Easy Salmon Patties Recipe (Gluten-Free, Paleo)

Golden on the outside and moist and flavorful inside, these salmon patties are loaded with omega-3’s, selenium, and the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin. My kids love to dip them in homemade Thousand Island, which is just fine with me because weekly DHA-rich fish consumption is associated with higher intelligence scores and improved sleep in children. (Science Daily)

Of course, there are lots of benefits for grown-ups, too:

• Improved Skin Elasticity – In one small study, people who were given a combination of 2 mg of astaxanthin (the antioxidant found in wild salmon) and 3 grams of collagen for 12 weeks experienced significant improvements in skin elasticity and hydration. (Yoon et. al.)
• Heart Health – Regular consumption of fatty fish like salmon has been shown to improve blood lipids and other markers of cardiovascular health. (Bradberry et. al., Weitz et. al.)
• Supports A Healthy Inflammatory Response – Inflammation at the site of an injury is a healthy response that supports healing, but chronic inflammation is associated with negative outcomes. Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and other fatty fish support a healthy inflammatory response. (Calder, Zhang et. al.)

If you want to incorporate more salmon into your family’s diet, I think you’ll love the recipe below. But first, you might be wondering…

How do I keep my salmon patties from falling apart?

If you’ve ever made salmon patties before, you may have discovered that some recipes crumble and fall apart easily. In the recipe below I’ve incorporated eggs and coconut flour to help bind the salmon cakes together, plus mayo to keep them from becoming overly dry.

What sauces go well with salmon patties?

Creamy sauces are most definitely the way to go – I serve it with this homemade Thousand Island because the tangy sweetness complements the savory rosemary in the salmon patties.

What kind of salmon should I use?

You can make this recipe with fresh or canned salmon. Here are some sources I recommend:

SafeCatch Pink Salmon – This wild, sustainably-caught pink salmon is one of the most affordable options I know of. It’s lower in astaxanthin than sockeye salmon but Safe Catch uses a lower-temp cooking process that they say preserves omega-3’s better than traditional packing methods, so it may be higher in overall omega-3’s than other brands. Also, the BPA-free can is made with a resin that is one of the best options I know of.

Vital Choice – My go-to for frozen salmon filets is Vital Choice. They also sell pink salmon (more affordable) and sockeye salmon (more astaxanthin) packaged in BPA-free cans, but I’ve been unable to determine for sure what exactly the can linings are made from.

Print Pin

4.15 from 7 votes

Easy Salmon Patties (Salmon Cakes or Croquettes)

Makes 8 salmon patties

 

Course Dinner

Author Heather Dessinger

Ingredients

• 5 - 6 ounces chopped or finely diced cooked salmon*
• 1/4 cup almond flour where to buy almond flour
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary  - I like to crumble mine a little with my hands before using it in this recipe where to find it
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika where to buy it
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt where to buy salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper where to find it
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder where to buy it
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 tablespoons mayo either homemade or this amazing stuff
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour where to buy coconut flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil avocado oil or ghee for cooking
• *You can use a salmon filet that has been baked in the oven or canned salmon that is already cooked. SafeCatch Pink Salmon and Vital Choice are good sources - see the section above for more details.

Instructions

• Add salmon, almond flour, rosemary, paprika, salt, black pepper and garlic powder to a medium bowl and mix. Add eggs, mayo and coconut flour and mix again. Scoop out two tablespoons and form into a patty - continue this process until the bowl is empty. Heat oil over low/medium heat, place patties in the pan, and fry until golden on both sides.

Sources for this article:

1. Science Daily: Weekly fish consumption linked to better sleep, higher IQ. (2017, December 17) Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171221101341.htm

2. Yoon, H.S. (2014, July) Supplementing with dietary astaxanthin combined with collagen hydrolysate improves facial elasticity and decreases matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -12 expression: a comparative study with placebo. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24955642

3. Bradberry, J. (2013, November) Chris. Overview of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Therapies. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875260/

4. Weitz, Daniel. (2010, September – October) Fish Oil for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217043/

5. Calder, Philip C. (2013, March) Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory processes: nutrition or pharmacology? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575932/

6. Zhang, M.J. (2012, August 21) Resolvins: anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22404117