Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes

These Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes are so easy and incredibly delicious! They make the perfect protein option for busy weeknights. I can’t wait for you to try them!

This post was originally published on January 25, 2020. It was updated on August 1, 2024.

Why I love these Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes

We’re tapping into the east coast cuisine with these tasty fish cakes. I first started making this recipe years ago, starting in university. Buying canned salmon was much more affordable than purchasing a full fish filet, so I was trying to come up with ways to use the canned fish. 

In the last year or two I have been focusing on creating new recipes so I haven’t been making these as much. But when I was on the phone with my university roommate, she mentioned she made these for her family and young nephew. It turns out it was a hit for everyone, including the toddler who has his own food preferences. I count that as a major win!

I’m so excited to update this recipe so more people get to try them out for themselves and their families (including babies and toddlers)!

Ingredients for Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes

All you need to make these Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes are:

• Salmon
  • You can use canned or freshly cooked salmon in this recipe.
  • If choosing canned salmon, you may opt for a product that has the bones and skin removed. However, the bones add a source of calcium and are quite soft so can go undetected in these fish cakes.
• Sweet potato
  • You can also use yam instead of sweet potato.
  • This recipe calls for peeled, boiled and mashed sweet potato so I recommend having this completed before you start to make the salmon cakes.
• Egg
  • This helps keep the batter together.
• Lemon juice
  • The lemon juice adds a fresh flavour and a touch of moisture to the batter.
• Seasonings like garlic, rosemary, basil, salt and pepper
  • For simplicity, I use dried herbs in this recipe.
  • You can always add more seasonings according to your taste preferences.

How to make salmon patties

These sweet potato salmon cakes are incredibly simple to put together. The only step I recommend doing ahead of time is prepping the sweet potato or yam. This includes peeling, boiling and mashing it prior to adding it to the recipe.

Here’s how to make them:

1. In a large bowl, add the salmon, sweet potato, egg, lemon juice and seasonings. Mix together well.
2. Scoop the batter onto an oiled frying pan on medium heat and flatten gently.
3. Cook for 3-4 minutes, flip and cook for another 2-4 minutes or until browned on each side.
4. Serve with your choice of sides and enjoy!

 

Making salmon patties with fresh salmon: Bake the salmon at 400°F for 12-15 minutes or until the fish flakes apart with a fork. Allow for the salmon to cool for at least 10 minutes before adding it to the salmon cake mixture.

Making salmon patties with canned salmon: As a much cheaper alternative to buying it as a fresh filet, canned salmon makes this dish a money AND time saver!

You can use canned salmon with or without the bones and skin. The bones are quite soft and unnoticeable in this recipe. However, if you prefer not to eat them, I recommend opting for a canned salmon with the bones and skin removed.

Make sure to drain the canned salmon before adding the fish to the recipe.

 

How to keep salmon patties from falling apart

The trick to creating a salmon cake with sweet potato that stays in tact is to achieve the right level of moisture. In this recipe, we use egg and lemon juice as liquid ingredients. Although they are delicate, I haven’t had any issues with these salmon cakes falling apart. That being said, if you can’t achieve the ideal texture, here are some tips:

• If your salmon cakes are too dry: add 1-2 tsp of extra lemon juice or water.
• If your salmon cakes are too moist: add more mashed sweet potato or even 1 tbsp of bread crumbs or rolled oats.

Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes nutrition

As a dietitian, I like to create recipes that support our overall health, while tasting delicious!

Salmon, and other fatty fish, is known for a high content of omega-3 fatty acids. This provides anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains protein and vitamin D, which can help absorb calcium from our diet. If you are choosing canned salmon that contains bones, this will provide an additional significant amount of calcium.

Mixing it up and incorporating sweet potato instead of bread crumbs or flour, offers a flavour twist while providing extra vitamins! It also keeps this recipe gluten free, which can be useful if you are serving these to a crowd.

This recipe is gluten free and dairy free!

This recipe makes about 5 salmon cakes, each providing:

• roughly 8.5 grams of protein
• a significant source of omega 3 fatty acids
• a significant source of vitamin D, vitamin B12 and other B vitamins
• a variety of nutrients like calcium, selenium, zinc and more!

 

How to store salmon cakes

These sweet potato and salmon cakes are a great option for meal prep. They can be heated up quickly and added to a variety of dishes to increase the protein content. 

• If you plan to consume the salmon cakes within 3-4 days, store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
• If you want to make them ahead of time and enjoy them weeks later, keep them in the freezer! You can wrap them in parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together and place them in a Ziploc freezer bag or airtight container. They will last in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Side dishes to serve with salmon cakes

One of my favourite things about these sweet potato and salmon patties is that they provide a great source of protein and carbohydrates. This means that you can serve them with a side of vegetables and achieve a complete meal. You can also add extra protein or carbohydrates as an added boost in nutrients! Here are some suggestions of sides:

• Leafy green salad
• Roasted vegetables
• Coleslaw or bagged salad for convenience
• Fresh vegetables with tzatziki or hummus
• Rice, quinoa or another grain
• Place them in a burger bun and serve them as a salmon burger with a salad on the side

 

More salmon recipes

• Sweet Sesame Salmon Bites
• Lemon Dill and Dijon Salmon
• Chili Garlic Salmon
• Sweet and Savoury Salmon

I hope you love these Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes. If you make them, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!