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These healthy Salmon Patties are going to become your new favorite comfort food. Made with a handful of simple ingredients, these easy salmon nuggets are tasty, delicious and unbelievably good for you. Learn how to make can salmon patties: air fried, baked or fried!
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Why you will love these healthy salmon patties?
These salmon nuggets are the best healthy comfort food ever. Ever since making this recipe for the first time, here at home it has become part of our weekly menu. We usually prepare them on Sunday to meal prep for our lunches and dinners. Everyone loves salmon patties, and I am sure you will love them too. Still not convinced? Here are some good reasons to make this recipe.
- Healthy and high protein. Made with salmon, these fish nuggets are a healthy food that is packed with high-quality protein and nutrients. Salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, minerals and vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin B-12.
- Quick and easy to make. These easy salmon nuggets come together in a bowl with just four main ingredients. Can salmon, potatoes, egg and breadcrumbs, I bet you already have everything at home.
- Flavorsome and delicious. If easy and healthy wasn’t enough, you will love how tasty these can salmon patties are. Crispy outside and juicy inside, kids and adults won’t be able to resist the deliciousness of this recipe.
- Meal prep friendly and versatile. Last but not least, we should not forget how versatile fish nuggets can be. Make them ahead and you will have salmon cakes for the entire week. They are great for wraps, sandwiches, nourishing bowls or to enjoy on their own.
Ingredients in healthy fish nuggets
Here is all you need to make healthy salmon cakes at home. Be sure to stick around to learn everything about ingredients, tips and replacement options.
- Salmon. Out of convenience, I made these patties with can salmon. I like this option because the fish already comes cooked, skinless and lightly seasoned. You can use fresh fillets, but you will have to cook them ahead.
- Egg. A large fresh egg helps the ingredients combine and bind the mixture while adding more taste. As an alternative you may replace with half mashed potato more, but I generally do not recommend it.
- Potatoes. The addition of potatoes makes this salmon patties recipe healthier because they partly replace breadcrumbs and refined flour. The potato mash helps bind the dough while making these nuggets tender and softer. If desired you can also use sweet potatoes.
- Breadcrumbs. To make these can salmon patties healthy, this recipe replaces common breading with whole-wheat breadcrumbs. Feel free to replace with regular breadcrumbs or panko crumbs.
- Seasonings. This simple recipe only calls for onion powder and garlic powder. As I used can salmon which is already quite flavorsome, no extra salt was required. But you may think of adding some in case you use fresh salmon fillets or if you want your nuggets to be more savory.
How to make salmon patties healthy
Step 1 – Prepare and gather all ingredients. Peel and boil the potato in salted water until it is tender. Once ready, transfer to a bowl and let cool. Once cooled, mash it very well. In the meanwhile, drain can salmon, or cook the fresh fillets.
Step 2 – Mix all ingredients into a dough. Start by adding to a large mixing bowl salmon, mashed potato, egg, 3 tablespoons of whole-wheat breadcrumbs, onion powder and garlic powder. Using a fork, mix the ingredients to get a well-combined salmon mixture. In case that your dough is too wet, adjust with more breadcrumbs. This depends on the size of the potato you used.
Step 3 – Shape and cook salmon nuggets. With the help of your hands, shape the salmon cakes, then place over a plate, baking dish or in the air fryer basket depending on how you plan to cook them. Read the next section for the cooking methods.
How to cook, bake and air-fry salmon patties?
- In the oven or in the air fryer. Drizzle with olive oil and bake in hot oven (200°C/ 400°F) or air fryer for 12 to 18 minutes until golden, flipping halfway through.
- In a skillet, pan fried. Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a bit of oil to prevent sticking. When hot, add the salmon patties and pan fry for about 8 to 10 minutes, until they are cooked through.
Storage information and meal prepping
Homemade salmon nuggets taste delicious straight from the oven (or pan or air fryer) or in the next days. This makes the dish great for meal prepping! Before storing, be sure you let the patties cool completely at room temperature.
- In the fridge. Once they have cooled, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for a maximum of 3 days.
- In the freezer. For a longer storage, let cool and freeze in a freezer-safe container or zipping bags for up to 2 months. Before consuming, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or reheat directly in the oven (or air fryer) until warm and crispy.
Tips for the best salmon patties
- Use high quality salmon. For more taste and nutrients, I highly suggest choosing fish with high quality. And if you have more time, use fresh salmon fillets, cooked at home right before preparing the patties.
