Do you love salmon patties but the egg is your mortal enemy? Then you’re reading the right article because I’ll be detailing a recipe on how to make salmon patties without eggs.
Whether you’re allergic to eggs or just ran out of them in your kitchen, it is such a horrible experience if you’re cooking salmon patties without them. I’ve actually experienced it myself and having no knowledge about what to use to replace eggs, made me more frustrated. That’s why I have researched on some alternative ingredients that can substitute the binding power of eggs.
If you’re curious to know, continue reading below.
What You’ll Need
1-Canned salmon or fresh salmon
If you’re in a pinch, then using a can of salmon can be a great alternative in making salmon patties. In terms of sustainability and possible contamination risks, a can of Alaskan salmon is highly recommended over other variants. For this recipe, one 15-ounce (oz.) of canned salmon is enough to create 6 patties.
All you need to do is open the can, place the contents in a bowl, and flake them into pieces. I personally use the boneless kind because it saves me the hassle of removing the bones by hands. This is first step of egg substitute for salmon patties.
Alternatively, you can use some fresh or frozen salmon for this recipe. Again, choose the wildly-caught Alaskan salmon because it has the lowest risk of potential contaminants, like pesticides. It also has the lowest sustainability risk.
If you have some frozen salmon, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. A pound of salmon may be enough to serve 10-12 patties.
2-Crushed Saltine crackers
In this recipe, the saltine crackers replace the binding power of eggs in salmon patties. They’re thin crackers that have a slightly salty taste. You can use any brand of saltine crackers you have. I usually use the original variant.
For one 14-15 oz of canned salmon, you will need about 12 pieces of saltine crackers. You can use a food processor to crush your saltine crackers or you can place the crackers in a re-sealable bag and roll a rolling pin over them to crush.
If you have no saltine crackers at home, you can use any of these alternatives:
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- Instant mashed potato flakes
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About 2 tbsp. of Instant mashed potato flakes can be used to replace one egg in a salmon patty recipe. I personally love this alternative because it can bind the ingredients in a more flavorful way. You can also see the binding results instantly.
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- 1 tbsps. flax seeds + 3 tbsp. water
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In choosing the best flax seeds, look for the golden kind because it won’t darken your food like brown flax seeds usually do. Avoid buying the pre-ground kind because the grinding process has possibly turned the oils rancid due to oxidation. Instead, buy those whole flax seeds, like this one.
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- Breadcrumbs
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Bread crumbs are great in adding moisture to the salmon patties. During the cooking process, the breadcrumbs absorb the natural juices of the salmon and returns them to your meat once at rest. This results in a juicier salmon patty.
3-Chopped onions
You need around 1/2 cup of chopped onions. You can use any type of onions you want according to your taste. If you like a deeply sweet taste, then choose a yellow or red onion. If you like a milder flavor, opt for the white onion. Look for those with firm and blemish-free skins.
4-Black pepper seasoned salt
If you like all your herbs, spices, pepper, and salt in one bottle, then you may opt for a black pepper seasoned salt. It is a more tasteful alternative to table salt and pepper. You can use any brand of black pepper seasoned salt you want. As for me, I use this product because it features other flavorful spices, like turmeric, paprika, and garlic.
5-Olive oil
Olive oil is a healthier choice to fry your salmon patties until they become golden brown. You may need about a tablespoon of it to fry your patties in the skillet. You may add some more if you notice that the oil has evaporated in the skillet. However, if you have no olive oil at home, you can use any brand of vegetable oil.
6-Cast iron skillet
A cast iron skillet is needed for frying the salmon patties to get that deep brown color and crust. Although you can cook salmon patties in a stainless steel pan, it doesn’t give that gorgeous sear like a cast iron skillet does. Plus a cast iron skillet works best for frying foods in high heat.
7-Bowl
You need a bowl to contain all the ingredients of your salmon patties. Make sure that the size of the bowl is large enough to fit all the ingredients. Any type of bowl will do- plastic, glass, or ceramic.
8-Fork
A fork may be needed to flake the salmon nicely. You don’t want to use your hands to flake it because its fragile texture might be destroyed. You may also use the fork to remove the bones from the fish and mix the ingredients together. A metal fork is recommended because it is durable enough to put a little pressure, unlike plastic which breaks immediately with a bit of force.
9-Can opener
You need a can opener to open a can of salmon. Any available can opener will do. Just make sure that the blade is sharp to open the can easily. If you have no can opener, you can use a knife to open the can.
10-Spatula
A spatula is needed during frying. You need to flip the patties and using a spatula makes it very easy. It can also help keep the shape of the patties very well. A flexible silicone spatula is ideal because it won’t scratch the pan.
11-Optional Ingredient
- Shredded zucchini
If you like to add some vegetables to your salmon patties, then you might consider adding some shredded zucchini. It doesn’t only boost the nutrition element of this recipe, but it also allows the patties to cook up nicer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Sauté onions in a skillet
To get the sweet flavor of onions, cook them first. Just drizzle the skillet with olive oil and sauté the onions until they’re soft. Once they’re done, set it aside to cool.
2.Prepare the canned salmon in a bowl
Open your can of salmon and drain the can in the sink. To get an idea on how it’s done, watch the first minute of this.
After that, you can place the drained salmon in a bowl. Use a fork to flake the salmon into pieces. Remove the bones as necessary.
3. Add the sautéed onions and the rest of the ingredients
As your salmon are flaked into pieces, you can now add the sautéed onions that you have set aside. Add the crushed saltines and black pepper seasoned salt. Start with a pinch of seasoned black pepper seasoned salt because the saltines are already salty. Add more seasoned salt if you find that the flavor is still bland to your taste.
4. Mix the ingredients together and form into patties
Now that all the ingredients are in the bowl, mix them well. Use a fork to mix the ingredients together. When it’s all mixed, use your hands to get some of the mixtures and shape them into patties.
Don’t press the mixture too much. Just give a light press on the top and edges. You can see how it’s done starting from the 3:07 mark of this.
5. Fry the patties in the skillet
Preheat the skillet over medium to medium-high for about a minute. Next, you can drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet. Use a spatula in placing the patties into the pan.
To protect the shape of your patties, quickly insert the spatula underneath. This can cook for around 5 minutes on every side. Quickly flip the patties to cook the other side.
Additional Expert Tips
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- Don’t overcook the salmon
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According to Cooking NYTimes, the trick in cooking delicious salmon patties is to avoid overcooking them. As much as possible cook each side roughly around 2-3 minutes. The aim is to make the center appear like the color of salmon.
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- Refrigerate the patties before frying
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Kraft Recipes suggests refrigerating the patties for about 10 minutes. The chilled state of the patties can help hold the ingredients together, even without the eggs. During the cooking process, you’ll notice that the ingredients won’t crumble, but will bond together well.
Final Thought
Did you enjoy learning a new recipe on how to cook salmon patties without eggs? Doing this subject has helped me realize that running out of eggs is not the end of the world. You can still find some other great alternatives to holding your salmon patty together.
You may consider buying these ingredients: Alaskan salmon , saltine crackers , and black pepper seasoned salt .
If you have something that you would like to share, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments section below. Help spread this new knowledge by sharing this post.
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