Pan Fried Salmon Patties

If you are looking for an easy weeknight dinner that tastes delicious and helps you reach your weekly seafood goal, these fried salmon patties are for you!

These patties are filled with heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and provide a good amount of protein to help you maintain or gain muscle mass. 

I love pairing these with some rice and steamed veggies, but you do you! If you want them more “southern style”, try pairing them with some cornbread and green beans.

Ingredients for Pan Fried Salmon Patties

• Canned salmon: I prefer wild caught alaskan salmon, but really any salmon will do
• Egg: this is important to help keep the patties sticking together
• Panko breadcrumbs: or regular breadcrumbs, I just prefer the texture of panko
• Green onions: these add so much flavor to the dish it’s crazy!
• Red or yellow onion: diced as finely as you can make them
• Minced garlic: or garlic powder if you don’t have minced on you
• White vinegar: or lemon juice
• Dry seasonings: salt, pepper, oregano, lemon pepper, oregano
• Cooking oil: of choice, I like using olive oil or canola oil for this recipe

Is canned salmon already cooked?

Yes! Canned salmon is already fully cooked, so it saves you an extra step. Before adding the canned salmon to your patties, make sure to drain the can and gently press out the extra liquid with your hands.

If the idea of touching the salmon freaks you out (understandable by the way), you can use gloves or squeeze it with a few layers of paper towels. Just make sure no paper towel transfers on to the salmon.

Squeezing out the extra liquid from the salmon will help ensure it stays together when you form them into patties and transfer them to the pan to crisp them up.

How do you keep the salmon patties from falling apart?

The egg and the breadcrumbs are what’s really going to keep these patties together. The egg will bind the ingredients together as they cook and the breadcrumbs will help absorb some extra liquid in the patties.

Before you add the patties to the pan, make sure to form them together into patties. Press the patties so they form a solid ball. This will also help ensure the patties stay together while they are cooking.

Finally, make sure the patties are nice and browned on one side before flipping them. This will ensure enough of the patty has been cooked so that they stay together during the flipping process. 

Are fried salmon patties healthy?

I can’t speak for all fried salmon patty recipes, but this recipe is a healthy option. It requires less oil compared to other recipes and it is very high in protein. 

This recipe contains about 330 calories per serving, 28 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. It’s an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, phosphorus and selenium. It’s also a good source of folate, vitamin K, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc. 

If you want a lower calorie option, you can try cooking the patties without oil (if you have a non-stick pan). I can’t guarantee the patties will stay together, but it could be worth trying if you are trying to limit your caloric intake. I would recommend making smaller salmon patties if you try this.

Is canned pink salmon healthy?

Yes! For some reason there is this weird stigma around canned foods, but in reality, they are perfectly healthy and an affordable, shelf stable way of getting more nutritious foods into your diet. 

The only concern with canned foods is the salt content. They usually contain some salt to help preserve whatever food is in the can. Canned salmon in particular is usually salted. 

That being said, salt isn’t usually a huge concern unless you have a medical condition which requires a low sodium intake or if a large portion of your diet is processed foods. The most important number isn’t how much salt is in a certain product, but how much salt is in your overall diet. So focus on that first!

Do you put egg in fried salmon patties?

Yes! The egg in these fried salmon patties will help bind the patties together so they don’t crumble apart once they are on the pan. If you don’t have eggs or avoid eggs due to an allergy, there are other options.

Vegans have been using flax and chia eggs for years and they work pretty well. Simply mix 1 tbsp of flax or chia seeds with 3 tbsp of water. Let sit for several minutes, give in a stir, and let sit for a few extra minutes. Continue this process until a gel-like consistency has been reached. It should mimic the texture of an egg. 

If you prefer something more egg-like, you can also try out a vegan egg substitute. Here are a few options for you to try out:

What goes good with fried salmon patties?

I personally love serving these fried salmon patties with white rice and steamed veggies. But, some people don’t like having everything with rice (that’s the Japanese in me speaking) and that’s ok!

This recipe also pairs well with cornbread and a southern veggie like green beans or collard greens. Either of these options work and make a nicely balanced meal.

The options are really endless, but nutritionally speaking, it would be best to pair these fried salmon patties with a grain and a vegetable. This ensures you are getting a good balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat and micronutrients. 

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If you tried this recipe out and liked it, be sure to share your creation with me on social media! You can find me @tasteitwithtia on Instagram and TikTok and @tasteit_withtia on Pinterest. Looking forward to hearing from you!