Southern Salmon Croquettes

Salmon Croquettes are a southern classic. Full of salmon, peppers, onions and seasoning, this versatile dish is sure to be loved by all! This is a great recipe for busy weeknights, but fancy enough for holidays and special events.

Simple Ingredients

The ingredients for this salmon croquettes recipe are pretty simple and some are easily omitted or swapped. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• All-purpose flour– Or other flour alternative to make them gluten-free.
• Yellow Cornmeal- I like the texture of yellow cornmeal, but white cornmeal or even cracker crumbs, like saltine crackers or club crackers, can be used. This acts as the binder instead of bread crumbs.
• Canned salmon- Fresh salmon and leftovers can also be used, it just needs to be cooked. Farm raised can be a tad fattier compared to wild salmon fillets and may require more binder (flour or cornmeal).
• Veggies– Red bell pepper and sweet onion- but feel free to use red onion, yellow pepper or green pepper. Carrots and celery are also welcome.
• Large Egg– To help it all bind together.
• Worcestershire sauce– For complexity and depth of flavor, a little goes a long way. Don’t have any in the fridge? Make homemade worcestershire sauce!
• Seasoned salt– Using a seasoned salt adds a little more of a flavor profile than just salt, although that is totally acceptable. Use a coarse kosher salt if going the plain route.
• Ground black pepper– Freshly grinding packs the most punch. For a less peppery route, opt for ground white pepper.
• Garlic powder– More subtle than fresh garlic, but still complements. Onion powder can also be swapped.
• Mayonnaise– Another binder. I’ve tried this with sour cream and plain Greek yogurt and while both give a nice tang, they create a fragile product since they don’t have egg to help bind. Try your hand at homemade mayonnaise too!
• Cilantro– Our secret ingredient- this gives unexpected flavor and oodles of it. If someone doesn’t care for cilantro, omit it or use flat parsley (Italian Parsley) or other fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme or fresh dill.
• Oil for frying – Our original recipe, and many others, call for olive oil to pan fry, but this has a lower smoke point that other neutral oils like canola, peanut or vegetable oil.

Time to Make the Magic Happen

Are you ready to make salmon croquettes? These pan-fried delights might be easier than you think!

1. Gather Ingredients. Gather all the ingredients for the salmon mixture. I like to measure my ingredients out beforehand, that way everything is ready and all I have to do is dump into bowls.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and cornmeal so it is evenly combined and you will avoid overmixing when the wet ingredients are added.
3. Make Salmon Cake Mixture. Add the bell peppers, sweet onion, seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, cilantro, and egg. You will want to mix until well combined.
4. Form Patties. From there, you can shape into about 6-8 patties. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Cook. Once the skillet is hot, go ahead and cook the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are a golden brown color. They will be fragile, so using a fish spatula is best for the delicate nature.
6. Serve. Remove them to a paper towel lined plate or a warm oven until you are ready to serve. Serve the salmon croquettes while they are warm and don’t forget your favorite sauce!

Make it a Meal

Looking for what to pair with salmon croquettes? They are super versatile, so basically anything goes, but here are my favorites.

• Side salad – doesn’t a green salad go with almost anything? My kale salad is always a favorite.
• Side of potatoes – whether the potatoes are baked, fried, or made into fries, this is an excellent option. Try my Cheesy Slow Cooker Potatoes!
• Sauteed veggies – take what veggies you have on hand and sautee them with salt, pepper, and olive oil. So yummy!
• Surf & Turf- or make it a surf and turf with a tenderloin or eye of round roast.
• Dipping Sauces- Yum yum sauce, horseradish sauce, aioli sauce, garlic butter sauce, crab cake sauce and even cocktail sauce are all good picks. As is a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, sour cream or hot sauce.
• Pasta– A side of linguine or instant pot macaroni and cheese.
• Rice– Tomato rice or stick of butter rice are great ideas!
• Seafood Extravaganza! Sometimes I like to offer bites of several different types of seafood. Make a “cake” plate with Maryland crab cakes or another dish with flaky parmesan crusted tilapia, maybe just some classic shrimp cocktail with our famous cocktail sauce.

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Salmon Croquettes are a southern classic! Full of salmon, peppers, onions and seasoning, this versatile dish is sure to be loved by all!

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

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Servings: 8

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Equipment

• Mixing Bowls
• Whisk
• Cast Iron Pan
• Fish Spatula
• Large Cast Iron Skillet
• Whisk

Ingredients

• ½ cup flour
• ¼ cup yellow cornmeal
• 15 ounces canned salmon
• 1 red bell pepper , finely chopped
• ½ cup sweet onion , diced
• 1 large egg , beaten
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup cilantro , chopped
• Olive oil for frying

Instructions

• In a large bowl whisk together the ½ cup flour and ¼ cup yellow cornmeal.
• Add the 15 ounces canned salmon, minced 1 red bell pepper, minced ½ cup sweet onion, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon seasoned salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ cup mayonnaise and chopped ¼ cup cilantro Mix until well combined.
• Shape into about 6-8 patties. Heat the Olive oil for frying in large skillet over medium high heat.
• Once skillet is hot cook patties for 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are a golden brown color.
• Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 186 kcal, Carbohydrates: 12 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 9 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 68 mg, Sodium: 410 mg, Potassium: 258 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 564 IU, Vitamin C: 20 mg, Calcium: 156 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Calories: 186

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: salmon cakes, salmon croquettes, salmon patties

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