With all the craziness of our move to Belize going on, I’m loving super easy recipes even more than usual lately. ? Like, if I can’t go from start to finish in 10 minutes or less I’m not interested. The end.
Since I know lots of you (all of you?) have incredibly hectic lives going on as well, I know you’re going to love this low carb cajun salmon patty cake fritter watchamacallit thingy as much as I did!
Also because it’s SO. VERY. TASTY!
The secret to making these super delicious and very easy low carb salmon cakes is the Hidden Valley® Ranch Cilantro Lime dressing! I already had cajun salmon patties on my list of recipes to experiment with soon, and once I tasted it I knew that the Hidden Valley® Ranch Cilantro Lime dressing would work great as a sauce for them.
While I was putting the recipe together, I decided to also throw some of the Cilantro Lime dressing right into it to add more flavor and moisture to my salmon mixture.
Normally I’d add some mayonnaise, a variety of seasonings, and lemon or lime juice, but using the dressing instead did the same job – AND added some fantastic flavors to boot!
When I cooked a small amount to test it and see what else I’d need to add, I was surprised to find that they were perfect as is! The Cilantro Lime dressing was so good in it that I didn’t have to add a lot of extra seasonings – making these already easy cajun salmon patties a real winner!
Once I’d cooked the patties, I tried them with the dressing to see how it would work. I fully expected to have to add some sour cream or fresh herbs to make it even better, but upon tasting them together I found that the dressing perfectly complemented the patties as is!
I’m so used to having to tinker with a product to make it taste the way I want, that it frankly shocked me that this dressing was absolutely delicious as a dipping sauce right out of the bottle. I can’t wait to try it as a marinade next!
Creamy, fresh, bright, perfection.
This is a great recipe for when you haven’t made it to the grocery store in awhile, or when you’re working off of your pantry ingredients for a move or trip like I am! Because the salmon I used in the patties is canned and smoked (which keeps for months in the fridge), and the majority of the flavor comes from cajun seasoning and the Hidden Valley® Ranch Cilantro Lime dressing – you can literally whip these low carb cajun salmon patties up anytime the mood strikes.
If you’re like me, you’ll get addicted to these instantly and the mood will strike often!
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these little bundles pack a huge punch of spicy, smoky, tangy flavor! I predict that these cajun salmon patties are going to be a hit with everyone, even the kiddos if Hungry Jr.’s love for them is any indication.
So be sure to make these keto friendly cajun salmon patties ASAP! Then report back and let me know what you thought of them!!!
Cajun Salmon Patties Recipe Notes:
Many of you took issue with the fact that I used Hidden Valley Ranch in this recipe and I want to address that. As I mentioned in one of the comments, people are at different places in their healthy eating journey, and not everybody is as focused on squeaky clean ingredients. Some are just starting out with cooking at home, and cutting out carbs is hard enough without making every single component of a dish from scratch to make sure it doesn’t contain MSG or other ingredients that some of us avoid like the plague.
For those people, this is recipe is 1000% healthier than the frozen pizzas, take out Chinese food, or hot pockets that they’ve been living on for years. Baby steps. That being said, there are MANY alternatives to HVR or other store bought ranch dressings to be had – this one got rave reviews in the comments, and is even Whole 30 friendly – which by the way makes this entire recipe Whole 30 friendly.
PrintCajun Salmon Patties – Low Carb & Gluten Free
- Yield: 4 servings (2 patties) 1x
Description
These easy and healthy cajun salmon patties can be made in about 10 minutes – perfect for those hectic weeknights! Low carb, keto, atkins, gluten free.
Ingredients
- 14 oz can pink salmon, drained with bones removed
- 2 oz smoked salmon (nova or lox style), roughly chopped
- 1 egg
- 3 Tbsp Hidden Valley Ranch Cilantro Lime dressing
- 1/3 cup almond flour
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp cajun seasoning
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil (or light olive oil) for frying
Instructions
- Beat the egg and Cilantro Lime dressing in a medium bowl.
- Add the salmon, almond flour, parsley and cajun seasoning and stir gently until combined.
- Form into eight 2.5 inch patties.
- Heat the oil in a non-stick saute pan over medium heat.
- Cook the patties (4 at a time) for about 2 minutes per side (or until golden brown.)
- Remove cooked patties to a paper-towel lined plate and keep warm until serving.
- Serve with Hidden Valley Ranch Cilantro Lime dressing and wedges of lemon if desired.
