Pats Gourmet Salmon Cakes Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the salmon on a sheet pan, skin side down. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until just cooked. Remove from the oven and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and refrigerate until cold.
• Meanwhile, place 2 tablespoons of the butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the onion, celery, red and yellow bell peppers, parsley, capers, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, crab boil seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large saute pan over medium-low heat and cook until the vegetables are soft, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Break the bread slices in pieces and process the bread in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. You should have about 1 cup of bread crumbs. Place the bread crumbs on a sheet pan and toast in the oven for 5 minutes until lightly browned, tossing occasionally.
• Flake the chilled salmon into a large bowl. Add the bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, and eggs. Add the vegetable mixture and mix well. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Shape into 10 (2 1/2 to 3-ounce) cakes.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. In batches, add the salmon cakes and fry for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until browned. Drain on paper towels; keep them warm in a preheated 250 degree F oven and serve hot.

Steps:

• Drain canned salmon and carefully remove all bones, skin and dark brown material. Take your time in doing this -- all remaining salmon should be light pink when you're finished.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine salmon, mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip), beaten eggs, pimientos, parsley, lemon juice, basil, vinegar, salt, mustard, and Mrs. Dash seasoning, (but NOT the Old Bay). Mix carefully with a spatula -- the mix will be runny at this point.
• Crush the oyster crackers by hand and add them to the mix which should make the blend stiff enough to make up the salmon cakes -- you do not want a "dry" mix.
• In a large skillet, heat the Crisco over high heat until a few drops of water in the oil crackles and pops. If you cut down on the amount of shortening, the sides of the salmon cakes will not brown up properly and you'll experience a temperature drop in the oil which can result in a greasy end product!
• Make up the salmon cakes so that they look like "fat" burgers, (gently make them up, taking care to not "squeeze" them together -- they will flatten out on the tops and bottoms by themselves as they fry), laying them on a large plate, (I get 7 thick ones, about 3" across), and then sprinkle on the Old Bay seasoning.
• When the cooking oil is hot enough, (they should start frying immediately -- if not, the oil is too cold!), lay in the salmon cakes. Don't crowd them or you'll drive down the oil temperature -- I always make two batches with 3-4 patties in each.
• When one side has reached a deep golden brown, (about 4 minutes), carefully turn the cakes and allow the second side to brown. As soon as they are browned equally on both sides, remove them to a plate with a couple of paper towels on it to soak up excess oil. Do not overcook them -- when they're brown, they come out! Serve while still hot.
• NOTE: Do not mash these salmon cakes with a spatula as they fry because they will be very dry-tasting if you do.

Steps:

• Drain, debone and flake salmon. Add the remaining ingredients except the garnishes. , On a platter, mold salmon mixture into a fish shape. Arrange almonds to resemble scales. Use slice of olive for eye, thin strips of celery for the tail. Garnish with parsley. Chill until serving. Serve with crackers. Refrigerate leftovers.