Salmon is one of the most versatile fish to cook with. It’s rich, fatty texture takes well to pan frying baking, grilling poaching and more cooking methods. But like many seafoods, it can be tricky to reheat salmon leftovers in appetizing ways. The delicate proteins tend to dry out, flake apart and lose moisture when reheated.
What should you do with the cooked salmon that you have left over? If you’re creative, you can turn leftover salmon into totally delicious new dishes. This article will look at 15 creative ways to use up leftover salmon in new and tasty ways. From salmon cakes and salads to wraps, bowls, and more, these recipes are full of flavor that you’ll want to make them often for dinner.
Why Cook Extra Salmon?
First, let’s look at why you may end up with leftovers in the first place. There are a few good reasons to intentionally cook extra salmon portions:
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Meal prepping Cooking salmon in bulk allows you make quick meals for lunch at work or school. Having pre-made portions saves time and makes healthy eating easier.
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Freezing for later Salmon freezes well for 2-3 months Cook once, eat some, freeze some for effortless future meals
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Avoid waste: Salmon tends to come in large fillets. It’s economical to cook it all and reinvent the leftovers.
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Embrace abundance: Having leftovers means not having to cook every day. Enjoy the luxury of pre-made food on hand.
How to Store Leftover Salmon
Proper storage is key for getting the most mileage from cooked salmon. Here are some tips:
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Let salmon cool completely before storing. Don’t pack hot salmon into the refrigerator.
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Store in an airtight container. Glass or plastic works well. The airtight seal prevents moisture loss.
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Use leftovers within 3 days. Salmon is very perishable and best when fresh.
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Refrigerate promptly. Don’t leave salmon sitting on the counter.
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You can also freeze cooked salmon in an airtight bag or container for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
15 Satisfying Recipes for Leftover Salmon
Now let’s explore delicious ways to breathe new life into leftover cooked salmon! Here are 15 stellar recipes that transform salmon in creative ways:
1. Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs
Start your day right with a rich scramble of eggs, fresh dill, capers, and flaked smoked salmon. This elegant breakfast or brunch feels special but takes just 10 minutes to make. The saltiness of the salmon pairs perfectly against fluffy scrambled eggs.
2. Salmon Salad Sandwich
A salmon salad sandwich is a satisfying way to use up flaked cooked salmon. Mix it with celery, red onion, dill pickle, yogurt, mustard and other flavorful ingredients. Pile it onto whole grain bread or lettuce wraps for a nutritious lunch or light dinner.
3. Salmon Cakes
Salmon cakes are a gourmet twist on everyday fish cakes. Mash up cooked salmon with breadcrumbs, egg, scallions, herbs and spices. Form into patties and pan-fry until crispy on the outside and moist inside. Serve salmon cakes on buns for sandwiches or atop salads.
4. Salmon Rice Bowl
Build a hearty salmon rice bowl for a fast, protein-packed meal. Layer flaked salmon over rice with roasted veggies, greens, avocado and a zesty sauce like miso ginger dressing. The flavors and textures together are exceptional.
5. Salmon Quinoa Salad
Toss leftover salmon into a quinoa salad for a satisfying lunch. Quinoa, spinach, cucumber, and avocado provide fiber and crunch. Lemon, olive oil, garlic, and dill amp up the flavor. It’s healthy, fresh and easy to make.
6. Salmon Wraps
Stuff salad wraps with leftover salmon for an easy weekday lunch or light dinner. Load up spinach tortillas with salmon, hummus, shredded carrot, cucumber, and pickled red onions. The tangy flavor combo is addicting.
7. Pasta with Salmon Cream Sauce
Transform salmon into a rich, creamy pasta sauce. Simmer flaked salmon in a sauce of cream, parmesan, lemon and dill. Toss with hot pasta for an elegant, restaurant-worthy dinner that comes together in minutes.
8. Salmon Niçoise Salad
Make a satisfying nicoise salad with leftover salmon in place of tuna. Top crisp lettuce, tender green beans, hard boiled eggs and roasted potatoes with seasoned salmon. Dress simply with olive oil and lemon.
9. Salmon Tacos with Avocado Salsa
Load up soft corn tortillas with leftover salmon to make tasty salmon tacos for a fun weeknight dinner. Top with crunchy cabbage, a spicy avocado salsa, and a tangy yogurt drizzle. Fast, fresh and full of flavor.
10. Smoked Salmon Bagel
Pile flaked smoked salmon onto a toasted bagel half with cream cheese, tomato, red onion, capers and fresh dill. It’s a hearty, protein-packed breakfast sandwich that takes just minutes to throw together.
11. Salmon Fried Rice
Toss leftover salmon into fried rice for a simple weeknight win. Sauté salmon with veggies like carrots, broccoli and onion. Mix in cooked rice, soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger. Dinner is served.
12. Pasta Salad with Salmon
Make an easy pasta salad by mixing cooked salmon into cold pasta. Toss with diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, parsley, basil, feta and a lemony vinaigrette. Chill before serving for bright, fresh flavor.
13. Salmon Caesar Salad
Transform salmon leftovers into an elegant main dish salad. Toss chilled chunks of salmon with crunchy romaine, croutons, parmesan and creamy Caesar dressing. It’s restaurant quality but made at home.
14. Salmon Burgers
Grind up cooked salmon fillets and shape into juicy, protein-packed salmon burgers. Broil or pan fry until lightly charred on the outside while keeping the inside moist. Serve on buns with all your favorite burger toppings.