Notes
Approximate nutrition information per serving:
1 salmon patty = 141 calories, 10g fat, 1g net carbs, 12g protein
1 serving (2 patties) = 282 calories, 20g fat, 2g net carbs, 24g protein
2 Tbsp HVR Cilantro Lime dressing – 110 calories, 11g fat, 2g net carbs 0g protein
- Category: Low Carb Seafood Recipe
- Cuisine: Cajun
Jessica says
These are really good, perfect for a light lunch.
★★★★
Sandy says
Could you freeze this and just cook a couple at a time?
Sophilia says
I do not eat seafood, so I cannot try this recipe. But I love that you make most of your recipes easy, quick, free and that you use things like store-bought dressing in them. I am a busy, working mum. I do keto for epilepsy and weight control. I do not care if there are some rogue ingredients in what I eat sometimes. (And if I did, I would hunt out alternatives for that ingredient, or I would use someone else’s recipe.)
I always laugh when I see someone saying “but that’s not paleo” when someone suggests using some ingredient that does not make the purist list, for a recipe that utilises a food processor, microwave and an oven in the recipe steps… Some of the comments above are equally ridiculous.
Keep doing what you are doing Mellissa. Love your work!
April says
I’ve made many salmon croquettes and loaves over the years. I’ve always just mashed the bones from canned salmon, they are a freak way to get calcium. ALL You do is rub them with your fingers it makes one homogeneous mixture of salmon.
★★★★
Patricia lee says
Was just reading the recipe when I remember a recipe that I love that may work in place of msg.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/20446/amys-cilantro-cream-sauce/
★★★
Cat says
Yes, Ellen! I TOTALLY agree with you: it does taste like SOAP….that’s why I sub fresh Parsley & Dill blended with the ‘mayo, lemon juice, and garlic’ that Mellissa suggested. I’ve even tried this using alternate seafood-(like lump crab meat!)-and it’s always delicious! !
★★★★
Kelley says
I tried making these this evening…only difference was I had to use coconut oil. No other kind in house. They didn’t stay together and I had to dump all of it. Any suggestions, or was it just the oil?
Mellissa Sevigny says
If your oil wasn’t hot enough they could just dissolve into it rather than crisping up and holding their shape – I can’t think of any other reason that they would just fall apart and be inedible?
Sue Lowery says
I had same problem as Kelly, totally fell apart, stuck to non-stick pan…very dry. So added another egg to the other half of the salmon mix and too eggy. I used coconut oil and used my Chuey’s substitute that’s dry Ranch mix, sour cream, yogurt, cilantro, jalapeño and lime, very low carb and addictive.
★★
ellen beck says
This looks delicious. I am a huge fan of fish based anything. I love salmon patties.
Is there anything tht can subbed for thee dressing (I think I saw something up there) not due to the discussion above, but I am one of those oddballs that cilantro just isnt a good thing- to me it tastes like soap. Yes it is true for some cilantro is yucky :) I am thinking maybe dill would be good!
★★★★★
Larry says
Wow!! Those were great.so very quick which is a big plus. May try my own dressing at some point. This definitely led me in a direction I wouldn’t have found myself. Love the site!
★★★★
Sherry B says
C’mon people, use your noggin! This is a great recipe that works for several diets… If the sauce is a problem for you, simply make your own. I am surprised at how many are hung up on that one small detail rather than questions/responses to the recipe.
Thank you for posting this and it turned out awesome!
LCHF
★★★★★
Nicole says
Well, I tbink it’s a huge issue when people start pushing product in their recipes just because they can make money off of it. It’s an even bigger problem when the website doing this is supposed to be a website for healthy recipes. And it’s not just this website. It’s almost impossible to come across a low carb or paleo website that isn’t pushing some product or another on it’s readers. It’s just ridiculous.
★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
And I think it’s a huge issue when people who have zero idea how much money it takes to run a website like this one and how much time it takes to create content for it, start spouting off about how ridiculous it is that bloggers actually dare to promote products to supplement their income. You come here and get recipes for free. You can use them or not, browse them or not, modify them or not – ALL. FOR. FREE. I’m unsure why you wasted your time and all of ours posting THREE comments on this post complaining about the HVR dressing like it’s a personal affront to you (it’s not Soylent Green for crying out loud) and everyone else here. We all get it. You think I’m a horrible person and all bloggers are money grubbing sell outs. Thanks so much – now just move along and keep your negativity to yourself in the future please.
Heather says
☝??? Melissa
Gloria Bailen-Worden says
YES! You go, girl!! Well said!
