Salmon Croquettes (Mashed Potato)

Crispy and golden brown, these salmon potato cakes are the perfect snack to serve at your next holiday party. Fluffy cooked russet potatoes are combined with canned or smoked salmon and formed into appetizer-sized croquettes. A coating of panko breadcrumbs gives them an ultra-crisp exterior. Serve them warm with one or both of our dipping sauces, Zesty Tomato and Curried Sour Cream.

2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" cubes (~ 1¼ lbs)
sea salt
black pepper, freshly ground
2 large eggs
2 large yolks
¼ cup scallion greens, whites reserved for another use, chopped
1 tsp. lemon zest, freshly grated
1 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 (7½ oz) can red salmon, drained and flaked, any skin and bones removed and discarded
1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
vegetable oil, such as safflower, for frying
flaky sea salt

To Serve:
Zesty Tomato Dipping Sauce
Curried-Sour-Cream Dipping Sauces

In a saucepan, combine potatoes and enough cold water to fully submerge them. Bring to a boil. Season with 2 tsp. sea salt and boil until potatoes are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 10-12 minutes. Drain; let potatoes cool 5 minutes, then press through a ricer or colander and stir until smooth (or mash until smooth). Transfer to a large bowl; let cool completely.

Stir egg yolks, scallions, lemon zest and juice, flour, 2 tsp. sea salt and ¼ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground into mashed potatoes. Fold in salmon. Form mixture into golf-ball-size rounds, then flatten into ½" thick disks. Transfer to a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours or, loosely covered, up to 1 day.

Whisk whole eggs in a shallow bowl and season with sea salt and pepper. Place panko in another shallow bowl and season. Pour a scant ½” oil into a medium heavy-bottomed skillet, such as cast iron. Heat over medium until oil shimmers and bubbles form instantly around a breadcrumb dropped in (350°F on a deep-fry thermometer). Working in batches, dip croquettes in egg, allowing excess to drip back into bowl, then coat in panko, pressing to adhere.

Fry, flipping once and adjusting heat as needed to maintain a level temperature, until crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, then sprinkle with flaky salt; keep warm in a preheated 200°F oven while frying the rest. Serve warm, with dipping sauces.