Thai Salmon Fish Cakes

Fish cakes might have a reputation for being bland and boring, but these Thai salmon fish cakes are anything but! These salmon fish cakes make a great lunch or dinner, and work well on their own or topped onto your favorite green salad.

Growing up I hated fish, partially because my only reference point was fish sticks, which I’ve come to realize are anything but impressive. In high school, I steered clear of fish as much as possible, and in university, I essentially lived on bowls of pasta or toast with peanut butter. It wasn’t until I started my first job working in Sports Marketing that I was determined to eat healthier and learn to cook along the way. There were ups and downs, to say the least, nights of eating homemade meals, and others visiting the local takeout spot with friends. Part of the biggest challenge in eating well was actually making my food taste good. I had never used herbs or spices, let alone did I have any in my kitchen, so I really had to be creative and find simple ways to make my food palatable. I still remember one night after work, sitting in my apartment with my roommate, asking him to explain how to cook with spices. I remember taking notes of our conversation with things like; “paprika + cumin = Mexican, oregano + basil = Italian“. Looking back it’s actually hilarious to think that how I started to learn.

I’m not suggesting that I am now an expert in the kitchen by any means, but the reality was that no amount of notetaking was going to help me, I just had to start trying things. Buying spices, trying spices, and mixing them together to create a different flavor combination. I googled recipes, made good ones, and also made terrible ones, but I learned by doing. A simple piece of salmon or fish on its own is incredibly nutritious, but it is the way you season and cook it that makes it incredibly delicious.

Fish cakes are a really simple and inexpensive way to make a small amount of salmon stretch for several meals, and these Thai salmon fish cakes are no different. They are best made using leftovers from the night before to help cut down on prep time, but can certainly be made in the moment. I made these Thai salmon fish cakes with canned salmon, which is quick and cheap to use, but if you have leftover cold salmon you can certainly use that too. It’s the simple combination of spices and flavours in these humble salmon fish cakes that give them a delicious Thai flavour. Paired with a simple salad, they make a great light lunch or dinner.

Thai Salmon Fish Cakes

Author: Stephanie Kay

This salmon fish cake recipe calls for canned salmon because it is quick and convenient, however, if you have leftover cooked salmon, you can certainly use that as well.

• Author: Stephanie Kay
• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 fish cakes
• Category: Appetizer
• Cuisine: American

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Ingredients

• 300g salmon, skinless and boneless, canned or cooked
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 Thai chilli, seeded and minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1" ginger root, grated
• 1/4 red bell pepper, minced
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• Fresh coriander and lime wedges, to serve

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine salmon, green onion, chili, garlic, ginger, and red bell pepper and, using your hands, mix well to combine.
2. Drizzle in fish sauce and mix to combine.
3. Sprinkle in coconut flour, cumin, coriander and sea salt. Using your hands, mix well to ensure spices are well incorporated.
4. In a separate small bowl, crack and whisk eggs, and then transfer to the large bowl and mix with the salmon mixture. You are looking for a thick mixture to form that is easily held together.
5. Using a 1/4 cup measure, form into balls and then flatten into disks, the mixture should form 6 patties.
6. Add patties to a plate and transfer to the fridge for 30 minutes to chill before cooking.
7. In a skillet on medium heat, heat coconut oil, add patties and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until crispy. Depending on the size of your pan you may need to work in batches.
8. Serve fish cakes warm with fresh lime wedges and coriander, or store and eat cold with a herb salad.
9. Enjoy!

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 fish cake
• Calories: 136 calories
• Sugar: 1 gram
• Fat: 8 grams
• Carbohydrates: 3 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Protein: 13 grams