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Salmon & Potato Patties

Thanks for sharing!

These salmon patties have potato in them rather than bread or cracker crumbs, making the texture and flavor fabulous. You have to give them a try! 

golden salmon patties with chives, a lemon slice and tartar sauce

Salmon patties are a fun, delicious and economical meal. They are quick to make too. They are a great meal option during Lent, but we enjoy them all year long. 

Salmon patties are on regular rotation in my grandma’s kitchen and hearing her talk about them all of them time gets me excited to make them too. I didn’t have her exact recipe, as I am quite sure she doesn’t use one, so I riffed my own and thought I’d share it with you.

You may remember grandma from the S.O.S. post. After discussing her intent to make them for dinner she didn’t have a can of salmon for the patties she decided she was going to make, and called to let me know she made S.O.S. instead.

 It was a whole thing.  You’ll have to read it if you haven’t.

Anyway, it seems like she makes salmon patties for herself and grandpa pretty regularly.  We have talked about it many times.

I think grandma normally makes hers with cracker crumbs, which is how I used to do it to.  Now, I usually use potato instead.  I like the texture and it feels lighter.

skillet of golden salmon potato patties

You can throw a potato in the microwave and let it cool to use.  You could use a leftover baked potato… or leftover mashed potatoes would be good too!

Use as much or as little as you like.  If you need to stretch the salmon, throw a little more potato in.

Making dinner for just one or two? Just use a really small potato or a little leftover potato from dinner the night before.  Adjust the number of eggs accordingly and you are ready to go!

How do you prep the canned salmon?

Now to get to the nitty gritty of it all.  I used to pick through the salmon and take out all of the bones.  Grandma said she leaves the bones for calcium and removes the skin.

The bones are soft from being canned.  Don’t believe me, you can smash one of the vertebra between your fingers.  Try it.  You’ll see.

Anyway, you don’t even notice them in your patties.  So now I don’t take anything out.

I drain the can and mash it all with the potato.  It’s easy peasy, you don’t notice anything is even in there and there is no fishy smell in your trash can!

close up of salmon potato cakes ready to eat

I see the disbelief written all over your face.  Just try it.

What’s the worst that can happen?!  Grandma said she also likes to coat the patties in a little flour or more cracker crumbs before she cooks them.

I could see how this would be tasty and ensure a nice crust.  I don’t normally do this step though, I tend to keep them as simple and quick as possible.

What else can you add to make your salmon patties your own?

One last difference between grandma’s patties and mine… she grates onion fine enough grandpa won’t know it’s there.  (Shh, don’t tell!)

I used green onions instead.  She said her mom used to put a squirt of yellow mustard in hers.  I haven’t tried that yet, but could see how that would be good.

salmon patties with roasted beets and slices of lime

I really kind of wish I would have waited another couple of weeks to post this.  I just noticed my dill is coming up in my herb garden. That stuff is crazy.

I got some seed from my neighbors in Springfield years ago (like 7 years!) and it just keeps reseeding itself.  I dig up the volunteers and move them to where I want them and it has been the gift that keeps giving.

Anyway, I think that would be a great addition to the salmon patties.  Maybe I’ll have to repost once the dill matures!!  Ooh… or a dill yogurt or sour cream sauce would be perfect for dipping!  Yum!

More great seafood recipes for Lent

If you are looking for more fish and seafood recipes, you may like my brother’s fish and shrimp chowder.  Or if you are looking for another kind of fun Lenten recipe, falafel waffles are fun too!

Homemade New England clam chowder is easy to make and is ready to eat in about a half an hour. It’s creamy, comforting and oh so good! 

Try roasted shrimp for a fast and flavorful appetizer or entree. With 5 ingredients and only 6 minutes in the oven, it doesn’t get much easier! 

Or try one of our favorite ways to make egg salad, with avocado.  It’s still creamy but healthier and perfect between a couple slices of toast!

For another fun twist on a classic, try MiMi’s creamy tuna casserole. There’s not pasta, it’s a creamy mixture that is baked and served over rice and is a Lenten favorite for our family.

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

Yield: 6 Servings

Salmon & Potato Patties

salmon and potato cakes with lime wedge and chives

These salmon patties have potato in them rather than bread or cracker crumbs, making the texture and flavor fabulous. You have to give them a try! 

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 can of salmon, drained
  • 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 large baked potato, cooled and skin removed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped green onion
  • salt and pepper or Cavendar's to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons oil for cooking
  • for garnish: grandma likes lemon, grandpa likes tartar sauce. We do either, both and sometimes limes depending on our mood!

Instructions

  1. Mash the potato. Add the salmon, a squirt of lemon juice and eggs.
  2. Mix and mash with fork until you have reached your desired consistency. You don't want it to be smooth, but you do want it to be well mixed.
  3. Stir in onion and seasonings.
  4. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, form patties out of salmon mixture and place a couple at a time into hot skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side. Flip once they are nice and browned. Cook for 1-2 minutes on the second side.
  5. Put cooked patties on a paper towel lined baking sheet. If desired, keep warm in a preheated 300°F oven. Continue until all salmon mixture is used.
  6. Serve with lemon or lime wedges, and/or tartar sauce.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 12g

All nutritional information is estimated and will depend on the exact ingredients you use.

Did you make this recipe?

I'd love to see it! Share a picture on Instagram or Pinterest and tag me @carleecooks to let me know how it went!

These salmon patties have potato in them rather than bread or cracker crumbs, making the texture and flavor fabulous. You have to give them a try!

Thanks for sharing!

Linda

Thursday 18th of February 2021

I like both salmon patties and potato patties. Sorry for the typo in my proceeding comments.

Carlee

Thursday 18th of February 2021

I do too. Now I want to make some potato patties!

Linda

Thursday 18th of February 2021

This sounds so good. If I wanted to just make potato patties do you have a recipe for that? My mom made both salmon patties and potato patties with leftover mashed potatoes. I’m,Ike. Oth and will try your recipe. Thank you for all of the great recipes.

Carlee

Thursday 18th of February 2021

I don't have a recipe on my site yet, but these look tasty and easy enough! https://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/leftover-mashed-potato-patties/

Unknown

Tuesday 12th of March 2019

We love salmon and would like to make these patties,what size can?Thanks.

Carlee

Thursday 14th of March 2019

Yay! I used a 14.75 ounce can. I hope you enjoy them!

Unknown

Sunday 25th of February 2018

Unlike many people, I love fish! However, if you are generally not a fan, but want to observe Lent, give these a try. The more potato you use, the less you taste the fish. I've already requested these for this Friday!

Carlee

Monday 26th of February 2018

Aren't they delicious? You can definitely dilute the fish by adding more potato, but luckily we love fish and seafood at our house!

Debrashoppeno5

Tuesday 15th of August 2017

This recipe is very similar to my mothers's recipe. I remember I loved sneaking the bones out of the mixture. I don't know why but I loved them That's a kid for you.

Carlee

Tuesday 15th of August 2017

How funny and what a great memory!

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