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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

    Smoked Salmon Cakes

    Published: Jan 11, 2022 · Modified: Sep 11, 2024 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    Easy to make salmon cakes for an easy main dish or appetizer recipe infused with a smoky flavor that makes these cakes taste amazing! A simple recipe made in the smoker so you don't need to turn on the oven or stove!! Only 15 minutes of hands on time required to make these smoked salmon cakes for dinner!

    Smoked salmon cakes are served up on white plate with a lemon wedge.

    I love making traditional recipes in the smoker!! Not only does it add flavor but it's the perfect meal solution to those days I simply don't feel like cooking in the kitchen. These smoked salmon cakes make a scrumptious main meal or appetizer for parties!

    Smoked Salmon Patties

    This was inspired by my other salmon cake recipe on this site, and pairs well with this easy Greek pasta salad or any easy salad or side dish.

    If you love cooking salmon for meals, you might also be interested in making simple salmon fillets cooked in the oven or with a delicious almond crust.

    Ingredients

    Make a batch of these easy salmon cakes with just a few basic ingredients which you can easily find at just about any grocery store.

    • Cooked salmon fillet: either fresh, skinless salmon or canned
    • Panko breadcrumbs
    • Green onion
    • Onion
    • Mayonnaise
    • Dijon mustard
    • Lemon juice
    • Dried parsley
    • Salt and pepper

    See recipe card further down on the page for exact quantities of each ingredient.

    Instructions

    Follow these easy instructions to make salmon cakes perfectly each time. They take only 15 minutes to assemble from start to finish.

    Step 1: Prep the Salmon

    Follow the instructions for prepping the salmon depending on whether you are using fresh or canned salmon.

    If using fresh, be sure remove any skin and dice into ¼ inch chunks. The smaller the better. If using canned, open the cans, drain and dump into a mixing bowl. Then flake the salmon with a fork and remove any skin and bones.

    Step 2: Prepare the Mixture for the Cakes

    In a medium bowl combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, green onion, onion, mustard, parsley, salt, pepper, crumbs and salmon. Gently combine and set aside.

    Step 3: Shape the Cakes

    Place 1 cup of the breadcrumbs on to a shallow bowl or plate. Set aside.

    Shape the salmon mixture into 6 patties, discs or hockey pucks, approximately 1 inch thick and 3 to 4 inches wide.

    Carefully coat each cake in crumbs, on top, bottom and sides, and place on parchment paper.

    Step 4: Cook the Salmon Cakes

    Place the salmon cakes in a baking pan lightly sprayed with oil. Place in the smoker at 250° F for about 90 minutes, checking every 30 minutes for doneness.

    Hint: Turn the salmon patties over after they cook for 30 minutes by using a spatula.

    Stack of three smoked salmon cakes on a plate with lemon wedge and tartar sauce on top patty.

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this smoked salmon patties recipe.

    • Salmon: You can also make smoked patties with crab or other varieties of canned seafood with great results!
    • Panko breadcrumbs: Swap out the panko breadcrumbs with regular breadcrumbs or for an even crunchier crust, crushed cracker crumbs.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this smoked salmon cakes recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

    • Spicy - Add chili pepper flakes or some tabasco to the salmon mixture.
    • Chicken - For fishless smoked cakes, substitute with chopped or canned chicken

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this smoked crab dip recipe.

    Storage

    Smoked salmon patties can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up ton 1 month when prepared with fresh cooked or canned salmon.

    Smoked salmon patty on a plate with a fork and lemon wedge.

    What To Serve With Smoked Salmon Cakes

    One of our favorite meals in our home is smoked salmon cakes. My son Patrick especially. I've seen him eat 10 of them at one sitting!! I kid you not, they're just that good! When I want to switch up our salmon dinner, I consult our ever inspiring list of super delicious side dishes. Take a look and see what appeals to your tastebuds. You won't regret it!

    To make this meal even better, you need to find the perfect side. To do this, check out What to Serve With Ratatouille.

    Tips

    Here are a few of my top tips to help make sure your attempt at this recipe turns out great!

    • Serve up smoked salmon patties with fresh lemon wedges to squeeze over the top.
    • Don't forget to flip the cakes over using a spatula so that both sides can crisp up.
    • Aim for evenly sized shaped salmon cakes in both width and height. That way the patties will evenly cook in the same amount of time.

    More Salmon Recipes

    Do you like preparing salmon for meals? Here some recipes you may also like to try

    • Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
    • Jerk Salmon
    • Pesto Salmon

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about making smoked salmon cakes? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about these smoked salmon patties.

    Why are my smoked salmon cakes falling apart?

    If the patties will not hold their shape it's likely caused by two different situations. If they are too dry, add one tablespoon of mayo until they start to stick together. If they are too moist, add more breadcrumbs, one tablespoon at a time until they hold their shape.

    How do I reheat?

    The best way to reheat salmon cakes is in the oven. Lay out the amount you want to reheat on a lightly sprayed baking sheet and reheat at 350° F until they are heated through. Flip them over halfway through so both sides crisp back up.

    How do I make these salmon cakes into an finger food for parties?

    You can easily change up the size of smoked salmon cakes for a variety of different uses. Follow the same directions for mixing up the patty mixture, then turn them into sliders using 2 tablespoons of mixture or appetizer size using 1 tablespoon of mixture. After shaping the patties, bread them using the same method in the recipe card. Proceed with cooking them, but keep an eye on them as they will likely take less time to fully cook than the full size salmon cakes.

    Smoked Salmon Cakes

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Smoked salmon cakes served with sauce on top.

    Smoked Salmon Cakes

    Karin and Ken
    An easy to make salmon cake recipe that's cooked in the smoker for a delicately delicious smoked fish flavor. Serve up these smoky salmon patties with lemon wedges and your favorite tartar sauce.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 195 kcal

    Equipment

    • smoker
    • mixing bowl
    • Foil pan
    • Parchment paper
    • spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ pounds salmon fillet skinless or 3 cans salmon drained and cleaned if desired
    • 1 cup green onion diced
    • 3 tablespoons onion minced
    • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons parsley dried
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons crumbs, panko or bread
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    Fresh Salmon

    • Remove any skin from the salmon and dice into ¼ inch chunks. The smaller the better.
    • In a medium bowl combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, green onion, onion, mustard, parsley, salt, pepper, crumbs and salmon.
    • Gently combine and set aside.

    Canned Salmon

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Ingredients to make smoked salmon cakes on the table.
    • Open your 3 cans, drain them and dump into a good sized mixing bowl. Flake your salmon with a fork. Remove any skin and bones if you want. Some people do and some people don't.
    • Add ¼ cup of mayo, 5 tablespoons of crumbs, green onions, onions, mustard, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.
      Mixing the salmon with other ingredients in a bowl.
    • Gently combine and set aside.
      Salmon mixture is thoroughly mixed together.

    Making the Salmon Cake

    • Place 1 cup of the crumbs on to a shallow bowl or plate. Set aside.
    • Make 6 patties, discs or hockey pucks, approximately 1 inch thick and 3 to 4 inches wide. Carefully coat each cake in crumbs, on top, bottom and sides, and place on parchment paper.
      Hand holding a shaped patty over the bowl of smoked salmon cake mixture.
    • If patties will not hold their shape you have two options. If they are dry and won't hold together add one tablespoon of mayo until they will. If the burgers are too moist add crumbs, one tablespoon at a time until the hold their shape.
      Smoked salmon patty in the breadcrumbs and those already made in the pan.
    • Place salmon cakes, one a time, into your pan.
      All the smoked salmon cakes are breaded and in the foil pan.
    • Smoke at 250 degrees for about 90 minutes.
      Salmon cakes in the pan inside the smoker.
    • Checking every 30 minutes for doneness and flip at 30 minute mark.
      After cooking, the smoked salmon cakes are flipped to cook on the other side.
    • Remove from smoker and serve.
      Cooked smoked salmon patties in the foil pan.
    • Serve immediately with mayo, tartar sauce, lemon or anything else you desire.
      Smoked salmon cake on a plate with bite missing and tartar sauce dripping down the side.
    • Enjoy every bite.
      An overhead view of smoked salmon cakes served up on a plate.

    Notes

    Smoked salmon cakes are great on their own but even better when served with the perfect side dish. Ken and I created a list of sides that will make you drool and call out to your grumbling belly. So take a look and find what speaks to you.
    Take this dish to the next level with a side. Find one at What to Serve With Ratatouille. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 20gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 412mgPotassium: 540mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 321IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword smoked salmon cakes, smoked salmon patties, smoked salmon recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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