15. Smoked Salmon Dip
Make an easy appetizer or sandwich spread by blending flaked salmon into a creamy dip. Mix with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and fresh dill. Serve with crackers, sliced veg or spread on sandwiches.
Extra Tips for Leftover Salmon
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Flake the salmon into bite size pieces before storing. This makes it easy to incorporate into recipes.
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Add leftover salmon to omelets, frittatas, pizza, pasta, soups, salads, flatbreads, potatoes and more. Get creative!
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Refrigerate salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freeze for longer storage.
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If reheating, use the microwave, pan frying or toaster oven to avoid overcooking. Reheating in liquid helps keep salmon moist.
With a little inspiration, leftover cooked salmon can be transformed into all sorts of delicious new dishes. Try making inventive salmon salads, bowls, tacos, dips and more. Follow proper storage methods to maximize freshness and flavor. With endless possibilities for reinventing leftovers, you’ll look forward to creating tasty meals with leftover salmon.
Salmon Cakes made from Leftover Salmon Trimmings
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5 from 7 reviews
- Author: Spicepaw
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
Salmon cakes made from roasted leftover salmon trimmings, breadcrumbs and a variety of herbs and spices. A great recipe for those that love fish cakes but hate food waste. #fish #salmon #healthy.
- 600–800 g (21–28 oz) of cooked salmon scraps or 200 g (7 oz) of boneless salmon fillet3 tablespoons of chopped scallions1 tablespoon of garlic powder1 tablespoon of paprika2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs1 egg1 tablespoon of lemon zest1/2 tablespoon of ginger powderpinch of nutmeg1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard1/2 tablespoon of sea salta sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F.
- Add the salmon scraps to a casserole dish and season with salt and pepper.
- Put the fish in the oven for 30 minutes or until it’s done.
- When fish is cooked, remove from oven and let cool.
- Once it’s cool enough to touch, carefully take the meat off the bones. Be watchful for the stray fishbone. Discard skin and bones. Keep any oil for frying later.
- Salmon meat, paprika, chopped celery leaves, chopped scallions, egg, lemon zest, ginger powder, a pinch of nutmeg, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper should all be mixed together. Mix until thoroughly combined and refrigerate until ready to fry.
- When you’re ready to fry, put a little oil in a pan over medium to medium-high heat.
- Make patties out of the mixture with your hands and put them in the hot frying pan.
- It should take about 5 to 7 minutes on each side to turn both sides golden brown. Don’t flip the salmon patties too many times, or they’ll fall apart.
- Take them off the heat when both sides are golden brown and serve with your favorite sauce.
- Coarsely chop the celery leaves, scallions, garlic powder, egg, lemon zest, ginger powder, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Add the cooked salmon and mix everything together. Mix until thoroughly combined and refrigerate until ready to fry.
- Put a little oil in a frying pan over medium to medium-high heat when you’re ready to fry.
- Make patties out of the mixture with your hands and put them in the hot frying pan.
- It should take about 5 to 7 minutes on each side to turn both sides golden brown. Don’t flip the salmon patties too many times, or they’ll fall apart.
- Take them off the heat when both sides are golden brown and serve with your favorite sauce.
- Prep Time: 30min
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Fish
- Method: pan frying
- Cuisine: Western
Don’t use a beautiful piece of fish to make salmon cakes
I love salmon cakes. For Christmas morning breakfast, I serve salmon cakes with Hollandaise sauce, sliced avocado, and an egg poached in water. During the week, I make salmon cakes with parsley sauce and serve them with crispy potatoes and steamed vegetables. There’s no wrong time.
Even though I love salmon cakes, I feel a little bad when I cut up a beautiful salmon fillet to make fish cakes. After all, there’s so much that one can do with a beautiful piece of salmon. For both a fish cake fix and to feel better about throwing away food, I decided to try making them with the most luxurious of things: salmon trimmings.
If you like to eat as sustainably as possible and hate food waste, then I highly recommend making fish cakes of any kind with leftover trimmings. If you’ve got a gentle hand and are vigilant with fish bones, then you are rewarded with moist salmon, soaked in that good omega-3 fat. If not, no problem. Just used canned salmon or fry up some fillets. This fish cake recipe is good both ways so the choice is yours.
How to make an easy Salmon Omelette using cooked salmon leftovers.
FAQ
How do you eat leftover salmon?
What to do with dry cooked salmon?
How long is leftover salmon good for in the fridge?
How do you revive leftover salmon?
What can I do with Leftover Salmon?
These easy and creative leftover salmon recipes include sandwiches, salads, pastas, and more. They’ll make your week even easier!
What are the benefits of eating cooked salmon for dinner daily?
The daily consumption of salmon can provide proteins of high biological value, healthy fats, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, selenium, and vitamins of groups B, E, and D.
What to do with Leftover Salmon soufflé?
Salmon soufflé is a popular choice for a leftover recipe because it doesn’t take much effort to put together but the end result tastes wonderful. You could even skip making the white sauce that usually accompanies this dish and just go with a simple lemon butter sauce to cut down on time and effort.
What to do with Leftover Salmon burgers?
Starting with cooked salmon means these burgers cook up even faster in a skillet or on the grill. Stuff leftover salmon inside a warm tortilla with lime-tinged avocado, crunchy shredded cabbage, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro leaves and you won’t be disappointed.