Mary says
Great response!
Karen L. says
I’m not familiar with salmon at all. Why the two types in the recipe? Would it matter much if I used 16 oz. of the canned salmon and left out the other? All in all the recipe looks delicious. Eager to try it!
★★★★
Grace says
Hidden Valley Ranch…???? Really???? It has sugar as second ingredient and MSG as well! I guess I will try to figure out a way to simulate that part of the recipe.
Julia says
I just made this with a fresh jalepeno ranch I found at whole foods, and it was amaaaazing. I added some dried cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice to make up for the lack of the cilantro and citrus from the dressing. Without the egg, this would be fantastic as a spicy salmon salad to top lettuce or low carb crackers.
★★★★★
Jason L says
Loved this recipe. Even my boys who typically run from any seafood dish tried them and stated that they were awesome. And amazingly easy.
Susan Hawthorne says
Belize! Can we all come visit? Lol. I’m jealous. I love Mexico and want to move there (Riviera Maya) my only worry is medical care.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Lol Susan! Mexico actually has pretty great health care from what I read! A lot of Belizeans go to Chetumal or Merida for health care – I even know people from the US who have travelled to Mexico specifically to get treatment for certain conditions! I say GO FOR IT! ? ? ? ? ?
Little Cooking Tips says
We don’t have those beautiful dressings here in Greece, but we’ll make it work:) Excellent recipe Mellissa, the weather these days here it’s like it’s summer, so BBQ season is full on!
Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Panos and Mirella
★★★★★
Christine says
Thanks for this recipe, it was a great Saturday lunch along with a salad! I love your site.
★★★★★
Whitney says
I have been eating low carb for four days (I went into keto today!) and I’ve made 2 of your recipes. The easy no chop chili and the Cuban pot roast. They are both good but the Cuban pot roast deserves a little extra mention. It’s fantastic!
Also, congratulations on the hidden valley sponsor. Thats really good. I hope you have continued success so I can keep making your recipes!
Marlene says
I’d also be interested if you could formulate a knock-off for both bottles. I no longer eat the “bad” stuff that’s in them!
Ann says
Mellissa, I love your blog and your recipes and will continue to read/use them. But…. you know what’s in Hidden Valley Dressings, right? They contain sugar, soybean oil, a bunch of stuff you can’t pronounce, and MSG – just to name a few things. I know they provided product, but a knock-off recipe for their dressing would be awesome!
T says
Just because you can’t pronounce an ingredient does not make it bad.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Not everyone is in the same place on their healthy eating journey, and there are many who value convenience over perfectly clean foods who will appreciate the ease of this recipe. That being said I’m sure there are many paleo or clean homemade ranch dressing recipes to be found if you prefer them! Or you can substitute mayo, lemon juice, and a pinch of garlic powder in this recipe if you like!
Lynda says
Thank you for that well measured reply. I am one who is not that far along…I look forward to making the salmon patties.
Grace says
I think my shock came from my misunderstanding about your goal. In my experience, your information has been pretty clean eating based. But I guess that is not the primary focus. My bad. I will change my expectations and make the needed recipe modifications. I think my shock response was just out of my own expectation that your recipes were more clean-focused.
Jacque says
I haven’t bought HVR in a long time because it contain MSG ~ it is not good for you and some people are allergic to it. Will check out this new dressing by HVR to see what the ingredients are but the recipe sounds wonderful and looks delicious! May have to try it! Thanks.
Ann S says
Jacque, I had some hope that it would be safe, but alas, it contains MSG. Not too shocking with the Hidden Valley dressings since they typically do. Those of us who avoid that ingredient may just have to spend the extra time creating a homemade version. 2nd ingredient is sugar too. Something else I didn’t like seeing. But the seasonings are cilantro, garlic, onion and lime. It wouldn’t be too hard adding to a simple ranch dressing recipe to get this extra flavoring.
Sydney says
I totally agree with you Ann! No MSG OR SUGAR for me either! I’m just gonna make my own…I normally make my own anyhow. Both Ranch dressing and Dip! Pretty easy. I just read the ingredients on their product and left out the nasty stuff?
★★★
RICHARD says
Why Belize?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Why not Belize?! I posted a few weeks ago on our trip to Belize and why we decided to move there – we love it for many reasons!
Shevone Jones says
Omg you are moving to Belize. I just moved from Belize to Suriname. Lived in Belmopan for 5 years. It was a hell to do low carb there. People will love you. I see lots of business for you there.