One of Vince’s friends on Facebook loves to cook and she’s always posting recipe links . . you know how those of us who love to cook want everyone else to love to cook . . and love to cook the same things we cook! A few months back, she made salmon patties and Vince sent me the recipe.
My mom . . if you’re reading this, I’m not being critical . . really . . but mom used to make salmon patties using canned salmon. First, as a kid, I did not like salmon and I did not like salmon patties. Second . . those weird round bones were in the patties and I would sometimes eat them and sometimes spit them out. That’s probably why I have so much trouble with kidney stones . . salmon bones when I was a kid!
I’m not sure I’ve ever made salmon patties and I never intended to make them, but being the amazing wife that I am want Vince to think I am, I looked at the recipe and since it was made with fresh or frozen salmon, instead of canned salmon with weird bones, I figured I would try it. Obviously, getting fresh salmon in the middle of Texas isn’t as easy as getting a nice ribeye, so I used frozen salmon.
Salmon
I would have been happy to stop right there . . with pan fried salmon, but, for my husband, I continued with the recipe.
It seemed like a heck of a lot of celery but I figured I’d follow the recipe.
Veggies
I guess I was thinking they would cook down to not so much, but they didn’t.
All Mixed Up
It makes a lot. She says it serves 15. I doubt that . . if you’re serving it for a meal. Or, maybe that’s how much skinny people eat. You can see that the patties are not huge. Vince at 3, I ate 2 and that was about half of the mix. I’ll make the rest tonight.
Dinner
Here are the things I did differently, and you’ll see that by the time I got done, mine probably weren’t nearly so skinny, but you can also see that we had a fairly healthy meal that night with coleslaw and raw veggies.
- Salmon pieces were sauteed in butter.
- One whole egg was used instead of 3 egg whites.
- Use less Old Bay. It was a bit overpowering.
- The seemed like they needed a little something extra so I added the juice of one lemon.
- Patties were dredged in flour and fried in olive oil.
Next time, I will:
- Do all of the above.
- Maybe use half as much celery.
Would I make the recipe again? Probably, with the changes I made. Vince seemed to like it. Maybe I’m just not much into salmon patties. It wasn’t something I’d request or order off a menu but they were pretty good.
What’s really weird is . . I have a can of salmon in my pantry. I don’t even know why I bought it or how long I’ve had it. Maybe I bought it just to see if those weird bones are still in the cans. Can you tell that the bones really made a big impression (in a bad way) on me as a child?
Robin says
My mother used canned salmon also but made sure all bones were out. I tend to use the salmon in the pouch which yes is more expensive but since I make it rarely and I am the only one that eats them works for me!
Linda Enneking says
I agree, the bones in canned salmon are not appealing, but it is easy to remove them. Open the can and put the salmon upright in a bowl. Use a fork to gently separate the pieces and expose the bones. Take out the round bones and any long bones. The smaller bones are so soft from the canning process that they are barely noticeable. I make salmon patties with just an egg and some crushed saltines, enough to hold them together. Fry in a little oil until browned. Serve with ketchup.
Kathy C says
Living in the NW we eat a lot of salmon. It’s not the best thing to have leftover BUT Zatairans (the New Orleans co.) has a salmon cake mix that makes the best salmon cakes I have ever had. They also make a tuna cake mix that I use with leftover grilled tuna. I buy it at Kroger so you should be able to find it even in Texas.
Sherrill says
Oh eww. I don’t like salmon so poor Vince never would’ve gotten salmon patties if it were up to me!! 🙂 My poor hubby loved liver and meatloaf, both of which I consider gross!, and therefore never made them. He had to get those at Luby’s! You ARE a good wife and Vince is a lucky guy.
cheryl in Iowa says
Oh, does this dredge up awful childhood memories! During Lent I new I would miss a few meals. While I now love salmon, smoked or fresh, I still cannot abide the canned stuff…those nasty bones will forever be a memory.
Sue in Scottsdale, AZ says
I grew up with salmon patties (we called them salmon croquettes). We used the canned salmon and removed the big bones – the little ones are soft and smash up nicely. We would add 1 egg, some bread crumbs, and some sour cream. We then fried them until brown in a little oil. When we took them out of the pan, we would “dry” them on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil. We would them serve them with either more sour cream or some ketchup. Yum! (Oh, by the way, I love cooked salmon!)
Linda says
So funny. I really don’t like fresh salmon but I love salmon salad sandwiches. However, when I open a can of salmon, I drain, dump into a bowl and CRUSH those bones. Because of the processing they smush really well and are a good source of calcium. Different strokes for different folks!
Lurking Linda
Joyce says
There are lots of us with salmon bone memories! My mother made salmon patties, but she also made salmon salad. It used crushed up saltine crackers and vinegar. I don’t remember what else went into it any more. Likely there was chopped up celery too. You can tell it wasn’t my favorite! I do make salmon patties occasionally as a change of pace. I do remove the bones, though. I’m with you on that one–Yuck!
