Red Lentil Salmon Patties with Jalapeno Pickled Red Onions

Jump to recipe
Jump to recipe

lentil salmon patties

[These Red Lentil Salmon Patties come together in a flash and are packed with omega 3s and protein!]

There’s no shame in my canned fish game. 

Good quality canned fish (like wild caught salmon) is a staple that I always try to keep on hand. It’s perfect for quick lunches and dinners and requires about three seconds of prep work. (unless you ask your kitchen challenged husband to open up the can for you. Then it takes about 3 minutes, and a good laugh). 

While I love just plunking a can of wild-caught salmon straight onto a salad, that can get a little mundane after a while. These red lentil salmon patties were born out of the need to mix things up.

And empty out a fridge of leftovers. 

lentil salmon patties

Here’s why red lentils are perfect for making salmon patties:

Red lentils don’t really hold their shape during cooking, so they’re best for soups, purees, and mashing into salmon patties.

Traditionally, fish cakes use cracker crumbs to bind everything together. But I like to use red lentils. Why? Because unlike cracker crumbs, red lentils are packed with protein and B-vitamins AND capable of lowering cholesterol! They also keep your salmon patties gluten free. 

So the choice is clear, if you ask me πŸ˜‹. 

lentil salmon patties

And now, a quick word about these jalapeno pickled red onions

I had a science project in 3rd grade that involved making homemade pickles. The fact that I can vividly remember that first briny, crunchy bite from all those years back shows you what kind of an impact it had on me.

I love pickled things, so I really don’t know why it’s taken me so long to do it with red onions!

These pickled red onions couldn’t be simpler to make. Plus, they transform into the most vibrant pink color, which makes eating them that much more fun.

The jalapeno gives a really great flavor and balances with the sweetness of the honey and the tang of the vinegar. It’s not overly spicy, but if spice isn’t your thing you can easily leave the jalapenos out!

lentil salmon patties

I’m trying to urge Spring on, so I served these lentil salmon patties up with some sliced radish and radish microgreens.

But the next day, when the jalapeno pickled red onions were long gone (ahem), I topped my leftover salmon patties with some salsa and avocado. Both versions were taste-worthy of being added to the regular dinner rotation. 

lentil salmon patties

Cheap eats that are good for you, delicious, and versatile?

What are you waiting on? 

*I soak my lentils before I cook them to increase nutrient availability and digestibility 



2 responses to “Red Lentil Salmon Patties with Jalapeno Pickled Red Onions”

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.