Salmon Patties (Pan-Fried with Saltines)

Salmon patties are quick and easy. Prepare this versatile recipe the night before for a simple lunch, or turn it into a vibrant appetizer platter and serve with a creamy dipping sauce. Salmon patties are fancy enough to serve at a restaurant yet simple enough to whip up as a light meal or snack at home. This easy salmon recipe uses basic pantry ingredients and can be prepared start-to-finish in under 30 minutes. The salmon patties contain crushed crackers for crunch and Worcestershire sauce for umami flavour. Pan-fried in butter, the patties crisp up on the outside while staying sweet and moist on the inside.

⅓ cup onion, finely chopped
1 large egg, beaten
5 saltines, crushed
½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp. sea salt
⅛ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1 (14¾ oz) can salmon, drained, bones and skin removed
2 tsp. butter

In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. Crumble salmon over mixture and mix well. Shape into 6 patties.

In a large skillet over medium heat, fry patties in butter for 3-4 minutes on each side or until set and golden brown.

Makes 3 servings.

Cook's Notes:

• How do you keep salmon patties from falling apart? There are a few tricks to ensure salmon patties don’t fall apart. First, finely chop the onion and crush the crackers. Bigger pieces can cause the patties to come apart, especially when flipping. When shaping, press the patties gently but firmly to help the ingredients adhere. Some people like to refrigerate the uncooked patties before cooking to help them hold together, but it isn’t essential. Also, be gentle when you flip the patties in the skillet.
• What other binders can you use to make salmon patties? These salmon patties use egg and crushed saltines as binders. You could substitute about 3 Tbsp. crushed Ritz crackers or dry breadcrumbs for the saltines. Stay away from dense crackers like Wheat Thins, which won’t absorb moisture or bind as well. We use egg as the liquid binder in this recipe for salmon patties, but mayonnaise or heavy whipping cream can also work.
• What do you serve with salmon patties? Serve these salmon patties over a bed of arugula with a lemon wedge and a dipping sauce, such as tartar sauce, lemon-yogurt dip or the dill sauce used in this pan-seared salmon recipe. You can also pair these patties with any of our fave side dishes for salmon. Steamed asparagus and roasted potatoes are classic choices, as are sautéed Brussels sprouts and a rice pilaf. Greens and grains for the win.

Nutritional Information:
2 patties: 307 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 179mg cholesterol, 896mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 36g protein.