Jamie's Salmon Fishcakes recipe (2024)

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.

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).

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.

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.)

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!

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

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 does Jamie Oliver make fish cakes? ›

Method
  1. Roughly chop the fish, then peel and grate the potato.
  2. Combine with the flour in a bowl, then season with sea salt and black pepper.
  3. Bring together with your hands and shape into 12 flat patties, then leave to chill in the fridge.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium-high heat.

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.

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.

Why do fish cakes fall apart when cooked? ›

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 can I use instead of breadcrumbs for fish cakes? ›

The Best 10 Breadcrumb Substitutes
  • Rolled oats. Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. ...
  • Potato chips. ...
  • Cornflakes. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Croutons. ...
  • Crackers. ...
  • Seeds.
Oct 18, 2022

Why are my salmon cakes mushy? ›

A perfectly cooked salmon patty should be moist and tender inside with a slightly crispy exterior. If your salmon patty has a grey or mushy texture on the inside, the color may come from the skin side of the flesh, but if it's mushy, it may be undercooked.

Why won't my salmon patties stay together? ›

If they fall apart, they're not of the right consistency. Being either too dry or too wet will cause it. If they are too dry, adding a touch of water will help and if they are too wet, dredge them in flour or add a little flour to the mix.

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.

Which country invented fish cakes? ›

China. According to Chinese folk tales, fish cakes have had more than 4,000 years' history. In ancient times, an emperor called Shun travelled to Southern China with his two wives. After a long period of travel, his consorts were tired and had poor appetites.

How do you know when fish cakes are done? ›

Fry the fishcakes a few at a time until the base is golden, flip them and repeat with the other side. Keep flipping until the fishcakes are a deep brown colour (but not burnt). Serve hot.

How do you keep salmon cakes from sticking? ›

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.

How are fish cakes made? ›

A fishcake (sometimes written as fish cake) is a culinary dish consisting of filleted fish or other seafood minced or ground, mixed with a starchy ingredient, and fried until golden. Asian-style fishcakes usually contain fish with salt, water, starch, and egg. They can include a combination of fish paste and surimi.

Why do fish cakes have a pink swirl? ›

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.

How do you make Jamie Oliver fish batter? ›

Whisk the flour, beer and baking powder together until nice and shiny – the texture should be like semi-whipped double cream (i.e. it should stick to whatever you're coating). Dust each fish fillet in a little of the extra flour, then dip into the batter and allow any excess to drip off.

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