Salmon Croquettes are a delightful dish with a rich history, often linked with Southern and soul food traditions. They are salmon patties made by combining flaked salmon (usually canned for convenience), breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings. The mixture is shaped into patties and typically pan-fried until golden brown, creating a crispy exterior and tender, flavorful interior.
Our guest on Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is Antoine Carter. Antoine is the Director of Philanthropy at the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation. He is a Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree. He is also a Forward48 Alum. Antoine is an alum of AALP, the African American Leadership Program.
You can also listen to the podcast version of this interview and cooking episode –
Salmon Croquettes
These croquettes are versatile and can be served as a main dish, appetizer, or even a savory breakfast choice. They pair wonderfully with sauces like tartar sauce, remoulade, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Some recipes incorporate ingredients like bell peppers, onions, or herbs to enhance the flavor and texture.
Serving salmon croquettes with syrup is an unexpected yet intriguing twist! The sweetness of the syrup creates a delightful contrast to the savory, crispy croquettes. It works much like how maple syrup complements savory breakfast items like bacon or sausage. This pairing works especially well. The croquettes can be seasoned with spices that harmonize with sweetness. Consider using paprika or a touch of cinnamon.
Salmon croquettes, also known as salmon patties, have roots in resourceful cooking traditions. They became popular in the United States during the early 20th century. They were particularly popular in the South. Here, they provided a way to create a nutritious and affordable meal using canned salmon. This dish gained prominence during times of economic hardship. It was especially popular during the Great Depression when families needed to stretch their ingredients.
The concept of forming patties from fish isn’t unique to salmon or the U.S.; similar recipes exist worldwide. Coastal regions in Europe, like England and Ireland, have their variations of fish cakes. These influenced the spread of this idea.
Salmon croquettes have since evolved, with different cultures adding their twists, making them a versatile and enduring comfort food.
Ingredients for Salmon Croquettes
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 2 tbsp minced red bell pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ¼ pounds fresh wild salmon, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch Old Bay
- 1 tbsp panko bread crumbs to sprinkle on top
- 2 tbsp olive oil, or as needed
- Maple Syrup for serving
Salmon Croquette Directions
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook and stir the onion, red pepper, and a pinch of salt in hot oil.
- Continue until the onion is soft and translucent. This takes about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Mix the salmon and onion mixture in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, garlic, mustard, cayenne, Old Bay, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir until the ingredients are well mixed.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm and chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
- Form the salmon mixture into four 1-inch-thick patties; sprinkle the remaining panko bread crumbs over each patty.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook patties in hot oil until golden and cooked, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Salmon Croquettes
Materials
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 2 tbsp minced red bell pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ¼ pounds fresh salmon coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- .5 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Old Bay
- 1 tbsp panko bread crumbs to sprinkle on top
- 2 tbsp oil for frying or as needed
- Maple Syrup for serving
Instructions
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook and stir onion, red pepper, and a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Stir the salmon, onion mixture, mayonnaise, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, garlic, mustard, cayenne, Old Bay, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl until well-mixed.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm and chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
- Form the salmon mixture into four 1-inch-thick patties; sprinkle the remaining panko bread crumbs over each patty.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook patties in hot oil until golden and cooked, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Serve with Maple Syrup. Trust me it works.
Video
Nutrition
Cooking Secrets for Men
Cooking Secrets for Men in the News
Our series, Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, is featured in the “Milwaukee Magazine” May 2023 edition, “Civic Gastronomy”. Click here to read the full article.
A few days later, they were discussing me on the radio. It is a local Foodie show, “This Bites” on Radio Milwaukee 88.9 dining critic Ann Christenson from Milwaukee Magazine and Radio Milwaukee’s resident foodie Tarik Moody. My series, Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, is in the show’s first few minutes.
“Cooking Secrets for Men” is on the list of the Top 20 Men’s Cooking Websites on the Internet. You can read that article here. See where we rank for Men’s Cooking Websites.
Cooking Secrets for Men is now on the list of Milwaukee’s Top 50 Foodie Influencers on Instagram.
In The News
We were featured in a Redfin article! Check it out here: Designing the Perfect Kitchen for Home Cooks.
Shepherd Express (Milwaukee) article on our Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders show – you can read that article here
Good Counsel HS (My Alma Mater) Magazine article about Cooking Secrets for Men – you can read that article here.
Meet Charlie DeSando – “Voyage Tampa” article, which you can read here.
We were featured in a Redfin article! Check it out here: Designing the Perfect Kitchen for Home Cooks
Meet Charlie DeSando – “Voyage Tampa” article, which you can read here.
E-Cookbooks for free Download
If you have comments or questions, please contact us at cookingsecretsformen@gmail.com.
Discover more from Cooking Secrets for Men
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
These sound fabulous! I like the crunch!
Tasty dish and easy to make