Southern Salmon Croquettes Recipe

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This Salmon Croquettes Recipe is a southern classic, prepared with flakes of salmon shaped into patties and pan-fried until they are beautifully crisp with a golden outside! Season them with sliced green onion, red bell pepper, and garlic.

a platter of salmon croquettes with a bowl of tartar sauce in the corner garnished with lemon wedges and parsley.

And for the best part, serve them with a tangy homemade tartar sauce! Delish! This dinner is fast, flavorful, and easy on your budget! Capers and fresh parsley make this sauce a tasty complement to the croquettes.

Before you skip over this recipe because of intimidation, know this — just because this salmon patty recipe has a fancy name like ‘croquette’ doesn’t mean it’s a complicated and tedious dish.

Even beginner cooks could successfully fry these crisp and flavorful salmon cakes. There’s no need to fret whether you’re an experienced home cook or just starting to learn the basics!

One of the best things about these salmon croquettes is that they are easy to fall in love with. You don’t have to be a salmon-lover or even fond of seafood to enjoy this recipe. It’s a dinner the whole family will love!

Key ingredients & substitutions for this Easy Salmon Croquette Recipe

Croquettes

Salmon | You’ll need a can of pink salmon with the bones removed, drained, and flaked. Or use fresh salmon, cooked and flaked. You can even use leftover salmon from the other night.
Mayonnaise | Low-fat mayonnaise lends a creamy taste to the cakes. Substitute it with sour cream or omit it and use some drained liquid from the salmon can instead.
Lemon juice | Freshly squeezed is best, but the bottled version is fine. This sour and sweet juice brightens the patty’s great flavor. Make the citrus taste more apparent by adding some lemon zest, too.

Dijon mustard | I prefer using whole-grain Dijon mustard for the best flavor.
Onions and peppers | Boost the flavor with sliced green onions, including the whites and the tops. Use grated white onion if necessary. Also, include finely chopped red bell pepper. I like red for its sweeter taste, but you can use green, orange, or yellow if preferred.
Seasoning | We keep it simple with garlic, salt, and pepper. Use garlic powder or minced cloves, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Similar recipes use old bay or creole seasoning. So, feel free to try these variations if desired.

Egg | Just one lightly beaten egg helps to bind the ingredients together.
Breadcrumbs | As a patty filler, sprinkle in some plain dry breadcrumbs. I prefer panko breadcrumbs– But get this. You can also use cracker crumbs from crushed saltine crackers! Who Knew?
Canola oil | Have some canola oil ready for frying the croquettes. Avocado, sunflower, or peanut oil are also great options. If you only have vegetable oil, it’ll do just fine!

Tartar Sauce

Mayonnaise | You’ll need more low-fat mayo for the creamy tartar sauce.
Dijon mustard | Whole grain Dijon mustard takes the sauce flavor to the next level!
Parsley | Include fresh chopped Italian parsley for a refreshing taste.
Capers | Chopped capers bring salty notes to the sauce. Or, skip the capers and add fresh dill to make a dill aioli.
Garlic | Minced garlic ties the various flavors together.

How to make the Best Southern Salmon Patties

Mix the ingredients, form the patties, and toss in a hot skillet to fry– That’s all this delicious and classic recipe requires!

process steps for mixing together the ingredients for salmon croquettes in a glass bowl with mayonnaise, chopped onion, spices, bell pepper, and breadcrumbs.

STEP 1 | Mix the salmon, mayo, seasonings, and veggies

Set out a large bowl and add the grilled or canned salmon, flaking it with a fork. Then, add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, diced green onions, chopped bell pepper, one egg, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Stir all the ingredients together until they are well combined.

STEP 2 | Add the breadcrumbs

Next, sprinkle the breadcrumbs into the bowl and toss gently until they are fully incorporated. Scoop out about 1/3 cup of the mixture to form a patty.

Gently pat the ingredients together in your hands, being careful not to pack them too tightly. Continue with the remaining salmon mixture, shaping it into six equal-size patties.

shaped salmon patties on a plate; cooked salmon croquettes in a frying pan.

STEP 3 | Fry and enjoy!

Lastly, heat canola oil in a large non-stick cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the croquettes and cook for five minutes on both sides until they are lightly browned and perfectly crispy.

