Easy old fashioned salmon patties

These old fashioned salmon patties are the must-try easy, quick homemade recipe for you all! You make these old fashioned salmon patties with canned salmon mixed with the goodness of sourdough starter (or little water + either bread crumbs/ flour/ cracker), egg, and seasoned with garlic and onion powder. Fried in avocado oil are so crispy, moist, and delicious that you will see them disappear before your eyes. You make this simple, healthy dish in 20 minutes.

Everyone loves to munch on these old fashioned salmon patties, from the youngest to the oldest person I know! Especially salmon patties this good! You do not even need a sauce to eat them! They are so soft and moist!

Old fashioned salmon patties are a staple dish in our house during the spring and summer seasons when the weather is nice and warm. I usually make them ahead of time for a quick outdoor picnic or potluck meal with family and friends.

These old fashioned salmon patties are a great easy lunch box idea and excellent road trip meals.

Want more salmon recipes?! Check out this delicious Best keto walnut crusted salmon recipe.

Jump to:

• How to make salmon patties perfect
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Tips
• Substitutes and variations
• Equipment
• Storage and reheat
• What side dishes to serve with salmon patties
• Pin it for later
• Recipe

How to make salmon patties perfect

The key ingredient to crispy, moist salmon patties is the sourdough starter or (little water + either bread crumbs/ flour/ cracker) that helps to sear them fast and well on a hot cast-iron skillet.

Adding egg also helps to keep the patties moist and firm so they do not fall apart.

Ingredients

You will need:

Salmon. I used drained canned salmon. Fresh salmon works too. You may use other types of fish fillets too. Remove their excess water if you use frozen fish to make these patties.

Egg. Optional. It helps to bind everything together. you can skip it if you are using little water + either flour/cracker/bread crumbs or sourdough starter. Since they are sticky enough to bind the batter together.

Sourdough starter. The key ingredient to make salmon patties crispy and moist, and extra delicious. You may use sourdough discard too.

Onion and garlic powder. Adds lots of flavors.

Seasonings. Usual salt and pepper as needed. Add on any herbs or spices you like the most too.

Oil. I used avocado oil to fry the patties.

Instructions

Let the skillet warm up nicely on a medium-high flame. Place the canned salmon into a bowl and remove any water and fishbone necessary. Add sourdough starter, egg, garlic powder, and onion powder. Season them with salt and pepper to taste. Break the salmon fillet with a fork and mix the ingredients well.

Add oil to the hot skillet. I used avocado oil which has a high smoke point. Then, take a spoon full of the mixture, place it into the hot skillet, and flatten it slightly.

Fry both sides of the salmon patties until golden and brown.

Serve it and enjoy it while they are hot!

Tips

• Use a cast-iron skillet to fry them. This will create a nice thick, crispy crust.
• Use less salt than usual since canned salmon have salt in them.
• If you like to add more crispy vegetables to them, make sure to remove their excess water.
• Remove the canned salmon bones; otherwise, let them be for an extra calcium boost.
• Mix the ingredients with your hands. This will make it easy to bind the ingredients well.
• Since we are frying salmon patties in a hot skillet, use a high smoke point oil such as avocado oil.
• If you are in a hurry, you could make these salmon patties as one big skillet salmon patty. Just pour all the salmon patty mixture into a hot skillet over the stovetop. Then, when one side of the patty is nice and brown, sprinkle some oil over it, transfer the skillet to the oven, and broil it for a few minutes until the top side is nice and brown. Then cut it into pieces and serve it.

Substitutes and variations

• Substitute canned salmon with other canned, fresh, or frozen fish fillets. Ground beef, ground chicken breast. Or make it vegan and substitute salmon with grounded chickpeas, beans, legumes, or grounded nuts such as walnuts, cashews, or peanuts are the other alternatives to this recipe.
• Leave the egg out when making vegan variation; adding flour (+little water) will make up for it and help the patties to bind together. Although, if you use a sourdough starter, you do not need to use eggs either and make salmon patties without eggs.
• Replace the sourdough starter with bread crumbs, flour, cracker, or rolled oats, add a little water if you are not using egg in this recipe. Or make it keto-friendly and replace the sourdough starter with a mixture of your favorite finely chopped fresh herbs such as cilantro, chives, parsley, oregano, mint, dill, or rosemary. Finely chopped broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are other choices.
• Substitute onion and garlic powder with leeks, chives, garlic, or shallot. Or your favorite vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and bell peppers. Just make sure to chop them finely and remove their excess water.
• Use spices such as cumin, ginger, pepper, or turmeric...
• Butter, ghee, and coconut oil are great substitutes and have a high smoke point, like avocado oil.
• Instead of frying salmon patties, add two tablespoons of oil to the mixture, mix them all, place the mixture on a greased sheet pan, and bake them at 400 °F for about 15 minutes or until crispy brown. Or grill them outside.

Equipment

I used this 10-inch cast-iron skillet (affiliate link) to fry the patties. Everything tastes extra delicious when cooked on cast-iron cookware.

Storage and reheat

Store these old fashioned salmon patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Whenever ready to serve them, let them heat up slowly on a stovetop or microwave them for a few seconds.

You can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge the night before, then heat them on the stovetop or microwave them.

What side dishes to serve with salmon patties

• I served these salmon patties with this delicious and easy-to-make green beans recipe.
• Check out my other side dish recipes for more ideas!
• I like to serve sautéed vegetables as a side dish with salmon patties rather than mixing vegetables into the salmon patties. This way, the salmon patties' texture will stay soft and crispy. Among vegetables, sautéed cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprout, bok choy, and cabbage go well with this dish too. Fresh turnips, radishes, and fresh spring salad are other great choices.
• Quick grilled or oven-broiled fruits such as mango, pineapple, and apple are absolutely delicious with this dish.
• A simple sauce made of lime or lemon, chopped herbs, and butter complements the dish.
• Serve them with baguette, ciabatta bread, pita bread, or my absolute easy sourdough discard flatbread.

What did you substitute? How did your family and kids like it? Let me know in the comment below your favorite combination. I love to hear from you!

Find more simple, delicious nutritious salmon recipes: check out this scrumptious Keto walnut crusted salmon.

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