I grew up on these tasty little fried cakes, which Granny Foster used to serve for breakfast with fried eggs and biscuits, or sometimes for supper along with mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Like most Southerners, Granny used canned salmon in her croquettes. I opt instead for freshly poached or grilled salmon, a move that allows the delicate, grassy flavor of the fish to come through. Crispy and satisfying (the name croquette comes from the French for “to crunch”), these easy treats are an excellent way to revitalize leftovers from last night’s salmon dinner, ensuring that the switch from canned to fresh fish does not necessarily sacrifice convenience.

　　

Ingredients

makes 8 cakes / serves 4 to 6

　　1 tablespoon olive oil

　　1/4 cup diced onion

　　1 pound grilled or poached salmon fillets, broken into large chunks

　　1 1/2 cups dried bread crumbs or cracker crumbs

　　1 large egg, lightly beaten

　　Zest and juice of 1 lemon

　　2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil

　　Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　Canola oil, for sautéing

　　

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling hot (see Know-how, page 100). Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.

　　

Step 2

Transfer the onion to a mixing bowl and add the salmon, 1/2 cup of the bread crumbs, the egg, lemon zest and juice, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste; stir gently to mix. Take care not to break the chunks of fish up too small; do not overmix.

　　

Step 3

Form the salmon mixture into 8 patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Place the remaining 1 cup bread crumbs in a shallow bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir to mix. Dredge the croquettes with the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides and pressing gently to adhere. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm.

　　

Step 4

In the same skillet used to cook the onions, pour enough canola oil to just cover the bottom and place over medium-high heat until sizzling hot. Place the croquettes in the hot oil, cooking in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding, and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Flip the croquettes only once; reduce the heat to medium if they start browning too quickly. Remove from the skillet, drain on a brown paper bag, and serve warm.

　　Reprinted with permission from Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen: Soulful, Traditional, Seasonal by Sara Foster. Copyright © 2011 by Sara Foster. Published by Random House. All Rights Reserved.Sara Foster is the owner of Foster's Market, the acclaimed gourmet take-out store/cafés in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the author of several cookbooks including The Foster's Market Cookbook, winner of the Best Cookbook Award from the Southeast Booksellers Association. She has appeared numerous times on Martha Stewart Living Television and NBC's Today show. She has also been featured in magazines such as More, House Beautiful, and Southern Living, and is featured regularly in Bon Appétit.