Then, mix the tartar sauce ingredients and serve the salmon cakes with nutritious green vegetables!

tips

After shaping the croquettes, refrigerating them for 15 to 30 minutes will help them hold together when frying.
Carefully use a wide spatula to flip the patties over during cooking.
Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet with all six croquettes at a time. Unless you have an unusually large pan, you’ll need to fry in batches.
To remove the excess grease from frying, set the patties on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the oil.
Include Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce for extra flavor!

ingredients for tartar sauce in a bowl on a table.

How to Make Homemade Tartar Sauce

STEP 1 | Combine the simple ingredients

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise with fresh lemon juice. Also, add the Dijon mustard, chopped Italian parsley, tangy capers, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt.

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly, and you have yourself some tasty homemade tartar sauce! Oh-so-easy!

STEP 2 | Serve or store

If your croquettes are freshly fried, serve them with your from-scratch tartar sauce right away! Or save it for later by covering the sauce and chilling it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

a plate with a serving of salmon croquettes on a table with a bowl of tartar sauce.

You’ve come to the right place if you’re a seafood fanatic. I have plenty of delicious seafood recipes, like Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter and Creamy Shrimp and Grits. Or try my easy one-bowl dinners like this Fish Taco Bowl with Mango Salsa or Teriyaki Salmon Bowl.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between salmon patties and salmon croquettes?

Salmon patties and croquettes are often used interchangeably for a flat cake-like food made from salmon and breadcrumbs, flour, or sometimes cornmeal. Some say the difference is that salmon patties usually use flour, while croquettes use crumbs. But it isn’t a solid rule.

Furthermore, salmon burgers are another term describing the same dish. Salmon patties and burgers are typically larger, and croquettes are slightly smaller.

And, did you know you can make Mackerel Patties? They are delicious served as an appetizer or even on a sandwich bun.

What is a good substitute for tartar sauce?

If you’re not a fan of the unique tartar sauce flavor or want to try something new, garlic aioli, dill aioli, remoulade sauce, or tomato-based cocktail sauce are excellent substitutes. Really, any sauce that typically comes with crab cakes or fried fish works perfectly for this recipe.

Try my Homemade Horseradish Aioli from one of my favorite steak sandwiches or this Garlic Dijon Aioli from my salami pizza recipe.

Can you freeze salmon croquettes?

Yes, salmon croquettes can be frozen! But it’s best to freeze the patties before frying. Seal them in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. After cooking, salmon croquettes can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but they are best enjoyed freshly cooked.

a fork piercing a bite of salmon croquette on a plate.

Serving suggestions

Shape the salmon croquettes a bit larger and serve them on buns like salmon burgers with lettuce and your homemade tartar sauce. How’s that for a delicious and healthy meal idea?

On their own or in a burger, salmon croquettes are great for serving with a refreshing green salad, like a Wedge Salad with Crispy Fried Shallots.

But you can also try serving them with these Grilled French Fries and Spicy Ketchup, easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, or a flavor-packed Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.

a platter of salmon croquettes with a bowl of tartar sauce in the corner garnished with lemon wedges and parsley on a table.

Behind the recipe: Salmon Croquettes

If you were raised in a true Southern home, you’re very familiar with salmon croquettes or patties. While Southerners served this classic dinner a few times a month, families in the West or Northeast had never heard of salmon croquettes.

When you have no prior knowledge, you may hear the term ‘salmon croquettes’ and think they are some exotic high-class dish. In reality, this is far from the truth.

Don’t get me wrong– Salmon patties are absolutely delicious and packed with complex flavors. But they surely aren’t a meal reserved only for the wealthy.

In fact, salmon croquettes gained popularity during the adverse times of the Great Depression, when the South was affected far more dramatically than anywhere else in America. Mothers and wives made simple salmon patties to get through the challenging period.

two salmon croquettes on a plate with a lemon wedge and a spoonful of tartar sauce to the side.

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Salmon Croquettes

Author: Sheila Thigpen

Season these fish cakes with grated onion, red bell pepper, and garlic and serve them with a tangy homemade tartar sauce. This dinner is fast, delicious, and easy on your budget!

4 from 32 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Course Fish & Seafood

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 179 kcal