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Easy, Step by Step Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes (Salmon Patties)

Potato and salmon fish cakes (otherwise known as salmon patties) are not only a quick and easy dinner idea that everyone will love, they’re also inexpensive and very nutritious! 

fish cakes made with fresh salmon
Potato and salmon patties made with fresh salmon.

Originally published September 7, 2016.

I know so many people who love salmon, but I’m not one of them.

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I don’t know why I just don’t like the flavor of this fish, however, there are two exceptions: smoked salmon and salmon patties. (My very favorite fish is haddock, as I grew up eating my dad’s fish and chips!)

Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese appetizers
Click the photo for the recipe for this smoked salmon and goat cheese appetizer.

I don’t have a recipe for smoked salmon, but I do for these easy fish cakes! (And I’ve just learned today, thanks to reader, Ray,  that I’d probably make an exception for grilled jerk salmon, too!) These scrumptious fish cakes are perfect any time of year, but especially good to have on hand (or in the freezer) during Lent.

Actually, these potato and salmon patties are so simple, the measurements aren’t even critical in this recipe.

Love seafood? You’ll want to devour this seafood pasta dish!

overhead seafood pasta in pan

Just use leftover mashed potatoes with leftover cooked salmon, tinned salmon, cod, haddock; honestly, any cooked fish will work. When you make them, you’ll see that fish cakes are really so easy to make that a child can put them together. I used tinned salmon in one batch and fresh salmon for another. What fish do you prefer in your fish cakes?

fish cakes made with fresh salmon

                   If you like salmon, try this one pan maple glazed salmon meal!

maple salmon with bok choy

  How to Serve Salmon Patties.

You can just serve the potato and salmon patties as they are on a plate with a side or two, but they also work marvelously in bread or a bun to form a fish sandwich.

Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes
Potato and salmon patties made with tinned salmon.

If you’re able to find/order smoked haddock (Finnan haddies), then you can make this recipe, too!

Smoked haddock fish cakes

I wrote a fun post and included the recipe for my brother’s “amazing” crab cakes! 😂

my brother and a crab cake on a plate

I hope you enjoy this easy fish cake recipe.

Don’t miss my dad’s recipe for fish and chips! He ran a fish and chip shop in Scotland!

fish and chips in newspaper

I’ve also included directions on how to freeze potato and salmon patties.

fish cakes made with fresh salmon

Potato & Salmon Fish Cakes (Salmon Patties)
Easy Fish Cakes

recipe by Christina Conte                    makes about 10 patties

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

Patties:

  • mashed potatoes
  • cooked salmon or tinned salmon
  • egg
  • salt
  • pepper
  • Italian parsley

To coat:

  • egg
  • breadcrumbs
  • salt and pepper

To fry:

  • olive oil

Step by Step Directions

Put the mashed potatoes (fresh or leftover will both work), salmon or fish of choice, egg, salt, pepper and parsley together in a bowl.

making salmon patties

Mix all the ingredients together using a fork to break up the fish.

mixture for potato and fish patties

Then form into a fish cake, or patty.

making Potato Fish Cakes

If your fish cakes are really soft, pop the bowl into the fridge for a bit, but I usually don’t find it necessary. Dip the salmon patties into beaten egg, using a brush to coat them evenly. I love these stainless steel trays. Then coat in breadcrumbs.

handheld Fish Cake

Place the fish cakes on a baking sheet and continue until the remaining mixture is finished. Keep refrigerated if you won’t be frying them immediately.

making Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes

Fry gently over medium heat in a pan until golden brown on both sides, adding oil as needed.

fish patties frying

Place the potato and salmon patties on a paper-towel lined baking sheet to absorb the excess oil.

Potato Fish Cakes on a plate
Made with tinned salmon.
fish cakes made with fresh salmon
Made with fresh (leftover) salmon.

Serve as desired, but you really only need a salad or vegetable since there’s already potato in the fish cake.

potato and fish pattie on a fork

How to Freeze Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes.

These potato and salmon patties freeze extremely well. Just wrap them in tin foil with layers of parchment or waxed paper in between each patty. You can then defrost in the fridge and heat them up in the oven or an air fryer works great, too.

Fish patties ready to freeze

Try my cioppino recipe, too!

cioppino overhead

salmon potato fish cakes

Easy, Step by Step Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes

Servings: 5 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
A great idea for a weeknight meal. Full of protein and something the whole family will love!
4.8 from 275 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups mashed potatoes (leftover is fine)
  • 14 oz cooked salmon (or canned salmon)
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ tsp salt (you may need more, especially if your potatoes aren't salted)
  • 2 Tbsp Italian parsley fresh, chopped

To Coat

  • 1 egg beaten with a tablespoon of water
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (you may need more. Add a little salt and pepper to the crumbs.)

To Fry

  • ¼ cup olive oil more or less, as needed

Instructions

  • Put the mashed potatoes, salmon, egg, salt, pepper and parsley together in a bowl.
  • Mix all the ingredients together using a fork to break up the fish, then form into patties (if the mixture is too soft, refrigerate for an hour or so before shaping).
  • Dip patties into beaten egg, then coat in the breadcrumbs.
  • Place on a baking sheet, and continue until the remaining mixture is finished.
  • Fry gently over medium heat until golden brown on both sides, adding oil as needed.
  • Place on paper-towel lined sheet to absorb the excess oil. Serve as desired.

Notes

  • These potato and salmon patties freeze extremely well. Just wrap them in tin foil with layers of parchment or waxed paper in between each patty. You can then defrost in the fridge, and heat them in the oven, or an air fryer is even better.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 | Calories: 890kcal | Carbohydrates: 159g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 3704mg | Potassium: 2037mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 243IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 2mg

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

4.79 from 275 votes (274 ratings without comment)

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131 Comments

  1. A little late to the party here!

    Was looking for a good, basic fish and potato patty or croquette recipe. We’re not much for deep fat frying (as with croquettes), so I think this is just what I was looking for. After cooking most of my 69 years, you start to get a feel for what is a good recipe. This one has all I wanted! Going to make these tonight for our supper, and add a nice shredded cucumber-dillweed sauce on the side for drizzling and dipping these into.

    1. Marilyn, you are NEVER too late to the party when it comes to recipes!! They are timeless :) I think you’ll be very pleased with these fish patties! Let me know what you think (click on the stars, hopefully the 5th one) in the printable recipe card to let me know. Thank you! CC

    1. I haven’t tried, but I can’t see why not. You may want to try without the egg wash, too, as that’s really just for the crumbs to stick. Let me know which way works best, Shev.

  2. Thank you for this recipe. My mom who has passed, made these salmon patties when I was a child and I loved them. I remembered that she used leftover mashed potatoes. Most recipes I looked up, did not. Happy to find your recipe! Thanks again!

    1. Oh that is so lovely to hear, Norma. I hope it brings back cherished memories of your dear mother. Thank you so much for letting me know, it means a lot to me. CC

    2. My mom made salmon cakes (she called them croquettes) with mashed potatoes too! I agree, this is the first recipe I’ve seen using them. She dredged hers in yellow cornmeal instead of breadcrumbs. Such good memories. Thanks!

  3. So very good. I had been making salmon patties with bread crumbs. This is much better. I’m making them again tonight (just discovered this recipe last week). It is a big hit in this house. Thank you Christina.

  4. I will definitely try CHRISTINA’S recipe anytime over the “other” one – who the heck does he think he is?

    I made extra mashed potatoes just to make this recipe tonight.