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Salmon Patties with Tartar Sauce

Salmon patties with tartar sauce—pan-fried salmon cakes with a crisp, golden exterior and a moist, herb-flecked center from canned salmon. Chill before cooking for firmer patties, then serve with a tangy, lemony tartar sauce.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chilling 15 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620

Ingredients
  

Salmon patties
  • 2 can (14.75 oz) canned salmon drained
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 0.25 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 stalk celery finely diced
  • 0.25 cup red onion finely diced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 0.25 tsp salt to taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Tartar sauce
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp sweet relish
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 0.25 tsp salt to taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make the salmon patty mixture
  1. In a bowl, mix the canned salmon, breadcrumbs, eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined, with no dry crumbs left. Stir until the mixture looks cohesive and clumps when pressed (no visible eggy streaks).
  2. Form the mixture into 8 equal patties about 3/4-inch thick. Set them on a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes so they hold their shape and don’t crumble when flipped.
Mix tartar sauce
  1. Stir together mayonnaise, sweet relish, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper for the tartar sauce until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate for 15 minutes while the patties chill so the flavors meld.
Pan-fry the patties
  1. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until the butter foams lightly. Place patties in the skillet and cook for 5–6 minutes, until the bottoms are deep golden brown and you can see crisp edges.
  2. Flip patties and cook another 5–6 minutes until both sides are deep golden brown and the patties feel set in the center. Remove to a plate and let them rest briefly so the interior stays moist.
Serve
  1. Serve salmon patties hot with tartar sauce alongside lemon wedges and fresh dill garnish. Spoon sauce over or at the side and cut one open to confirm the center is moist and herb-flecked.

Notes

Pro tip: If your patties feel soft after chilling, press them gently again and return to the fridge for 5 minutes before frying. Store leftover salmon patties in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet for best crisping. Freeze patties for up to 2 months (freeze without garnishes), thaw in the fridge overnight, and reheat until hot throughout. For a lighter option, use light mayonnaise in both the patties and tartar sauce.