British · Dinner

Salmon Fishcakes

Flaked poached salmon folded into mashed potato with spring onions, parsley, lemon and capers, shaped, breadcrumbed and fried until crisp outside and soft inside.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 1 hr 5 min total Serves 4 servings Medium
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How to Make Salmon Fishcakes

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  1. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 to 18 minutes, until tender. Drain well and leave them in the hot pan for 2 minutes to steam dry.

  2. Mash the potatoes with the butter until smooth and let them cool for 10 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, poach the salmon in a pan of barely simmering water for 8 minutes, until it flakes. Lift it out, drain, and flake it into large pieces.

  4. Fold the salmon, spring onions, parsley, capers, lemon zest and juice, mustard, salt and pepper into the potato, keeping the flakes of fish large.

  5. Shape the mixture into 8 patties about 2 cm thick, put them on a tray and chill for 30 minutes.

  6. Coat each cake in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, pressing the crumbs on.

  7. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and fry the fishcakes for 4 minutes on each side, until deep golden and hot through.

  8. Drain on kitchen paper and serve at once with lemon wedges.

Tips for Making Salmon Fishcakes

  • Steam the potatoes dry. Wet mash means wet cakes that will not hold together, and dry mash is what lets the fish stay the main flavour.
  • Flake the salmon by hand and fold it in gently. Beating it in reduces it to a paste and the fishcakes lose their texture.
  • Chill the cakes before coating. Cold, firm cakes keep their shape in the pan and do not break as you turn them.

Common Substitutions & Variations

  • Panko gives the crunchiest crust here, but ordinary dried breadcrumbs will still fry crisp if that's what's in the cupboard.
  • Out of spring onions? A small regular onion, finely sliced, or a few chives stirred in at the end both cover the job.

What to Serve with Salmon Fishcakes

  • Tartare sauce
  • A watercress and lemon salad
  • Buttered peas

Storing & Reheating Salmon Fishcakes

Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Re-crisp in a 200°C oven for 12 minutes. Freeze the uncooked coated cakes for up to 2 months and fry from frozen for 6 minutes on each side.

Salmon Fishcakes FAQ: Common Questions

How long does Salmon Fishcakes take to make?

About 1 hour 5 minutes in total — 35 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Salmon Fishcakes?

Steam the potatoes dry. Wet mash means wet cakes that will not hold together, and dry mash is what lets the fish stay the main flavour. Flake the salmon by hand and fold it in gently. Beating it in reduces it to a paste and the fishcakes lose their texture. Chill the cakes before coating. Cold, firm cakes keep their shape in the pan and do not break as you turn them.

What should I serve with Salmon Fishcakes?

Tartare sauce; A watercress and lemon salad; Buttered peas.

Can Salmon Fishcakes be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Re-crisp in a 200°C oven for 12 minutes. Freeze the uncooked coated cakes for up to 2 months and fry from frozen for 6 minutes on each side.

Is Salmon Fishcakes suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Salmon Fishcakes?

About 512 kcal per serving, with 26 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate and 28 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Salmon Fishcakes Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

512Calories
26gProtein
39gCarbs
28gFat
4gFibre
2gSugar
700mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.