending on the type of fish and meal they are fed, may have higher levels of toxins. The Environmental Defense Fund lists farmed Atlantic salmon as an “Eco-Worst” choice and recommends people eat no more than 2 servings a month due to high PCB levels.
On my cooking show Around the Kitchen Table I decided to give this recipe a try and after doing some research I decided upon the ingredients and methods I would use to make these tasty cakes (sorry Philadelphia, not those tasty cakes).
I had never made salmon cakes before but had an idea of how I wanted them to taste and came up with a pretty good recipe on the first try!
What do I need to Make Salmon Cakes?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Salmon Cakes. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
How do I make Salmon Cakes?
The first step is cooking the salmon. Depending upon the type of salmon you use and where its caught, salmon can have different levels of sodium or at least they taste that way. I was lucky enough to get an order of Copper River sockeye salmon this season and the salmon cakes were ah-mazing!
I use Himalayan Pink Salt these days. I did salt and pepper my salmon filets and drizzled olive oil over them before cooking.
Under cook the salmon a little. I cooked my salmon for 14 minutes and they turned out well.
Do I have to cook the salmon to make Salmon cakes?
For my recipe, you do need to cook the salmon. I have seen raw salmon used for salmon burgers.
You can also use leftover cooked salmon or canned salmon to make my salmon cakes.
When the salmon has completely cooled, flake the pieces into a small bowl. Add in the chopped onion, roasted red pepper, and chopped parsley.
Gently mix and return to the refrigerator until needed.
In another bowl add mayonnaise, mustard, old bay, lemon, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and egg. Mix ingredients together until well blended.
This is the imperial style sauce that you will use as a binder.
Add the imperial sauce and bread crumbs to the salmon mixture and mix together until well blended.
Try not to break up the salmon too much. (if the mixture looks too wet you can add little additional bread crumbs).
Cover the mixture and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour. This will help you shape into salmon into cakes more easily.
Do I have to add onions and peppers to my salmon cakes?
No you don’t. These are your salmon cakes and should be made with ingredients you enjoy eating.
While the onions do add flavor, the roasted red peppers are more for color.
After shaping the salmon cakes, dredge the cakes in bread crumbs. Seasoned, unseasoned or panko, it’s your choice.
When all your salmon cakes are ready, it’s time to fry them up to a nice golden brown.
*Allow the cakes to drain for a few minutes on paper towels or a wire rack.
Do I have to fry Salmon Cakes?
No you don’t. You can bake them in the oven (with or without the bread crumb coating). If you’d rather bake the cakes, 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes should do the trick.
The Salmon Cakes were delicious and I the wheels started turning as to other ingredients and seasoning I can add to them in the future. Maybe a buffalo bleu cheese salmon cake….hmmm
What Kind of Sauce should I serve with Salmon Cakes?
I made a remoulade sauce to go with the salmon cakes which was a hit (because Lisa loved it). Remoulade is easy to make and is basically just a fancy tartar sauce.
The ingredients can vary according to your taste, using horseradish and even Greek yogurt to change the flavors. You’ll see some remoulade’s that contain chili sauce, I listed that as optional and didn’t use it in my version because mama doesn’t like it that way.
If you enjoyed this recipe you might also like these delicious seafood recipes:
- Blackened Salmon with a Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
- Pan Seared Halibut
- How to Poach Mahi-Mahi (or your favorite fish)
- Grilled Atlantic Rockfish
Salmon Cakes
Ingredients
- 16-20 ounces fresh salmon I used Pacific wild caught Sockeye
- ½ cup diced onion sweet or red is preferable
- ¼ cup diced roasted red peppers or raw red peppers
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley
- ½ cup bread crumbs more if needed. Seasoned, unseasoned or panko.
- 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 large egg
- squeeze of fresh lemon
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon hot sauce optional
- vegetable oil to saute the salmon cakes
Remoulade Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoons chili sauce optional
- ⅛ teaspoon hot sauce optional
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 scallions chopped
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped green olive
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon capers chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- place salmon skin side down on a baking dish. Brush salmon with olive oil ( do not salt salmon). Add a little water to the pan and roast salmon for 12-14 minutes. Salmon should be just barely cooked, so it stays moist.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes then cover and chill until salmon is completely cooled.
