Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (2024)

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (1)

Fishcakes can make for a tasty tea time meal. Crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside- they're easy, relatively quick to make and involves getting your hands messy which is always fun! My mum first introduced me to this recipe from Jamie Oliver, and I have loved them ever since.

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (2)

One of the beauties of the fishcake is how easy it is to play around with: once you've suited the basics to your satisfaction, the choice of icing on this particular 'cake' is very much up to you.In theory, your choice of fish with such a dish is entirely dependent on your leftovers – fishcakes are, as you will see, very flexible things (well, until you try to keep them together in the pan, that is).

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (3)

So be experimental and try whatever fish you fancy, but bear in mind you many need more or less binding agent- in this case, the wetness of the fish together with the egg, so that your fishcakes remain sturdy. But to be on the safe side, if you're feeling in aHeston Blumenthal sort of mood, then pick a 'solid' fish - whitefish or tuna work well.

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (4)

I believe homemade fishcakes taste miles better compared to any of your traditional shop-bought equivalents and this way you'll be able to know exactly what goes into them (which you can't always guarantee when they are cheap-factory made versions.)

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (5)

I enjoy having these fishcakes with some sweet thai chilli sauce (as you can see from my photos) and garnished with coriander, but I have also added a little extra recipe of Jamie's for a tomato, olive, basil and chilli sauce which he recommends as a little bit of extra zing!

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (6)

Be sure to chill your mash potato before using as this makes forming into little patties a piece of cake. (excuse my pun...)

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (7)

Salmon Fishcakes with optional tomato, olive, basil and chilli sauce

A recipe slightly adapted from Jamie Oliver

Ingredients

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
600g potatoes
500g salmon fillets, skin on, scaled and bones removed
olive oil
a bunch of fresh coriander
1 tablespoon flour, plus extra for dusting
1 large egg
2 lemons
Note: you could prepare the salmon and mash potato the day before you want to eat them, chill them overnight in the fridge, and then use as normal. This makes for sturdy fishcakes which are easier to handle.

Method

Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Peel your potatoes and chop them into even-sized chunks. Rub the salmon fillets all over with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the potatoes to the pan and bring back to the boil. Put the fish into a colander, covered with foil, and place it over the pan of potatoes. Turn the heat down and cook for 10-12 minutes, until the potatoes and fish are both cooked then remove the fish from the colander and put on one side. Drain the potatoes in the colander, then return them to the pan and let them steam dry. Pick the coriander leaves and finely chop them.
Mash your potatoes, and then place into another bowl or plate and leave to cool completely. Remove any skin from the fish and when the potatoes are cold, put them into a bowl and flake the fish into it with a tablespoon of flour. Add the egg and chopped coriander with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Then finely grate over the lemon zest, and mash all together to mix it up well.
Dust your work surface with flour, divide the fishcake mixture into 8 and lightly shape and pat into circles about 2cm thick, dusting them with flour as you go. Get yourself a plate or tray, dust it with flour and place your fishcakes on top. Pop them into the fridge for an hour before cooking or in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes for speed. This will allow them to firm up slightly.
Put a large frying pan on a medium heat and add a couple of lugs of olive oil. When the oil is nice and hot, add your fishcakes and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden - you may need to cook them in batches, keeping the others warm in the oven on a very low heat. Serve straight away, with lemon halves for squeezing over, and some peas, broccoli, greens or salad.

Tomato, olive, basil and chilli sauce

Ingredients:

2 cloves of garlic
a small handful of black olives
a few sprigs of fresh basil
1 fresh red chilli
olive oil
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
sea salt and black pepper

Method

Peel and finely slice your garlic, squash the olives, using the base of a jar or something heavy, and remove the stones. Roughly chop the olives. Pick the basil leaves off their stalks, ripping up any larger leaves then deseed and finely slice the red chilli. In a large frying pan on a high heat add a lug of olive oil followed by the garlic, olives and chilli. When the garlic is lightly golden add the tomatoes, season with just a small pinch of salt (as the olives can be salty) and pepper and leave to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Serve while still hot with your fishcakes.

Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make fish cakes not fall apart? ›

Use a potato that is floury, starchy. Breadcrumbs will also work. Up the egg content if using. Especially if you are using pre cooked fish, all the sticky stuff that is contained within fish will have gone, so you need to replace this with a starch or some sort.

Why are my fish cakes rubbery? ›

Most version include egg which is used as a binder. In this recipe, you have that option but personally I prefer the texture without the egg. Adding egg gives the Thai fish cakes a rubbery texture which some people like.

Why are my fishcakes mushy? ›

Make sure that the mashed potatoes are dry and fluffy (preferably without any added milk or butter), as if the mash is too wet then the fishcakes can be difficult to handle and may become too soft when they are defrosted.

What is the best binder for fish cakes? ›

Eggs and cracker crumbs will help bind everything together below a drift of spice. Make sure to leave some time to chill the resulting patties in the refrigerator – the cold will help them set up so they don't fall apart in the sauté pan.

What can I use as a binder for fish cakes? ›

Potato – This is used to bind and fill out the fish cakes. Any starchy or all-rounder potatoes will work fine here. It's better to avoid waxy potatoes if you can but to be honest, even waxy potatoes will work ok.

What is the pink in fish cake? ›

This processed roll is primarily made of frozen surimi (processed, pureed whitefish), while the pink swirl comes from food coloring. Invented in the 1800s and prepared by slicing and steaming, narutomaki has a history of gracing traditional noodle soups, such as ramen and soba.

Are fish cakes healthy for you? ›

Light on the stomach and easy to digest, Fish Cakes are also a healthy addition to your diet as they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Here we share a Fish Cake recipe that is flavourful and easy to make. You can also make this recipe as a snack for a birthday party or a kitty party.

What's the difference between fish fingers and fish cakes? ›

What is the difference between fish cakes and fish fingers? My mother's fish cakes were a sort of rissole made with a small quantity of fish but with mostly potato. Fish fingers, on the other hand, appear to be fish scraps reconstituted into that unnatural rectangular shape with few additives.

How do you know when fish cakes are done? ›

Fry, adjusting the heat as needed, until one side of the cakes is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn and brown the other side. Peek into one of the cakes to be sure it's cooked through and then keep the batch warm in the oven while you fry the rest.

How do you keep salmon cakes from sticking? ›

All you have to do is scoop them (make sure they're the same size), flatten them, then set a timer and turn the cakes over halfway through the bake. Make sure to grease the pan or use a sheet of parchment paper to prevent the patties from sticking, and you'll have perfect-looking salmon patties every time.

Why do my salmon cakes fall apart? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

Can I freeze home made fish cakes? ›

Dip each of the fish cakes in flour, pat off any excess, then dip in the egg. Finally, coat in the breadcrumbs and transfer to a clean plate or baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining fish cakes. You can freeze the fish cakes now for up to three months, or chill for 1-2 days.

Can you eat fish cakes cold the next day? ›

I'd compost it and let the jays and crows hash it out. I say this as someone who grew up with people eating out of pots of stew left on the stove at 3:00 a.m. and reheating it the next day for another meal. But chowders and fish cakes, no. Eat them right away or into the fridge!

Why do my fish patties fall apart? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

What makes fish fall apart when cooking? ›

As fish cooks, proteins in the muscle fibers coagulate and the flesh changes from translucent to opaque in appearance. When the collagen softens in heat, it loses its structure and turns to gelatin; the muscle fibers have little to hold them together and the fish separates easily into flakes.

How do you keep cake layers from breaking? ›

Don't let cake assembly scare you. You can avoid breaking the top layer when building your cake by popping it into the freezer—it'll help ensure the layer is stable. If you're short on time, use a spatula to gently lift the top layer onto the bottom.

References

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