Chef John’s Fresh Salmon Cakes

Description

Salmon cakes are one of my go-to emergency meals. Every once in a while I like to use fresh salmon. Salmon is one of those products, like chicken, that’s very easy to get into a rut with. People generally find a few recipes that work for them, and just stay with those, but this fairly simple preparation should be easy to add to anyone’s rotation. Serve with lemon wedge and remoulade sauce. You can use any bread crumbs instead of panko breadcrumbs, if desired.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup minced onion
  • 2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons minced celery
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1 ¼ pounds fresh wild salmon, coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 pinch seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®)
  • 1 tablespoon panko bread crumbs, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed

Instructions

  1. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion
  2. red pepper
  3. celery
  4. and a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and translucent
  5. about 5 minutes. Add capers; cook and stir until fragrant
  6. about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
  7. Stir salmon
  8. onion mixture
  9. mayonnaise
  10. 1/4 cup bread crumbs
  11. garlic
  12. mustard
  13. cayenne
  14. seafood seasoning
  15. salt
  16. and ground black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firmed and chilled
  17. 1 to 2 hours.
  18. Form salmon mixture into four 1-inch thick patties; sprinkle remaining panko bread crumbs over each patty.
  19. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat. Cook patties in hot oil until golden and cooked through
  20. 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins

Servings: 4

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