I debated internally whether to publish this story. To me, it was an example of one of those dinners that I make from time to time but don’t really know is blog worthy or not. However, my husband’s enthusiasm for it convinced me. In fact he has been trying to get my to publish the coronation pasta salad recipe for about a year saying that whilst it is simple, it might be what a time-pressed reader might like and it also happens to be his favourite ever dinner. I’m serious, no matter if I’ve slaved over making an elaborate meal, he’ll always look happiest and ask for seconds when I bring out the Coronation pasta salad instead.
I adore fish cakes and crab cakes so I always like making these. These are based on a Nigella recipe from Nigella Bites. I don’t have easy access to Matzo meal as she suggests using so I usually just do my own breadcrumbs or use polenta to give it an extra crunch. It is true when she says that the raw mix doesn’t smell great. I thought it was quite hard to take but when you coat it and fry it up, all is forgiven. I slightly prefer the breadcrumbs to the polenta but in the interests of making haste and not drying out and whizzing up some breadcrumbs I think that polenta or matzo meal is a great substitute. They won’t win any beauty pageants, in fact I had a terrible time photographing them but sometimes the proof is in the eating. And eating and eating.
The Coronation Pasta Salad was named after the famous Coronation Chicken Salad in which sliced chicken breast is combined with mayonnaise, raisins and curry powder (in its more abbreviated form) prepared for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953. I first made it when I needed a side dish one afternoon with whatever I had in the pantry and freezer and ever since then several years ago, my husband has asked for it constantly.
Salmon Cakes
For patties (makes 12)
- 415gram tin of good quality salmon
- 350g cold mashed potato plus 1 tablespoon of melted butter if you mash doesn’t have any butter in it
- 1/4 cup finely sliced spring onion
- 1 egg
- Zest of 1/2 a lemon
- Salt and pepper
For coating
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups of breadcrumbs or 1.5 cups or thereabouts of polenta
- Oil for frying
1. Have a large tray ready and lined with cling wrap. Mix the patty ingredients together with your clean hands and shape into 12 rounds with your hands. Cover with more cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or more if you have time.
2. Whisk eggs in a bowl and on a large dinner plate place the breadcrumbs. Dip a fishcake in carefully into the egg and then dip in breadcrumbs. Mine hadn’t hardened up that much whilst in the fridge for 1 hour.
Frying the polenta coated salmon cakes
3. Heat a frypan on medium heat and add oil. Carefully fry each until golden on one side. I find that I keep the lid on to ensure that the fishcake cooks through before the outside gets burnt. Carefully turn over and repeat until all are done.
Recipe adapted from Nigella Bites
Coronation Pasta Salad
An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Serves 4
- 250grams/0.5 pound uncooked short pasta (penne, shells, your choice)
- 1/3 cup raisins or sultanas
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 3-4 tablespoons good quality mayonnaise
- 1.5 teaspoons curry powder
1. Boil pasta and sultanas in plenty of salted boiling water for 6 minutes. Then for the last 2 minutes add peas and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
2. Drain under cold running water until cold
3. Add the mayonnaise and curry powder and mix. Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now? 
NQN on Facebook
RSS
35 Comments | Add your own
They look just like my Grandma’s Salmon Patties! I agree, so easy but very comforting, and delicious
These look really good, I love salmon. I feel the same way, there are certain recipes that I make all the time but never blog about. I bake bread almost every weekend, but since I use the same few recipes over and over, I never blog about it.
MMMMMM….LOrraine, that is my type of lovely food!!! yum yum yum:)!!!!
Wow Lorraine salmon salmon my preferred fish I adore them in cakes or grilled with spices…
I might eat the entire batch at the screen and as coronation, with the pasta salad
Thanks for these scrumptious dishes!
All the best,
Gera
I don’t know if this is what you want to hear but I think your husband was right on this one.
A number of recipe preparations that I’ve seen here in the past are certainly visually stunning but can also seem a little intimidating or require some degree of skill or specialised equipment. These recipes seem more accessible and down-to-earth.
