Salmon Quinoa Cakes

Moist and fall apart salmon cakes made with fresh roasted salmon and protein-packed quinoa. This recipe is an easy way to transform leftover salmon into a next-day meal!

Serve these warm as a main course or enjoy them cold over a salad, such as Roasted Beet Salad with Avocado.

this recipe

Salmon cakes or salmon patties are quite possibly the best way to give leftover salmon a second chance. It’s an absolutely different twist on leftovers that I look forward to eating every single time. These cakes are wonderfully easy to make.

With simple ingredients such as salmon, quinoa, green onions, parsley, Dijon mustard, and paprika.

Slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Serve them cold over a green salad or warm with roasted veggies. 

They are filling and store really well in the fridge. So you can prepare them over the weekend to enjoy throughout the week. 

Simple Ingredients

Traditional salmon cakes are normally made with breadcrumbs but I replaced the breadcrumbs with cooked quinoa. Quinoa is a great source of protein and is naturally gluten-free. It’s delicious and gives a really nice texture to the cakes.

Next, you need cooked salmon. You could use leftover steamed, poached, grilled, or baked salmon. If you don’t have any cooked salmon handy, simply use canned salmon. 

Lastly, green onions, parsley, mayo, Dijon mustard, paprika, and eggs. 

How do I serve Salmon Cakes?

Just about any way you like. Seriously. These are so versatile and taste delicious hot or cold.

For lunch, you can throw a couple of cakes over a veggie salad, such as Creamy Zucchini Corn Salad, Greek Chickpea Salad, or Avocado Caesar Salad with Cucumbers. 

Serve a salmon cake on a crusty piece of bread with your favorite fixins’ for an open-faced sandwich. Or stuff into a pita pocket with lettuce for a speedy lunch.

For dinner, warm them up in a non-stick skillet to serve alongside roasted veggies, Vodka Sauce pasta, or Pasta Primavera , or just about any meal you want to add protein to.

How to Make Salmon and Quinoa Patties

Step 1: Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside to cool slightly. You can cook the quinoa ahead of time and keep refrigerated for up to one week.

Step 2: In a bowl, combine the quinoa, salmon, green onions, parsley, mayo, mustard, eggs, lemon juice, and paprika. Form the mixture into 12-13 patties, about 1/4 cup each. 

Katya’s TIP: Shape the cakes into slightly larger patties and you have some great salmon burgers ready to go. 

Step 3: Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add few tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil to the pan and when hot, add salmon cakes in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with remaining patties.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salmon quinoa cakes before serving.

Tips for Success

• If the salmon mixture is too wet or sticky, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes so the quinoa can absorb some of the moisture. 
• If the mixture is too dry or falls apart when you try to form into patties, add an extra tablespoon of mayo.
• If the salmon and quinoa patties brown too quickly, reduce the heat even further.
• After you form the salmon mixture into patties, pan fry them right away and don’t let them sit for too long. They tend to dry out and easily break during cooking.
• If the salmon quinoa cakes break during cooking it could also mean they are overcooked. Keep an eye on them and check for doneness. You want the outside lightly golden and crispy.

More Leftover Salmon Recipes

• Creamy Asparagus and Salmon Pasta from Foodie Crush
• Greek Salmon Salad Bowls from Gimme Some Oven
• Dill Salmon and Eggs Scramble from Fit Foodie Finds
• Salmon Fried Rice from Simply Recipes

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