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Wilder Shaw is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, specializing in taste tests and fast food. He has over a decade of food-writing experience, and his work has appeared in Thrillist, The Washington Post, L.A. Taco, Time Out, and numerous other publications.
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Slammin' Salmon
Tuna is one of the best budget-friendly groceries you can acquire, but if you’re starting to get sick of it, you might be curious about canned salmon. It’s not as cheap as canned tuna, but there’s still a whole lot you can do with the fish; canned salmon isshelf-stable and can last at room temperature for up to three years. It's also a lot cheaper and easier than cooking a salmon filet.
When a Redditor found themself with a surplus of canned salmon, they asked for some recipes that would help hide the fishy taste— here are some of our favorites from the thread and elsewhere. But first, we dug into some common questions about canned salmon.
What's the Best Way To Eat Canned Salmon?
The first choice you have to make is whether you want your salmon packed in water or oil. It's commonly sold both ways, and though oil will often make the fish tastier and more tender, it can also strip down some ofthe omega-3 fatty acids that make salmon good for you. From there, the possibilities are endless. Add it to a pasta salad, spread it over toast, or mix up a delicious salmon salad.
Is Canned Salmon Healthier Than Tuna?
Generally, anything you're consuming out of a can isn't the pinnacle of healthy eating. That said, salmon has a lot moreomega-3 and vitamin D than tuna.But, if you're looking for more protein and fewer calories, tuna might be the way to go.
How Often Can You Eat Canned Salmon?
The FDA's general recommendation for salmon is two or three servings a week, and they define a serving as about 4 ounces.
As with all things, it's OK to exceed that a little bit. But if you're eating 10 servings of salmon a week, you may want to get tested for mercury poisoning.
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1. Salmon Patties
There was nothing more prevalent in the Reddit thread’s discourse than salmon patties, each Redditor piping in with their preferred style of preparation. You’ll often find this dish referred to as salmon “croquettes.” The most interesting idea came from one user who said they replaced the breadcrumb aspect with pork skins.
Pair it with:Sweet potato fries
Recipe: Back to My Southern Roots
Related:‘Dishwasher Salmon’ and Other Dangerous Food Hacks You Should Never Try
2. Salmon Chowder
I’ve never met a chowder I didn't like, and chances are, neither have you. Stuck with smoked salmon rather than canned salmon? Go for some Pike Place Market-style smoked salmon chowder instead.
Pair it with:Crusty, toasty bread
Recipe: Taste of Home
Related:This Coffee and Tuna TikTok Hack Is Perfect for Camping
3. Pasta Salad with Salmon
Tuna works in pasta salad, so why not salmon? Some macaroni salad with salmon could serve as the perfect side dish alongside some Hawaiian barbecue.
Pair it with:Fried chicken
Recipe:Simply Recipes
4. Salmon Caesar Wraps
Here’s a fun recipe. One Redditor suggested their signature salmon Caesar wraps. After mixing the fish with Caesar dressing, “add in a finely chopped tomato and mix well. Then put it into a wrap or 2 with a pickle,” they write.
Pair it with:French fries or potato chips
Recipe:Punchfork
5. Salmon Gratin
Sure, this is loaded with butter and cream, but any excuse to use a French word in a dish you’re cooking is a bonus. Impress your friends, impress your family, impress yourself.
Pair it with:Roasted potatoes
Recipe:Jacques Pépin
6. Salmon Casserole
Who says you can’t mix seafood and cheese? Tell that rule to every tuna melt you’ve ever had. All is forgiven in a delicious casserole, too.
Pair it with:Coleslaw or grilled veggies
Recipe:The Spruce Eats
7. Salmon Curry
In addition to bathing salmon in masala sauce, you can turn it into a different Indian-style sauce.According to one Redditor, mix “curry powder, garlic, and sliced onion in oil, fry for a bit, add drained, canned salmon and fry some more, then add some more diced onion, salt, pepper, turmeric, garam masala and some water, not too much, then let it cook back down so you have a kind of sauce with all of it.”
Pair it with:Basmati rice and raita
Recipe:Mediterrasian
8. Spicy Salmon Onigiri
Onigiri, a seaweed-wrapped rice ball, is a popular snack in Japan and Hawaii. But look, making the spicy salmon filling is actually the easy part. Rolling, cutting, and slicing the rice balls themselves should give you a nice challenge.
Pair it with:Cucumber salad
Recipe:Two Red Bowls
9. Salmon Niçoise Salad
The classic French salad is usually made with tuna, but like most of the other dishes on this list, you can swap it for salmon.Bon Appétit's even got a recipe for a salmon Niçoisesandwich. Innovators.
Pair it with:Sparkling rosé
Recipe: Bon Appétit
10. Salmon Meatballs
I would not have thought of meatballs when it comes to canned salmon recipes, but I respect the idea. A lot of salmon ball recipes out there on the internet come with some sort of avocado sauce, and I'm not sure who started that trend, but I'm into it. I'll definitely try this myself.
Pair it with:Avocado sauce or zucchini noodles
Recipe:Cookin' Canuck
11. Sushi Bake
This sounds great. Almost like a cross between spicy salmon crispy rice and a tuna casserole, which gets a big thumbs up from me. If going for this recipe, I'd make sure to properly prepare the sushi rice, which means a lot of rinsing. It's laborious, but fully worth it.
Pair it with:Miso soup
Recipe:Tasting Table
12. Salmon Frittata
I love a good frittata. Topping this with some non-canned smoked salmon seems like a good call, and make sure you've got a little bit of crème fraîche on hand as well.
Pair it with:Arugula salad
Recipe:Food & Wine
13. Salmon Coulibiac
This Russian classic is essentially just a salmon Wellington. Here's something to flex with if you're making a big Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. Plus, this was apparentlyPrince Phillip's favorite food.
Pair it with:Green beans and mashed potatoes
Recipe:BBC Good Food
14. Salmon Dip
Brunch, co*cktail hour, a picnic, you name it: There are a lot of situations that can be leveled up with the addition of salmon dip. And if you've got canned smoked salmon on your hands, you've also got a killer bagel spread.
Pair it with:Multigrain crackers and crudité
Recipe:Love and Other Spices
15. Salmon Salad
This is the most obvious possible thing to do with canned salmon, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with that. Make a sandwich out of it, top a salad with it, or dip Ritz crackers in there. There are no wrong answers.
And to answer your question: Yes, it can handle cheese. Melt that sandwich up.
Pair it with:Good bread and chili crisp
Recipe:The Real Food Dietitians
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