
Nadia Boachie

Salmon cakes (or patties) are easy to make and perfect for a lovely afternoon lunch! You can use farm-reared or wild salmon for this recipe, whatever is available at your local grocery store.
A riff on the more widely recognized crab cakes, the dish originates back to Native American cuisine, specifically from the Chesapeake region. Fast-forward to the 1920s, the popularity of crab cakes rose in Maryland, Virginia and other coastal towns and quickly became a preferred way to enjoy crab meat.
This recipe gives you delicious patties crispy on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside! I love these with a side of tartar sauce and I am heavy on the capers when making these because I love the salty addition to the patty. Don't let the steps in this recipe fool you; it is quite simple to make and if you are a salmon lover, this is just another great way to enjoy the already delicious fish. Some salmon patty recipes use cooked or leftover salmon but I prefer to use raw salmon. That being said, you can use cooked salmon. If using cooked salmon, follow the same steps and reduce the cooking time about 2 minutes per side (or until heated through).
If you give this recipe a shot, make sure to post up your creation on Instagram and tag @tastetoronto and @travelandmunchies!
Method
Fresh Salmon Cakes 4 Steps
-
Step 1
Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, red pepper, celery and a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add capers; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
-
Step 2
Stir coarsely chopped salmon (almost minced), onion mixture, mayonnaise, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, garlic, mustard, cayenne, salt and ground black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firmed and chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
-
Step 3
Form salmon mixture into four to six 1-inch thick patties; sprinkle remaining tablespoon of panko bread crumbs over each patty.
-
Step 4
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat. Cook patties in hot oil until golden and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes per side depending on thickness of patties.