Dotti says
My Mother made salmon croquettes with the canned salmon. Crushed those bones finely, added one egg, celery, finely diced onions and a sprinkle of dill. A pinch of lemon pepper, formed into patties and fried in olive oil. Served with coleslaw and oven baked potatoes. We were not Catholic but had them on Friday night during lent. It was an inexpensive meal of fish for a family of seven. Yes she used more than one can! You are so sweet to Vince. But then he took you for the fruit trees!
Libby in TN says
Yep, ditto on canned salmon, especially the bones. My mother served it cold right out of the can! She could stretch a dollar further than anybody by that went just a little too far. I like “real” salmon now but can’t even look at a can.
Terri S. says
I eat a lot of fish recently because seem to have developed an aversion to chicken and pork in the last couple of years. I still eat them, but not often, and only a couple of ounces at a time. Salmon has become a staple around here. I use fresh, frozen and canned salmon for salmon cakes, whatever I have on hand. I used to crush up the bones from the canned salmon, but now you can buy it in the can without the skin and bones. I use cracker crumbs or bread crumbs, some celery, onion, an egg, sometimes a little dill, or a tiny bit of red pepper flakes for a little spiciness and fry them in a little oil. I like to serve them with a dill sauce or a white sauce with peas in it.
I make salmon salad to eat on crackers, and a smoked salmon spread with smoked salmon, cream cheese, garlic powder and chopped green onion. If you don’t have smoked salmon you can use liquid smoke instead for the smoky flavor. It’s great on crackers (a frequent lunch for me) and to make stuffed celery.
We’ve been trying to lose weight this year, so in the last 8 months, we have pretty much given up anything fried, so the salmon cakes are a treat for me. Our favorite salmon recipe is to mix some dijon mustard, honey and dill and spread it on the salmon filets, and bake it in a foil packet with asparagus. Sprinkle some chopped walnuts on top and serve.
Lee says
That reminds me that I HAVE a can of salmon (maybe 2?) in the pantry. I should really use them up as long as they aren’t too far out-dated. I love salmon fixed just about anyway other than lox.
JOYCE says
My younger years were spent in Kansas.
Fresh fish was perch or catfish. Money was tight. Mom kept pink salmon in cans.
Periodically she made salmon patties.
They were delicious fresh and to carry out when I was playing.
I grew up not liking fish and my kids had to leave home before they could learn to in joy it.
My salmon patties are made with pink salmon, are fully drained,unfolded and the little round bones were scrapped out. M said that the bones were really good for you but the family wouldn’T eat them. Then she copped onion not quite minced and mixed it in. We added whipped eggs about three I think stirred it up and then added yellow cornmeal patted them out a little smaller than a hamburger pattie but about that size and 1/4 lb thickness. Fried in a little oil in a iron skillet.
Maybe I should make some soon.
JOYCE says
Aww. I forgot. Mom used saltiness crackers also. After they were patted she used some cornmeal.
Susan says
That made me smile. My mother made salmon croquettes from canned salmon and I don’t remember any bones. West Texas salmon. LOL I don’t eat salmon or any other fish these days, haven’t since Mama died when I was 9. This is one recipe I won’t be trying, but it was a nice trip down memory lane.
Anita says
Growing up in a family of 10 – Mom, Dad, and 8 children, we ate salmon patties very often. Mom would smash those bones and mix them in real well so they weren’t a problem. I like them just fine, but if I say, “we’re having salmon patties for supper,” MY dear husband asks, “Where do ya’ll want to eat tonight?” I have made them for my family but my husband insists I pick out the bones and discard the skin. Too much work as far as I’m concerned and besides, that discarded stuff has the vitamins and minerals salmon is good for! My family won’t eat fried chicken livers either. I have to go to Cracker Barrel for those!
Diana G says
Yep ..bones !!!and that is the way I think of fish … YUCK !! I do not like the smell either and DH’s brother swears he can take the fish taste out by open pit roasting it. I have tasted it and no thanks !!
I do love crab, shrimp, lobster, oysters tho, no calamari (and yes I have tried it !!.
I guess that says it all when it comes to fish .. No thanks!! LOL
diana in RR, TX says
Never my favorite either. We would visit the farm and I would be looking forward to some of Galen’s mother’s canned pork tenderloin. She would make the company meal of salmon cakes.
katie says
I have made Salmon Loaf and patties with canned salmon. So if you want to get the canned fish out of the house I would say give those “bones” to Cat. Mine love them and yours will too.
Sara S says
I was going to say the same as Katie, give the canned salmon to Cat. He will think it a treat. My Mom made salmon patties too. It was a cheap meal, and on a Lieutenants pay she had to stretch those dollars. She must have taken the bones out, because I don’t remember any. I tried to make them once with canned salmon, I did not know about the bones and just whipped them out. I ate one and threw the rest away. 🙁
JudyCinNC says
Seems as if salmon patties have been covered – I did want to pass along that I use the salmon in the pouch to make a wonderful spread to eat on crackers. One pouch of salmon, two tablespoons of mayo, and two tablespoons of dry ranch dressing. Mix all together and add more mayo accordingly. Judy C in NC