Salmon Croquettes Recipe Mediterranean Style

Croquettes are one of the most popular tapas in Spain and they come in different varieties. This salmon croquettes recipe is an easy way to use up leftover salmon and make it into a delicious appetizer or light dinner. 

When it comes to salmon recipes, it’s all about flavor and texture. Looking for an easy dinner? Try sheet pan dijon salmon or our quick broiled salmon. Feeling fancy? Crispy orange glazed salmon or pesto salmon is the way to go. This salmon croquette recipe is a great way to add more salmon to your diet. Bonus point: kids love them!

No need to deep fry! 

I’m not a big fan of deep frying, so with a little trial and error I came up with this easy salmon croquettes recipe that doesn’t require deep frying. It’s pan seared in a little bit of olive oil, just as we do for our salmon patties. Most of the croquette recipes out there call for deep frying but this one is simply pan seared which makes it lighter but still preserves the delicious flavor. 

Ingredients

1- Salmon

For this recipe, you can either use canned salmon or leftover baked salmon. You don’t need to have fancy or expensive salmon to make croquettes since it will be mixed with other ingredients. 

2- Potatoes

Starchy potatoes like russet or yukon gold work best in this recipe. The potatoes are peeled, boiled and mashed, then mixed with the salmon.

3- Eggs

Eggs bind all the ingredients together and prevents the croquettes from breaking apart. We use two large eggs for this recipe. 

4- Spices and green onion

We use paprika, garlic powder, mustard and salt to season the croquettes. These spices add flavors but are subtle enough so the salmon can shine. The addition of green onions brings some freshness and bright flavor to the dish. 

5- Breadcrumbs

A little bit of breadcrumbs brings the whole mixture together and makes it easy to handle. You can use store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs to make these croquettes. 

Hints for tasty croquettes

1- Refrigeration 

The croquette mixture is best to be chilled in the fridge for one to two hours. This would help the flavors to blend together and also for the mixture to be sticky and cold enough so you can form it. 

2- Don’t use too much oil

Two to four tablespoons of olive oil should be enough to sear the whole batch of these salmon croquettes. Using just a little bit of olive oil will make the croquettes crispy but not greasy. 

3- Shaping

I shaped the croquettes like cylinders, the same way that I saw was done in Spain. You can also shape them into disks. Since the mixture is a bit sticky, it’s best to wet your hands with cold water before shaping the croquettes. 

Preparation instructions

Prepare the mixture

In a large bowl, mash boiled potatoes using a potato masher or your food processor. Add the flaked salmon to the potatoes. Add in the eggs and the seasoning. Finish with chopped green onion and breadcrumbs. Mix well until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for one hour. 

Shape the croquettes

After one hour, take the bowl out of the fridge and place it on the counter. Take about two tablespoons of the mixture and, using your wet hands, shape it into a cylinder. Repeat the step with the remaining mixture. 

Pan sear 

Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the olive oil is shimmery, place the croquettes in the pan and sear on one side for about 3 minutes. Flip and sear on the other sides as well until golden brown on all sides. 

Serving suggestions

These croquettes make a delicious tapa that you can serve alongside Spanish tortilla with some homemade aioli. You can also serve these salmon croquettes as a light lunch or dinner with a side of cucumber tomato avocado salad or Mediterranean salad.  

Baking salmon croquettes

It’s also possible to bake these in the oven. Simply heat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the croquettes on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. 

What to do with the leftovers

Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. To reheat, you can either microwave them or heat them in the oven at 280°F for 20 minutes until heated through.