- Include additional seasonings. Experiment with fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or cilantro, and use spices such as garlic powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper for a kick. You should also consider adding some salt in case you are using fresh fillets instead of can salmon.
- Bread the nuggets before cooking. This step is optional, but you may consider coating your salmon cakes in more breadcrumbs right before cooking. The breading will make your nuggets even crispier and tastier.
- Prefer healthy cooking methods. Instead of deep-frying, bake or air fry salmon patties. This way you’ll be able to whip up a batch of delicious nuggets with minimal oil and cooking fats.
- Serve hot. These fish nuggets taste better enjoyed warm, once they come out of the oven or air fryer and they are still crunchy on the outside. Be sure to reheat them before eating, in case you meal prep can salmon cakes.
Serving ideas
Here are some ideas on how to serve these easy patties with salmon
- Pair your nuggets with a salad or your favorite vegetables. Grilled eggplant, red peppers and zucchini are my favorite!
- Use these nuggets as a filling for your wraps, maybe with a yogurt sauce and avocado as well!
- Dip in a selection of sauces, such as mayo, ketchup, BBQ sauce or guacamole.
- Side with some potatoes or French fries (try my low calorie French fries).
- Add salmon fish nuggets to your nourishing bowls, maybe with some brown rice or quinoa.
- Enjoy on their own, as a snack or appetizer just like classic chicken nuggets!
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
If you have special dietary needs, make this recipe with gluten-free breadcrumbs. As this is a very simple salmon cake recipe, there is no need for additional substitutions.
For convenience we normally use canned fish, but salmon fillets tend to have more flavor and give the nuggets a juicier texture. The only thing to keep in mind is that you may need to adjust with more salt if preparing fish patties with fresh salmon fillets.
This depends on your personal preferences. I used can salmon which is already quite salty, and therefore I did not feel the need for extra salt. But if you use fresh fillets or if you prefer your nuggets to be more flavorsome, I recommend adjusting with more salt to taste.
Yes, you can replace the salmon with canned tuna and make tuna nuggets at home. The recipe will stay the same, there is no need for further changes.
Of course you can! To make air fryer salmon patties, cook them for about 8 to 12 minutes at 400°F (200°F) flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.
This recipe gives you about 6 to 8 fish patties, depending on how large you make them. You can decide to make larger nuggets or have smaller bites, if preferred.
More healthy comfort food recipes
- Air fryer zucchini fries
- Low calorie French fries
- Healthy zucchini fritters
- Simple potato fritters
- Air fryer salmon bites
- Easy protein pizza
Salmon Patties
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 250 grams (9 oz.) can salmon, drained weight, or cooked fresh salmon (skinless)
- 1 large potato
- 3 to 5 tbsp whole-wheat breadcrumbs, or breadcrumbs of choice
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- cooking spray, or olive oil
Optional Ingredients
- whole-wheat breadcrumbs, for breading salmon patties
- 1 tbsp olive oil, for cooking
- salt, if using unsalted can salmon or fresh salmon fillet
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F) or air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Skip this step if you are pan-frying salmon patties.
- Peel and boil the potato in salted water until tender. Once ready, transfer to a bowl and let cool. Once cooled, quickly mash the potato with a fork.
- Drain can salmon, or cook fresh salmon fillet to your own preferences.
- In a large mixing bowl, add salmon, mashed potato, egg, 3 tbsp whole-wheat breadcrumbs, onion powder and garlic powder. Using a fork, mix the ingredients to get a well-combined salmon mixture. In case the dough is too wet, adjust with more breadcrumbs (this depends on potato size).
- Shape the salmon patties, then place over a parchment paper covered baking dish or in the basket of your air fryer. If desired, you can also coat the nuggets in more breadcrumbs for more taste.
How to Bake or Air Fry Salmon Patties
- Drizzle with olive oil or spray with cooking spray and bake in hot oven or air fryer for 12 to 18 minutes until golden, flipping halfway through.
How to Pan-Fry Salmon Patties
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a bit of oil to prevent sticking. When hot, add the salmon patties and pan fry for about 8 to 10 minutes, until they are cooked through.
Good recipe, I liked it ! ??
Hey my dear Liza,
thank you very very much for your nice comment. I am so glad you liked this recipe!
Have a great day,
Matteo