These low-carb salmon patties with a lime-avocado dressing are a simple way to use canned or fresh salmon for a healthy family-friendly dinner tonight.
Dinner can be on your table in only 20 minutes, including the lime and avocado creamy dressing.
They're dairy-free PLUS there are even options to make this with almond flour or coconut flour.
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What are salmon patties?
Salmon patties are also known as salmon cakes. They are an economical and cheap way to stretch out salmon. They can be served hot or cold. They can be frozen for a week's meal prep and are perfect for a healthy school lunch box.
Salmon patties are low carb and high protein so perfect for the keto diet.
Can you use canned salmon?
I love fresh salmon, but using tinned/canned salmon is great to keep in your pantry for a quick lunch and an economical alternative to expensive fresh salmon.
If your canned salmon is flavored or has a sauce, always read the nutrition labels so you can spot any added sugar, wheat, or other starches in your canned salmon.
If you run out of salmon, you can use canned tuna. Drain well then use in the recipe in place of salmon.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple pantry ingredients to make salmon cakes. The herbs, spices, and seasonings help make these salmon cakes taste delicious.
If your pantry is almost empty, or you have an emergency where food is running low, it's a great healthy recipe. All the ingredients are probably in your pantry right now.
Substitutions
- Salmon - use fresh or canned. Tuna can also be ised instead of canned salmon.
- Spring oinion - slice or chop finely. You could also use ¼ onion finely chopped or dried onion flakes.
- Cumin, turmeric - dried cumin and turmeric.
- Dill, parsley - fresh or dried dill and parsely work well and are perfect to flavour salmon recipes
- Garlic - fessh or dried garlci will work well in this recipe.
- Paprika - smoekd parprika adds an earthy smoky falvor to the salmon cakes
- Egg - an egg and it's protein helps to bind all the fish cake ingredients together.
- Seasoning - add salt and pepper to your liking.
Instructions
It's a simple recipe that even your children can make.
- Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
- Roll into low-carb salmon patties with your hands, a cookie scoop or press into a ¼ cup measuring cup.
- Place each salmon pattie into the frying pan, oven or air fryer.
Cooking
How to cook in the frying pan
The smell of these salmon patties cooking is incredible. The spices and turmeric turn this quick dish into a phenomenal meal. I pressed a handful of the salmon patty mixture into a measuring cup then press firmly with the back of a spoon into little patty shapes.
Cook the low-carb salmon patties in healthy cooking oil in a frying pan or skillet. I like to use coconut oil, on medium heat.
Let them fry gently, and if they don't lift off the frying pan easily, let them cook for a little longer so they are crispy on the base and can be flipped without breaking.
How to cook in the oven
As you roll each salmon pattie, place them onto a prepared baking tray that has been lined with baking parchment. Bake in the oven on 180C/350F for 15-20 minutes.
How to cook in the air fryer
Using an air fryer to cook salmon fishcakes is quick and easy.
- Preheat to 180C/350F.
- Spray the wire basket with cooking oil.
- Place each fishcake into the oiled basket. Ensure there is plenty of space between them.
- Cook for 10 minutes, open the drawer and turn each fishcake once.
- Cook for a further 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of fishcakes being cooked.
If you love using your air fryer, I have 101 keto air fryer recipes for you to choose from (chicken, pork, ground beef, salmon, vegetables, and even desserts). Discover how to use your air fryer plus FREE printable air fryer cooking cheat sheets.
Storage
Cooked salmon patties can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Place a sheet of baking parchment in between each layer of salmon cakes so it is easy to remove one or two at a time.
Serving
While the low-carb salmon patties are cooking, place a handful of leafy salad on your plate and mix the lime avocado dressing. All you do is throw all the dressing ingredients on a blender - and voila!
More salmon recipes
Salmon is wonderful high protein meat packed full of anti-inflammatory omega 3. You might also like to cook salmon in the Instant Pot, slow cooker salmon, and even salmon wrapped with bacon.
