Easy Alaska Salmon Patties Recipe

This Alaska salmon patties recipe is perfect for using up leftover salmon. These easy Alaska salmon patties are flaky and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Salmon is one of our absolute favorite species of fish to cook with and we have many delicious salmon recipes on the blog. If you’re new to making salmon, try baked salmon fillet with lemon and if you feel more adventurous, this teriyaki pineapple salmon would do the trick. Our Mediterranean baked dijon salmon recipe has been made and loved by so many of you and it’s been a staple in our kitchen as well.

I took the popular salmon patties and put a Mediterranean twist on them. Read on for the recipe made with Alaska salmon, a perfect dinner for any day of the week!

This post is sponsored by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. All opinions are mine.

What are salmon patties?

Salmon patties, also known as salmon cakes, are small fish cakes usually fried in a pan. Salmon patties are a great way to use up leftover salmon and add seafood to your weekly diet. Because of their size and texture, salmon patties are great for kids, too. And if you’re looking for leftover salmon recipes, this one could be a winner since you can use leftovers to make it. 

The best thing about salmon patties is that you can use fresh salmon, leftover salmon or canned salmon to make them. As long as your salmon is good quality, any of these methods work perfectly. If you often cook with salmon, you are going to enjoy this recipe very much because it offers all that rich salmon flavor plus more. 

Easy Mediterranean salmon patties

This version of homemade salmon patties has a Mediterranean twist to it which makes it even more delicious. I used Alaska salmon to make these easy salmon patties. There are many ways to enjoy wild Alaska salmon, such as grilled, broiled or roasted. And what I love most about this no mayo salmon cakes recipe is that it can be ready in as little as 20 minutes so it’s a great option for quick dinners.

Ingredients to make salmon patties

The other ingredients used in this Alaska salmon cakes recipe are:

• Salmon – fresh, leftover or canned
• Eggs
• Bread crumbs
• Olives
• Spices – sumac, cumin, salt, dried dill
• Dijon mustard
• Shallots
• Onion
• Garlic

This is a salmon patties recipe without potatoes which makes it flakier and lighter compared to the versions that are made with potatoes. 

How do you make salmon patties recipe?

This is an easy salmon recipe that has three main steps:

• Bake the salmon

Brush the salmon with olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper on them. Bake in the oven at 400ºF for about 20 minutes until they’re flaky and cooked. The internal temperature should register at 145ºF per FDA’s regulations on making salmon at home. 

• Make the salmon patty mixture

Mix flaked Alaska salmon with chopped shallots, onion and garlic, bell pepper, olives, eggs, bread crumbs and spices in a large bowl. The mixture should be moist enough so it can hold its shape once made into patties. Depending on the eggs you choose, you might need two or three eggs.

• Pan fry the patties

Pour a little olive oil into a pan and heat over medium heat. Take about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and form into patties. Once the pan is hot enough, place the patties in the pan and pan fry each side for about 4 minutes. These are the best salmon patties ever. They’re flaky, crispy on the outside and bursting with so much flavor.

Can you bake salmon patties?

You can easily make baked salmon patties by brushing a little olive oil on both sides of the patties and placing them on a lined baking sheet. Bake the patties in the oven at 375ºF for about 10 minutes and flip them once halfway.

How can I make salmon patties with crackers?

Simply crush crackers until they resemble bread crumbs and then add them to the mixture instead of the bread crumbs. Make sure to use less salt when using crackers as they have some salt already.

Sauce for fried salmon patties

For these Mediterranean salmon patties, I use tzatziki sauce which balances out the flavors and pairs well with the other ingredients. You can also use tartar sauce or even cocktail sauce.

What to serve with salmon cakes

These Mediterranean salmon patties are so tasty and they make a great family dinner. We love serving these fresh Alaska salmon patties with starchy sides such as white rice or brown rice and/or with a side salad like Mediterranean salad.

Looking for more seafood recipes?

• Oven Baked Alaska Salmon with Olives and Capers
• Grilled Salmon Shish Kabobs
• Baked Salmon Fillet with Lemon
• Fish Curry with Alaska Cod

How to store salmon cakes (salmon patties)

You can prepare the salmon patties mixture a day in advance and make the patties the next day. For salmon cakes leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat, place the salmon patties in a lightly oiled frying pan and heat on both sides. 

To freeze salmon patties, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place the baking sheet in the freezer for about one hour until the patties are solid. Place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw the patties in the fridge overnight and heat them in a frying pan with a bit of oil. 

Notes and tips for making this salmon patties recipe

• You can make salmon patties using canned salmon. Canned Alaska salmon is an affordable, healthy and sustainable choice that would work perfectly for this recipe. If using canned salmon, start from the second step and make the salmon patties mixture.
• You can use regular bread crumbs or panko bread crumbs which are larger. Both would make the patties soft on the inside.
• Don’t use a food processor to make the salmon patties mixture as it will cut the salmon into very small pieces and you won’t have flaky patties in the end. Using a fork to flake the salmon is a better way to make these patties.
• If using canned salmon to make this recipe, you might want to pick the bones and skins, at least the large ones. 
• You can also make salmon patties with cornmeal by leaving out the bread crumbs and adding 5 tablespoons of cornmeal and one tablespoon of all purpose flour to the salmon patty mixture. These patties are also called southern salmon patties and they should be fried.

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5 from 4 votes

Easy Salmon Patties Recipe

This Alaska salmon patties recipe is perfect for using up leftover salmon. These easy salmon patties are flaky and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mediterranean

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 300kcal

Author Shadi HasanzadeNemati

Ingredients

• 1 lb Alaska salmon
• 4 tbsp olive oil divided
• 1 shallot finely chopped
• 1/2 yellow onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1/2 cup olives chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tsp sumac
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp pink salt
• 1 tsp dried dill
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• Tzatziki sauce to serve

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400F. Coat a baking sheet with non stick spray. 
  
• Place salmon pieces on the baking sheet and brush olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper on the salmon. 
  
• Bake the salmon in the oven for 20 minutes. 
  
• Meanwhile, heat two tablespoons olive oil in a pan and saute shallot, onion, garlic and bell pepper until vegetables are soft and onions are translucent. 
  
• Once the salmon is cooked, flake it using a fork and place it in a large bowl. 
  
• Add cooked shallots, onions, garlic and bell pepper to the flaked salmon and mix well. 
• Add olives, eggs and bread crumbs to the mixture and mix well so all the ingredients are well incorporated. 
  
• Add in sumac, cumin, salt, dried dill and Dijon mustard and stir well. 
  
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a pan over medium heat. 
  
• Scoop out the salmon patties and shape them with your hand. 
  
• Pan fry the patties in the pan, four minutes on each side until they are crispy and golden on the outside. 
  
• Serve with extra olive, rice or a side salad. 
  

Notes

• Baked Salmon Patties: Brush a little olive oil on both sides of the patties and placing them on a lined baking sheet. Bake the patties in the oven at 375 for about ten minutes and flip them once half way.
• Freeze salmon patties: Place uncooked salmon patties on a baking sheet and freeze for about one hour until they are hard and frozen. Place them in a ziploc bag and freeze for up to one month. Thaw them when ready and follow the cooking instructions. 
• You can use Alaska canned salmon for this salmon patties recipe as well. Simply mix it with the rest of the ingredients and cook according to the recipe instructions. 

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal