Salmon Patties Recipe (with Tartar Sauce)
This Salmon Patties Recipe (served with Tartar Sauce) is an inexpensive and delicious meal that’s a fun childhood memory for me. And through the years I’ve adapted my mom’s recipe for Salmon Patties into a version that’s low-carb and gluten-free.
PIN the Salmon Patties Recipe to try them later!
This Salmon Patties Recipe is a childhood memory for me. I don’t remember my mom ever cooking fresh fish for our family, except for the very occasional time when my dad would go fishing and bring home Utah Rainbow Trout, which mom would pan-fry whole and we’d eat them with lots of lemon juice. However, I do have fond memories of my mom making Salmon Patties, which were made made from canned salmon, and fried until they were crispy on the outside.
Some other kids in the family would turn up their nose at mom’s Salmon Patties for dinner, but I always loved them, and when I think about my mom making dinner for our huge family of ten kids, this is one of her recipes that I remember most.
And years ago I posted the recipe for my mom’s version of salmon patties, but then I started adapting her recipe a little bit nearly every time I made them! And eventually, after much experimenting to reduce the carbs, I ended up with Salmon Patties with Tartar Sauce that are low-carb and gluten-free. If you’re a fan of salmon, I hope you try this recipe soon!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)
- canned salmon
- Almond Flour (affiliate link)
- Hemp Seeds (affiliate link) (see notes)
- green onion
- Capers (affiliate link)
- Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link) (or other fish rub of your choice)
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper
- eggs
- Olive Oil (affiliate link)
What makes this Salmon Patties Recipe low-carb and gluten-free?
In this updated version of salmon patties I switched bread crumbs for a combination of Almond Flour (affiliate link) and Hemp Seeds (affiliate link), which added lots of nutty flavor.
What if you don’t have Almond Flour or Hemp Hearts?
I know some people won’t want to buy Almond Flour and/or Hemp Hearts, although you might be able to find both of them at Costco. Another option for the binding ingredient is Flaxseed Meal (affiliate link), which is also low in carbs. You could use oat bran (affiliate link) or Gluten-Free Rolled Oats (affiliate link) that’s been ground in a food processor, but those will add more carbs. And if you can possibly acquire the combination of Almond Flour and Hemp Hearts that I used, I think you’ll love the nutty flavor they add, and if you’re not familiar with Hemp Seeds (also called hemp hearts), they are also very nutritious!
What else did I do to add flavor to the updated salmon patties recipe?
In the new salmon patties recipe I also increased the amount of finely chopped green onions and added some finely chopped capers, probably an ingredient my mom never heard of. And my upgraded Salmon Patties have a little of my favorite Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link) for even more good flavor.
How low in carbs are the Salmon Patties?
This updated version of my mom’s recipe has only 1 net carb per serving and 17 grams of protein!
How to Make this Salmon Patties Recipe (with Tartar Sauce):
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Drain the canned salmon into a colander placed in the sink, break apart with a fork and let it drain well.
- While salmon drains measure the Hemp Seeds and Almond Flour and finely chop the green onion and capers.
- Put drained salmon, almond meal, hemp seeds, chopped green onion, chopped capers, Fish Rub, salt, and pepper into a bowl and add 2 eggs. (Bad photo, but there is another egg under there!)
- Mix together with a fork until all ingredients are moistened.
- Shape the salmon mixture into 6 patties and put them on a small baking sheet. Use parchment paper sheets (affiliate link) if you have some, which will prevent sticking.
- Chill the salmon patties in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
- Then heat olive oil over medium-high heat in the biggest non-stick frying pan you have.
- Cook the salmon patties about 3-4 minutes per side, or until they’re golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve hot, with my Homemade Tartar Sauce of course!
Make it a Low-Carb Meal:
If you wanted to serve Salmon Patties for a low-carb meal, they would taste great with any of these low-carb side dishes:
- Spring Mix Salad
- Chopped Antipasto Salad Recipe
- Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds
- Tomato Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, and Cilantro
- Cucumber Radish Salad with Feta Dressing
What other sauces would be good with the Salmon Patties?
These Salmon Patties are great with my Homemade Tartar Sauce, but you could also eat them with Cucumber Dill Sauce, or Tzatziki sauce. And some people might enjoy them with Sriracha Dipping Sauce as well!
Salmon Patties Recipe (with Tartar Sauce)
Salmon Patties with Double-Dill Homemade Tartar Sauce are a recipe that has fun childhood memories for me.
Ingredients
- 2 6 oz. cans salmon, well drained (see notes)
- 3 T Almond Flour (see notes)
- 3 T Hemp Seeds (see notes)
- 3 T chopped green onion
- 1 T capers, drained well and finely chopped
- 1 tsp. Szeged Fish Rub (see notes)
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
- 2 eggs
- 2 T olive oil (or slightly more, depending on your pan)
Instructions
- Drain the salmon in a colander placed in the sink, breaking apart with a fork.
- While the salmon drains, measure the almond flour or Almond Meal and hemp seeds. Chop the green onions, and drain and finely chop the capers.
- Put drained salmon into a mixing bowl with almond meal, hemp hearts, chopped green onion, chopped capers, fish rub, salt, and pepper.
- Add 2 eggs; then use a fork to gently combine the mixture until all the salmon is moistened with eggs.
- Use your clean hands to form 6 patties and put them on a small baking sheet (with parchment paper if you have some.) Put salmon patties in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill. (Probably optional, but this definitely helps them hold together better.)
- After 15 minutes chilling, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large non-stick frying pan. Cook salmon patties about 3-4 minutes per side, or until they're golden brown and cooked though. Lift up an edge to see when it's time to turn them, and turn carefully!
- Cooking time will vary depending on your pan and how hot medium-high is on your stove, so watch for that golden brown color.
- Serve hot, with Double-Dill Tartar Sauce. These would also be delicious with Cucumber Dill Sauce, or Tzatziki sauce.
Notes
You can also use or one large 14 3/4 oz. can of salmon if that's what you have.
I used Almond Flour (affiliate link)ย butย Almond Meal will also work for this recipe.
Hemp Seeds (affiliate link)ย were a delicious flavor boost, but you could useย Flaxseed Meal (affiliate link) if that's what you have.
I love the flavors in Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link) but any fish rub will work.
For the tartar sauce, I love using my favorite dill pickles.
Nutritional information does not include Tartar Sauce or other sauces.
This recipe was first posted asย my mom's Salmon Patties, and adapted many times through the years to this keeper version.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 232Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 3gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 98mgSodium 190mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 17g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This Salmon Patties Recipe served with my Homemade Tartar Sauce will be suitable for any low-carb or Keto diet, or for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Denny Family Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalynโs Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes Iโm sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
The recipe for Salmon Patties was first posted in 2007! I worked on the recipe for years, and it was updated with better photos in 2018 and was last updated with more information in 2025.
69 Comments on “Salmon Patties Recipe (with Tartar Sauce)”
I make a very similar recipe. We eat them as sandwiches on a bagel. And of course a fat slice of onion!!
Always good!
Can these be made ahead and served at room temperature as a heavy hors d’oeuvre?
Thanks!
I’ve never tried serving them at room temperature, and I’m guessing they are best served hot.
I love these recipes but my understanding is that olive oil should be used at room temperature because if used in sautรฉing etc it turns to dangerous trans fat. Instead we should use avocado oil etc with higher smoke temperatures.
I had never heard that before so I googled it and this is what I found, from many sources, “It is also a myth that heating olive oil leads to the formation of trans fats. In one study, frying olive oil eight times in a row only increased the trans fat content from 0.045% to 0.082% โ still a negligible amount (15). Olive oil is very stable overall, even under extreme conditions like deep frying.”
That said, of course you can use the oil you prefer.
These were delicious!! I was looking for something quick & needed to go to the grocery store. This fit the bill. I had the one bigger can & used 2 tbl of almond flour & 1 flax meal plus the 3 of hemp hearts.
Hi Debbie. So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
2 T ??? Deux tasses
In my recipes T = tablespoon and tsp. = teaspoon.
What happened to the Asian Flavored Wild Salmon Patties with Sesame Lime Mayonnaise recipe? This was my go-to recipe for salmon patties, I’m sad that it has been replaced with this recipe ๐ Any chance you can please post it again?
Hi Gabby,
Sadly we now live in an age when search engines will penalize a site for having two recipes with similar keywords or things that they call “unimproved content,” so I am having to remove some of my oldest recipes. But I will e-mail you the printer-friendly version of the recipe. Glad you have enjoyed it!
Hi! ย I wonder how these would be in an Air Fryer with a light mist of olive oil on them?ย
I haven’t tried this exact recipe but I tried something similar and wasn’t excited about the result. I like the crispy fried edge from pan-trying. But I’d love to hear how it works if you try it.
I love making salmon or mackerel patties for supper. It’s a quick, easy and tasty meal.
I do add a few things, though.
I usually fine dice a small red bell pepper for both taste and looks. The bits of bright red in the patties adds to the visual appeal and the pepper brings a little sweetness to the meal.
My second addition is a little more exotic. I’ve been married to a Filipina the past 44 years and have gotten used to many of the ways of southeast Asian cooking and ingredients.
One of the best is “fish sauce” — a thin, salty liquid that is potent and versatile. Before I put the eggs in the mixture I beat them with a teaspoon of fish sauce. It adds a depth of great flavor and taste that must be experienced to believe. If you use it, don’t add any extra salt.
The dish looks terrific. Allow it to be easier with bean hollandaise. No faults. Tastes just as excellent. Can maintain refrigerator for 23 days and you also may serve it chilly. Just what a excellent universe.
Personally I love the tartar sauce I serve it with, but your choice of course.
Thank you, Kalyn! I’ve experimented to find the best fillers for keto fish patties, and this is the most successful recipe I’ve tried. I’ll likely make them like this from now on.
Just a heads-up for any other keto followers, I bought Szeged fish rub specifically for the recipe, but I won’t be using it because the ingredients seem to have changed recently, and it now contains sugar and soybean oil. The ingredients on my canister (purchased from Amazon in June 2018) are “Salt, sugar, dehydrated onion, orange juice powder, lemon peel, orange peel, lemon juice powder, spices (including paprika and celery seed), tarragon, cilantro, liquid smoke, soybean oil, less than 2% of calcium stearate and silicon dioxide added to prevent caking.” Nonetheless, the patties were great with different seasoning!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for the tip about the fish rub. WHY would they do that? Fish Rub doesn’t need sugar. It sounds like a completely different recipe than the one I have loved.
should I used 6 tablespoons breadcrumbs instead of the flaxseed and hemp
is it a 1 to 1 switch
thanks
If you don’t want to use any of the other options mentioned, 6 tablespoons breadcrumbs will work.
Thanks โบ
looks like a good option to add in for dinner
and I like the capers
OH MY! These are SO much better than the recipe from the SB book that I've been using for years! The almond meal was a wonderful addition that really made these true salmon patties! They actually did remind me of my mom's salmon patties (except hers always had those little "bones"). I'm adding these to my rotating menu! Thanks for another great recipe!
Thanks Debbie! You might like these Asian-flavored Wild Salmon Patties that start with fresh salmon. You could adapt that one to use the seasonings in this recipe if you prefer it. I also have a new recipe coming this week with Salmon Burgers made with raw salmon (really good!) if you can wait for that one. But I would make the patties with raw salmon if you have it.
Kalyn~ How can I substitute fresh Salmon for the canned? Should the fish be cooked or raw? Love the Blog!! Keep up the good work ๐
How nice that we both have memories of our mom making something like this!
Okay, I can't wait to try this recipe! My Mom (RIP) made salmon patties all the time (served w/rice). This was one of my favorite dishes of her and she had many. The almond meal as an alternative sounds delightful. I'm a nut lover so this is right up my alley! Will be sure to come back & comment how it turns out. Btw, I LOVE the Costco canned salmon, it's so tasty–and best of all, no bones! As a kid, I loved crunching on the bones, but as an adult, I find removing them t-e-d-i-o-u-s! I believe the brand is called Kirkwood. Thanks again for another great recipe. I'm sure it's going to be fantastic! =D
Sheila, glad you enjoyed them!
I'm not a huge fan of salmon, but somehow I ended up with a can of it in my pantry (I live alone so I'm not quite sure how that happened…) and I didn't want to let it go to waste. I reluctantly decided to try this recipe and now I have to admit, I'm going to have to buy another can so I can make them again!
I live in a tiny town so almond meal isn't easy to come by, but I had slivered almonds in my freezer that I used a rolling pin to grind up and it worked perfectly. I didn't have a fish rub either (since as mentioned I'm not usually much on fish) so I substituted by adding some paprika, garlic powder, thyme, and oregano in addition to the salt and pepper.
The leftovers even made a great sandwich for lunch the next day with spinach on whole wheat bread rounds.
Thanks for making a believer out of this salmon sceptic!
Corinna, glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Thanks for another great and healthy recipe, Kalyn!
I used this method with the ingredients I had subbing canned tuna, shallots and flax meal as appropriate. The tuna cakes made a very nice brunch served on a bed of romaine with vinaigrette and some tartar sauce on the side. I look forward to making it again as written, as well as exploring variations!
Glad you like the recipe.
I love these! My mom also made salmon patties growing up as well as my husbands mom. I am from the south and always go back to my roots serving them with white gravy and biscuits as well as small early peas and slaw. In summer I also slice up some of my home grown tomotoes. What a meal. Simply comfort food. Thanks for your rendition.
Susan so glad to hear you all liked it!
Kalyn–anothe winning recipe here! I made these for lunch, and even my VERY FUSSY 3-year-old, who hates all things fish except tuna inhaled them!
This recipe is a definite keeper for us ๐
Thanks for sharing this, and all of your other wonderful recipes on this blog. I am officially hooked on healthy, delicious eating now–thanks to you, they are no longer mutually exclusive of each other!
Tracy, thank you! I like the idea for sweet potato fries too!
My friend gave a recipe for these a few weeks ago along with a sweet potato fry recipe(toss them in italian dressing, sprinkle with parmesan, bake at 350, 1hr) (just thought I would write that down for anyone interested LOL)I had never tried them and after eating them I was addicted!!!
I was using ww bread crumbs, but I subbed in almond meal today and they were AMAZING. Almonds + salmon = Super MMMmmm. Thanks for another great idea! Your blog is my favorite foodie blog on the net =)
Nate, that sounds good!
The almond meal is a very interesting addition. I also like the use of capers – they should go well with salmon!
We have a salmon cake recipe that starts with wild salmon meat and uses kaffir lime leaves for flavor.
Mahek, sorry to hear that. You could use 7 oz. cooked fresh salmon for it and grind your own almond meal, if that would help.
hi
I love the look of the salmon patties and wish i could make it, I feel they will be yummy, but we do not get most of the Ingredients in India especially the salmon so problem!!!
anyway thanks for sharing the recipe
Jamie, glad you liked the salmon patties! I like hearing about your variations. Almond meal is definitely kind of pricey, but lots of recipes only use a small amount of it. I have heard of people making their own by grinding almonds, but I haven't tried it.
Made these last night…AMAZING! I wanted to eat the whole batch, but settled on just 2 ๐
I used your famous Spike seasoning instead of fish rub because my grocery store just started carrying it and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about; perfect all purpose seasoning! I also skipped the capers/green onion and opted for some minced yellow onion and celery sauteed in olive oil for a few minutes instead!
I just bought a bag of almond meal last week to make the chicken nuggets you recently posted and wow, is it expensive! So I was really excited to see another recipe that I could use it in…keep those coming ๐ Even though I'll probably use up the rest of the bag making these delish little cakes!!
These look so good! Simple and light. My kind of "burger". ๐
I always enjoy reading intelligent articles by an author who is definitely knowledgeable on their chosen subject. I'll be following this thread with much interest. Keep up the great work, till next time
My grandma used to make salmon croquettes and as a child I hated them. I'd put them in my napkin when she wasn't looking and then walk up the street to Burger King or Arby's. I know…what a waste!!
