salmon cakes and lemon wedges on white plate

Easy Gluten-free Crispy Salmon Cake Recipe

I don’t know about you but sometimes I need a make a meal in a hurry! I still want it to taste great AND provide my hungry crew and me with plenty of nutrients. These gluten-free salmon cakes fit both bills!

I can whip them up in about 20 minutes. There is minimal chopping required, just some measuring, stirring, and shaping before popping them into a hot skillet.

I love that these salmon cakes fry up with a nice crispy exterior. This makes them easy for my toddler to dunk in a dipping sauce, usual mayo-based. The kid loves his mayo!

Health Benefits of Salmon

These salmon cakes have plenty of nutrients to keep you and your family healthy!

They are a fantastic source of DHA and EPA. DHA and EPA are both omega-3 fatty acids.

DHA helps to maintain normal brain function, can be helpful in treating mood disorders and reduces ones risk of heart disease.

EPA supports the anti inflammatory process in the body, helps to keep cell membranes healthy and could help with depression.

It is important to include sources of omega-3 fats in your diet to balance the omega-6 that you consume. Keeping these fats in a balance of 1:1 to 1:4 of omega3- to omega-6 is vital for overall health. The main reason to strike this balance is to keep inflammation in check. To achieve this balance, aim to consume three to five servings of fish or shellfish per week.

While you can take a fish oil supplement(I recommend cod liver oil) to get DHA and EPA, eating quality fish is a better way to get these into your diet. Fish, like salmon, also contains all the cofactors needed for your body to absorb DHA and EPA.

Salmon, even canned like I use to make salmon cakes, is a good source of bioavailable protein, meaning that it is easy for your body to use.

Salmon is also a good source of iodine, selenium and vitamin D.

How to make Salmon Cakes

Drain salmon. Once drained add to a large bowl.

Add egg and shallot to bowl with salmon. Mix well.

ingredients for salmon cakes in various bowls

Add dill, paprika, garlic powder, slat and coconut flour to bowl. Stir until well combined.

Allow mixture to rest for 5 minutes.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Melt coconut oil.

Form mixture into 6 to 8 patties.

gluten-free salmon cake in cast iron skillet

Place cakes in hot pan and cook for 5 to 6 minute until golden brown.

browned salmon cakes in cast iron skillet

Once brown, flip and fry 5 minutes until second side is golden brown.

Tips for a better Salmon Cake

When making salmon cakes, use wild-caught salmon. It has more omega-3 fatty acids then regular salmon. A 3 1/2 ounces serving has 500 milligrams.

Be sure to drain your salmon. Removing as much liquid as possible will help the salmon cake stay together when frying.

Once you have added the coconut flour, let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Coconut flour is slower to absorb liquid, so that resting time will give you a dryer mixture that is easier to work with.

Pack the salmon cakes tightly forming them. Again, this will help the cake to stay together when frying and flipping.

Adjust size of the cake to fit your needs. Since I have a toddler in the house, I tend to make one or two that are smaller for him.

I highly recommend using a cast iron skillet. Once hot, cast iron keep heat well, making for more even cooking.

two salmon cakes on plate with lemon wedges

Gluten-free Salmon Cakes

Yield: 6 cakes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes

These gluten-free salmon cakes come together in a flash and are nutrient-dense and delicious!

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces canned wild-caught salmon
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/3 cup shallot, diced
  • 1 tbsp. dried dill
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tbsp. coconut flour
  • 2-3 tbsp, coconut oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Drain salmon.
  2. Add salmon, egg, and shallot into a medium bowl, stir to combine well.
  3. Add dill, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and coconut flour to the bowl. Mix well.
  4. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes.
  5. Heat a large skillet to medium and melt the coconut oil.
  6. Form into 6 to 8 patties.
  7. Place patties into the skillet, cook 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Flip and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown.

Notes

  • Make a dipping sauce by mixing an avocado oil mayo with dill and lemon to taste.
  • You can make larger or smaller patties but will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

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Wild-Caught Salmon

Coconut Flour

Cast Iron Skillet

Related posts

Check out this post to learn about the health benefits of tuna and grab another quick and delicious recipe.

If you are interested in taking more of deeper dive into the different types of fats, check out this article by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne.

Let me know in the comments if you try these and how you like them!

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