I don’t know if this is your thing from a branding perspective. However, the change of pace was enjoyed. This is one I’ll certainly look to attempt at some stage
I agree with your husband! This looks fabulous!
They look lovely, Lorraine! I’m a big fan of fish and crab cakes too. They feature in our house every now and then, usually with a salad. PS: My local Woolies has a Jewish/kosher section, and I’m pretty sure they stock matzo meal of some sort, so your local supermarket might have the same?
i really like substituting polenta or cous cous in place of breadcrumbs. the end result is somehow a little less oily and a little more crunchy.
I agree with your husband. I’m always more excited to find great every day meals to serve my family than gourmet treat recipes. Any more recipes like these would be great.
Glad your husband suggested this! Bring on the comfort food recipes I say
Annnnd this is just the kind of meal we’d INSIST someone post! Fabulous, fabulous. Any sea creature in a ‘cake’ is for us!
sometimes the most simple meals are the tastiest! I adore salmon patties…I use crushed saltine crackers as my coating…delicious! I’m not big on Mayo so I usually make simple pastas tossed with olive oil/lemon…but it’s funny how pasta dishes often don’t seem blogworthy enough and yet give me a simple pasta anyday and I’m happy
This one takes me back to my childhood. My mum used to make tuna patties. It’s the only way to eat deb, but it would be so much nicer with real potato like yours.
It’s true, I make salmon cakes all the time and never think them blogworthy. But man, they always hit the spot!
I love salmon! And your salmon fish cakes look so delicious!
I don’t know why you say you had trouble photographing them; they look utterly delicious!
Yep, also in agreeance with your hubby! Such a delicious simple weeknight meal. I actually made these for dinner last night (using the recipe from the side of the tinned salmon) and it was delicious. I also added some dill and flat-leaf parsley and that added a nice contrast with the lemon peel. Great to see coronation pasta salad up there too NQN – I LOVE coronation chicken and have always wanted to serve it – but have always been reluctant as it is seen as a little ‘dated’. However this ‘reinvention’ will def be served up next week.
Great posts this week – just love my daily visits to your part of the web. I am looking forward to attempting the marshmallows -have always wanted to make them after seeing tiny heart cut-out marshmallows in martha stewart magazines. And I think that will be the recipe to try!
Hmmm.. I naver put any salmon with mash potato, usually it is with corned beef or just fying the mash potato alone. I love salmon. Is there any different taste or crunchiness using breadcrumb compared to polenta? Why did you prefer breadcrumb?
My Mum used to make salmon rissoles all the time too
Those salmon cakes look absolutely delicious! And yummy pasta. My family would love this meal!
We are definitely picking up the same vibes at the moment – I have just made both fish cakes and coronation salad! Hope you enjoyed as much as we did.
I started reading your blog about a month ago and I’m hooked!
My boyfriend and I made the Salmon Cakes and Coronation pasta for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Thanks!
These look just wonderful. I’m not really much of a salmon fillet fan but I do like it in a nice cake like this or cold in a great salad. Really nice job!
i love the browning you achieved with your gorgeous little cakes. it makes me want to give salmon a chance.
I just discovered your site– hooray! These salmon cakes are making me drool at 10am. Wowieee.
Those salmon cakes look perfectly golden brown and good!
I think the proof of the pudding – or the meal in this case – is in the eating. If your hubby loves it, then that is all that counts.
Hi lili -Oh very cool! Grandmothers always seem to make the best stuff don’t they
Hi Sara-Yes I can imagine
That’s exactly what happened with this until I was convinced otherwise. I think your bread might be a great story, it must be great if it’s an oft repeated recipe!
Hi Sophie-Thankyou so much!
Hi Gera-Yes and it’s so good foryou too which is great
You’re welcome!