📖 Recipe
Low-Carb Salmon Patties (dairy free)
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Ingredients
Low-Carb Salmon Patties
- 500 g (1.1 lb) tinned/canned salmon drained
- 2 eggs - medium
- 50 g (½ cup) almond meal/flour see notes
- 2 tablespoon parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon dill chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- salt/pepper to taste
Avocado and Lime Dip
- 1 small avocado
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoon parsley or cilantro
- salt/pepper to taste
Instructions
Low-Carb Salmon Patties
- Place all the salmon patty ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine.
- Scoop some of the salmon mixture into a ¼ cup measuring cup. With the back of a spoon, press the mixture into the cup to pack it tightly. Turn the measuring cup over onto a plate. Repeat to make 12 patties.
- Heat the oil in the frying pan and cook the salmon patties on a gentle heat. Cook on each side for 4-5 minutes and use a spatula to flip them. TOP TIP - If a patty does not release when you try to flip it, cook a little longer until it is crispy and ready to flip.
Avocado and Lime Dip
- Whilst the patties are cooking, prepare the avocado dip. Place all the ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Spoon into a serving dish.
To Serve
- Place 3 low-carb salmon patties on a bed of salad with the avocado and lime dip on the side, or drizzled over the top.
- Cooked salmon patties can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nicole
I love this recipe; it's my go-to for salmon patties. That said, I do frequently sub out the almond flour for grated parm. It's definitely a different flavor, but give it a try, sometime. 🙂
Z
Sounds delicious-
Will this work with canned tuna instead?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes absolutely! I always use canned tuna, fresh is simply so expensive.
Nicole
Also, give it a try with canned Mackerel. 🙂
MJ
Very good! I used salmon that I canned last summer. This is the best salmon patty recipe I've ever tried. Thank you!
judy
This was delicious! The salmon patties were a hit with my family. They turned out as pictured. The avocado dip is a nice change from tarter sauce. I can see using it with shrimp and other fish recipes. Thanks for the recipe!
Amanda
I just made these during my lunch break (I had the ingredients, just threw them together). They were delicious and fried up beautifully in butter.
I only had large eggs, so I used 2 and tossed in a bit of extra flour.
Anyway- I'm a runner, so I eat a lot (like, all. the. time.). If I'm not eating, I'm thinking about food. I didn't think that the 4 patties this would make would be enough for 4 servings but BOY was I wrong! These were perfect with a salad on the side, and I actually found myself not being able to eat the whole salad (of course I ate the whole patty)!
I used about 1/2 the dill that the recipe called for, because I'm not really a fan of it. What I used went beautifully with the other ingredients. Next time I think I'll try some red pepper flakes for a bit more spice...I really like spicy.
I'll definitely be hanging onto this recipe and I'll be making it again!
Brandi
Is the lemon juice in the salmon patties vital to the recipe? I am allergic to all citrus fruits but I would love to try these. Is there something I can substitute (I usually sub apple cider vinegar when a recipe requires an acid) or can I just leave it out?
Thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Sure thing! Use what you can tolerate and enjoy. Anything to give it a little zing will work well.
terese perucich
532 calories, is that per serve
Janet
This was really good. Interesting, the lime dip awesome, the spices superb. Thank you.
Bonnie
Oh, and how many cans is 500 gr?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
That's determined by which size of can/tin you buy.
Rosie
1.1 lbs or 17 ounces
Bonnie
Are the measuments for fresh herbs or dried herbs? Gonna try it this weekend!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Dried.
Jenn
Can you make these with cooked salmon fillers?