We often use canned salmon as a quick and simple dinner – it's so versatile. I would have never thought of using almond meal but will give it a try. ๐
I think hummus or lemon-mayo dip sounds good with the salmon patties, great ideas.
I grew up in the South and salmon patties were a constant in our family's weekly menu. Aside from diced onions, we also use garlic and red pepper flakes sometimes to give it an edge. To keep them gluten-free, we use cooked brown rice or wild rice blends and sometimes with an extra egg white. I serve them either with hummus or lemon-mayo dip. To this day, when I have salmon patties I'm always reminded of my childhood.
Yours looks so appetizing! I'm thrilled to try this version with almond meal.
Velva, I do like that idea of cooking the salmon patties, then freezing for a quick dinner later.
This is a wonderful meal to serve up for a weeknight or a weekend lunch. I bet they would be great too, made in batches and frozen for later.
Great recipe! Thanks for sharing.
The capers were really good in these salmon cakes; glad people are liking that idea.
Sophie, glad you enjoyed them!
"Fish Rub" is a mixture of ground spices meant to be rubbed on fish. The brand I use lists this for ingredients: "paprika, pepper, salt, lemon juice and spices." Any ground spice mixture that you like the taste of would work, it's just to add a little more flavor to the mixture.
I use chick peas as well as coconut flour ( I am a huge fan of coconut flour )in my salmon patties. I love the idea of the capers. I am a caper fiend and am happy to add them to just about anything.
Thank You ~ Annette
These look delicious. What is in a 'fish rub' as I am in the UK and don't think we have that here? I might make these and serve them inside some whole wheat pitas. I have been enjoying your blog for quite a while now. Thanks.
Hello Kalyn!!
I made these lovely salmon patties last evening for dinner & my friends, husband & I loved them!!
Thanks again! I also made the tartaar sauce!
I've become a salmon snob. Had the great pleasure of house-sitting a few summers ago for a charter fishing guy, and he had a freezer full of salmon fillets and a cupboard full of home-canned salmon. And it ruined canned salmon for me–I've tried making my favorite salmon patties with canned salmon and they tasted like nothing. ๐
We ate a lot of fish growing up, mostly fresh fish that my dad and his brothers caught and sometimes all of us on a family outing. My mom would freeze some of the fish to pull out during the winter months. But after that was gone, fish cakes often made their way on to the menu. I've always loved them, but Mr. GFE not so much. I'm going to make your recipe just for me, Kalyn. These salmon cakes will make great lunches! ๐
Shirley
We always had tuna patties. Especially during Lent.
My grandmother, who never ate meat, used to make salmon croquettes with canned salmon. I adored them, but when I make them now, I usually use leftover cooked fresh salmon. I never think to add capers, because my grandmother didn't, but I love the idea.
I am smiling to hear that so many people had mothers who made salmon patties! Great frugal dinner option I guess.
Brit I used canned salmon from Costco which didn't have bones.
Is there a different kind of canned salmon that doesn't include the bones? My mother in law showed me how to make these, but there were some nasty bone-like things we had to pull out first … maybe she's slow on the canned salmon though.
My mom always made salmon patties as well. I still love them to this day:D
I always add mashed up chickpeas to the mix when I make tuna or salmon patties, and sometimes a bit of cheese, too.
~ PJ
I love these. Definitely brings back memories as my mother use to make these also. Probably not as good as yours look tho!
looks gorgerous:)
Mmmmm….my favourite. Salmon is such a delicious fish and healthy too. I would love to dip in chili sauce. Next time I want to try with almond meal.
I grew up on these as well! I love this version with Almond Meal. I will have to try it out soon.
BTW, let me know if you try it with the almond meal.
M, I do think it would work with almond meal. I think the almond would taste great with the salmon. My mother made those same type of salmon patties that you’re describing! I’m not sure if it would matter which type of almonds you used, I think either would be fine.
This recipe looks super yummy and relatively easy/quick – I miss my mother’s salmon patties made of canned red salmon, with the bones crushed like you do for calcium. I am gluten-free so I cannot eat any wheat. Do you think this would work with almond meal (which would keep it SB- *and* Passover-friendly); if so, do you suggest regular or blanched? Thanks, Kalyn!