- When salmon has completely cooled, flake the pieces into a small bowl, add in chopped onion, roasted red pepper, and chopped parsley. Gently mix and return to the refrigerator until needed.
- In another bowl add mayonnaise, mustard, old bay, lemon, Worcestershire, hot sauce and egg. Mix ingredients together until well blended. This is the imperial style sauce that you will use as a binder.
- Add imperial sauce and bread crumbs to salmon mixture and mix together until well blended. Try not to break up the salmon too much. (if the mixture looks too wet you can add little additional bread crumbs)
- Cover mixture and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Shape into salmon cakes.
- Dredge salmon cakes in breadcrumbs.
- heat frying pan, add olive oil and gently place the salmon cake into saute pan and cook on both sides (about 3-4 minutes) until they are a nice golden brown and serve with your favorite sides.
Remoulade Sauce
- mix all the ingredients together and allow to sit for an hour or longer to build the flavors.
Nutrition
Gladys Nava
Salmon cake?! Oh wow! I should try this recipe for our dinner, I am sure that my kids would love this. I will definitely save this recipe.
Beth
We made these last night and they were so good! We also use wild caught salmon because it is healthier for my husband who has rheumatoid arthritis.
Heather
These sound so yummy. I’m printing this out and making them this weekend.
Ashley
This looks delicious. I bet my family would love eating these for dinner. Pinning for later
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
It sounds like these are full of flavour. I do love fishcakes with various types of fish. I could easily eat them every week.
Ashley
We ate salmon cakes all the time growing up! I have yet to try to make them as an adult. Maybe it’s time I try!
Amber Myers
These look fabulous! I’m pretty sure my family would like them. They are big on seafood.
Tasheena
Salmon cakes are a favorite in my home. We typically have them with grits. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Melanie
Salmon cakes are one of my favorite easy dinner ideas. I wish that my kids liked them as much as I do.
Sarah Bailey
I absolutely LOVE salmon so this idea seems like it would be right up my street, I could just imagine what the taste like now yum!
Tamara
One of my favorite things to make and eat. I will have to try your recipe with all the extra spices. I watch the Orlando channels and maybe I will see you.
Melissa Chapman
Those salmon cakes look great and a tasty way to enjoy the fish. I will try this recipe next time I am buying salmon.
Jeanette
You had me at easy and delicious! I am all over anything that is easy to make! We love salmon cakes anyway but if I can make them easier I’m all for it.
candy
Red salmon is actually the best tasting. Pink is not the first choice. We have caught and canned many a salmon. Enjoy making fresh salmon cakes.
Maria
Salmon patties are one of my absolute favorite easy, healthy dinners!!
Christy
Alaska wild caught sockeye salmon is the best. Once you have had good salmon the rest just are not worth buying. The taste is so much better. I like that your recipe has mustard in it.I look forward to trying it 🙂
Chef Dennis Littley
I hope you enjoy my recipe Christy, thanks for stopping by!
Nancy
I’ll have to give this a try! I love seafood but as much as I’ve tried to like fresh salmon, I can barely swallow it. I have had smoked salmon in a chowder but that’s about it.
Chef Dennis Littley
Nancy, these are so flavorful they may just be a salmon you can eat. Also try the remoulade, they go great together! My other suggestion for salmon is blackened with a bleu cheese cream sauce…..yum!
Larry
Sounds fantastic Chef.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks Larry, I’ll definitely be making these again!
Lisa
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I too used to try to eat salmon. Then I went to Seattle last month. What a difference it made. I ate Salmon so many different ways while there – and realized I should only buy Pacific Northwest Salmon going forward.
Chef Dennis Littley
I can’t believe there is that much difference in the flavor Lisa. I never thought I’d enjoy salmon before trying the pacific varieties.
Carolyn @ Cabot Cheese
Thanks for sharing salmon burger tips….one of my favorite types of burgers. Great suggestions for remoulade…especially with Greek-style yogurt!~Carolyn
Chef Dennis Littley
They were delicious Carolyn, and I’m looking forward to trying a remoulade using Greek Yogurt