Rachael
My son loves these! I made them according to the recipe the first time, the second time I realized I was out of parsley and lemons so I subbed in cilantro and limes. I don't bother making the dip as he is happy to dip them in plain mustard or mayonaise. I even made a big batch and froze them uncooked between layers of parchement. It worked like a charm. He would just pop a few out of the freezer and put them in a pan and cover with a lid so they would thaw and cook all at once. Perfect lunch for my newly diagnosed T1D son.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Rachel this makes me so happy. I love to hear children loving my recipes, especially T1D. You are ahead of the game so fast after diagnosis discovering low-carb. It takes some people years as it often is not offered as a choice. Are you part of TypeOneGrit? They are phenomenal.
Kelly
Love this Libby! I’ve had a tin of canned pink salmon in my cupboard for ages and no idea what to do with it. In fact I’ve got full cupboards with food I never seem to use. I hate to be wasteful so delighted with this recipe. And it’s so yummy! Well done Libby for helping me stay Keto/LCHF and not waste food/money. xx
Peggy
Has anyone tried these with smoked salmon? I have some I need to use so looking for a creative recipe. Thus looks delicious!
Nadya Carrabs
I made the low-carb salmon patties today and absolutely loved them ... so tasty, pretty and looked just like the photo. I do have one question.... can these cooked patties be frozen?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes absolutely. Freeze them in an airtight container then you can remove one or two at a time when required. I'm so glad you loved them. I also make them with tinned/canned tuna - yum.
Carol
These were perfect!! I will be making a few batches to freeze so I can have a quick lunch option at the ready! Thanks for the great recipe!
Sara
Making these soon. I have high hopes for them!
Joanna
These were super delicious.
I've never made salmon patties before, and TBH it's been so long since I had one, I didn't have a reference for what it should taste like. Yet the whole family really liked these. Simple enough to make with typical things from the kitchen. Thank you so much.
Chris
I don't understand how to cook these, cook to low and they stay raw in the middle, cook too high and they burn to the pan and fall apart! what am I doing wrong?
Denise Wilson
Once the patties are made I put them in the fridge for half an hour to an hour to firm up. Then cook on high in the pan to brown and finish for 15 minutes in a medium oven. This method works for me for all low carb pattie recipes as without potato as a binding ingredient they can fall apart in the pan if cooked on low for too long
Kylie
Yummm! I made these for my lunch today before work. Very quick to make and totally yummy! Will definitely make again. Thank you!
Crystal
My Favorite quick keto meal is usually a salad loaded with different things, mushroom, avocado, tomato, and a type of meat.
Lisa
I really appreciate the conversions using coconut flour- we have nut allergies in our house so I am so glad we can create these great recipes using alternative ingredients. Thank you!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Excellent, I am so happy you are finding them useful. 🙂
Eliza
I adore tuna salad with pickles and Mayport on romaine boats. And deviled eggs with avocado and bacon.
I'm not a huge salmon patty fan, but might try these for a change!
Jo
Chicken salad
Elizabeth Sewall
Hamburger patty and creamed spinach
Sarah
My favorite quick keto meal is some grilled brats (no bun) and some boiled eggs cut in half with a mayo-sriracha-mustard dip on top. Yum!
Turtle
This recipe sounds terrific! My go-to in a hurry meal is a smoked trout and asparagus omelette with a sprinkle of cheese and a side of mixed salad greens.
Stephanie
I love making lettuce wrap tacos topped with all the guac!
Kimmy Ripley
Mmm I love Chipotle Lime Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles!!!
Bev
My favourite "go-to" quick keto meal: I stop at the grocery and pick up a prepared salad kit (Like "Fresh Express" brand's organic Caesar -- toss the croutons to the birds for really low-carb) and a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
I used to love cooking, but since all the kerfuffle about nutrition has changed so drastically, I just want to get eating over with now. Prefer vegetarian, and am allergic to dairy and eggs, so it is taking some doing to wrap my head (and appetite) around low-carb eating. But an overweight vegan is still unhealthy, so I have to do this, like it or not.
virginia beesley
who cares about about what you do and dont like...snore.....zzzzz
Teri
Looking forward to the new recipes!