Hi Simon-Hehe I don’t mind hearing it at all! For me, I like to make challenging things although I’d drive myself nuts if I did them on a daily basis. We don’t eat foods from very complicated recipes most of the time for dinner as I don’t have the time to make them and I seem to prefer making sweetsmore than anything else. But it’s great to hear feedback that you like it! Expect more to come
Hi Blond Duck-Thankyou! He’s feeling rather chuffed at the moment
Hi Y-Mmm yes I love crab cakes too and eat fish cakes quite often for dinner or lunch. Our doesn’t I’m afraid
I think it depends on the suburb eg the Eastern suburbs have a section. Double Bay has a huge section! 
Hi. shez-Yes the polenta ends up being super crunchy doesn’t it! I’ve never tried it with couscous although I might next time as I have some.
Hi. michelle-Cool, thanks for the feedback!
Hi Kathy-Oh yes comfort food, the best part of Winter!
Hi The Duo Dishes-Hehe cool! LOL at seacreature in a cake!
Hi Alexandra-Yes luckily he will be over the moon if I serve this up and it’s easy for me too
Saltine crackers are an interesting addition, they’d be much like natxo meal I’d think but already seasoned. Great idea! Yes pasta salad seems to mundane but keeps most people happy.
Hi. Arwen-Yes when you combine it with tuna somehow it suddenly becomes good to eat
Hi justJENN-Isnt that funny? But from the comments everyone seems to like them
Hi yaelian-Thankyou so much!
Hi SydneyGal -I think I felt that they didn’t have the pretty colours of a dessert!
Hi. sallyc-Dill’s a great addition to fish, great idea! Mmm yes Coronation chicken is such a gorgeous classic. Thankyou so much and thanks for reading! Heart cut out ones sound absolutely adorable!
Hi Lilia-I’ve never fried mashed potato-sounds interesting! I prefer breadcrumbs as I tought the polenta was a bit too crunchy and I love the taste of fried or buttered bread.
Hi Lulu-Ahh fantastic, moment and memories of childhood are great!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-I think it’s a real family pleaser and easy so a cook pleaser too :_
Hi Suzie-Hehe how funny! Really? Both of them? That’s very random too!
Hi Maria-Aww thankyou so much! That’s great to hear
So glad that you liked them and you’re most welcome!
Hi Beth-Hehe I’m a salmon nut, any time I see it I order it lol. But yes this isn’t very salmon-ey so good for those that don’t like salmon. Thankyou!
Hi grace-Thankyou! A little browning’s a must for fish cakes. Ahh you don’t like salmon? I know you don’t like looking at fish but is it also eating them?
Hi DeelishDish-Very cool, thankyou! Hehe I’m sorry about that, perhaps salmon cakes for lunch
Hi Kevin-Thankyou very much!
Another recipe to use up those cans of fish! Thanks for posting this, my fiance would love this.
I don’t think I agree with you or Nigella. None of my large family thinks the smell of these fish cakes raw is off putting. I fact I have a “raw” bite just to check seasonings or to add what i feel like at the moment I make them. Been making these (with variations) for years and years. Everyone loves them even my fish hating daughter. Just another sort of burger to her because they taste so nice. I agree with a number of people re simple meals. It’s nice to not have to think too hard sometimes. I made Chinese 5 spice duck last night and it was demanding and messy but gorgeoud. However tonight is tuna pasta and saute veg, nice and simple. Great blog, love it.
Hi pigpigscorner-You’re welcome, I hope you like it!
He Annie-That’s good that you can eat it straight because I can’t!
Yes I can see that, although my natural instinct is to complicate things. I’ll try and post some of my easier recipes up. It’s good to know that people like them as I’ve always thought them unworthy! Thanks so much and thanks for reading 
That’s a lovely, easy dinner for a warm, sunny evening when you don’t want to spend long in the kitchen. I can see why your husband loves it
Hi Angela-Yes I love it so that I don’t have to spend all night in the kitchen and he loves eating it!
We love Salmon Cakes. This is one of my “Go-To” pantry meals. Your pics look sooo yummy!
I tried this recipe tonight – it was fab!
TFS
Post a Comment