Crispy on the outside and moist and creamy on the inside, “Jewish Style” Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes make a perfect Friday Night meal.
Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes
I grew up with Salmon Croquettes. It is one of the few things I remember my mother cooking.
It was actually really good too….even when I was not really a fish eater.
While I love the Pan-Fried version, the Air Fryer does a really good job making an Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes version.
Cast of Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes
The most time consuming part of making Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes, is removing the skin and bones from the Salmon. You can use Bumble Bee Salmon Pink Salmon or buy a Fresh Salmon Fillet and cook it in your Air Fryer.
We love to fish, so we have caught our own Salmon and made Salmon Croquettes.
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Using Canned Salmon
Canned Salmon comes rolled up and there are usually four layers.
What I find easiest, is to break the layers apart and work with one piece at a time. Rinse each layer under cool running water, as you rub off the skin and pull out the backbone and small bones.
Take your time on this part, as you don’t want to choke on a bone and then place the clean fish in a Medium Mixing Bowl. I’m also sensitive to fishy tasting fish, so I remove the darker color Salmon too.
Lemon Dill Aioli Sauce
Lemon Dill Aioli
You are going to want to make up a batch of Lemon Dill Aioli before staring the salmon croquettes and then pop it in the refrigerator to chill.
Another salmon recipe you will enjoy is my Instant Pot Salmon with Rice Pilaf which cooks in the pressure cooker.
Add all ingredients to a Large Mixing Bowl
Grating the Onion
Take a Hand or Box Grater and grate up the Carrot and the Onion.
The Onion will release quite a bit of water, so just give it a quick squeeze and add the Carrot and Onion to the Mixing Bowl with the prepared Salmon.
“Jewish Mom Style” refers to the fact that my mother, I assume, used Matzo Meal, rather than Seasoned Breadcrumbs. I would imagine she also added various seasonings, but I cannot remember exactly. Salmon Croquettes are popular during Passover and Matzo Meal is used in place of breadcrumbs for many recipes.
A delicious Passover Recipe is my Pressure Cooker Passover Vegetable Lasagna.
Form Salmon Mixture into Patties
It has been so long since I have made Salmon Croquettes and my memories are a bit rusty. I do remember that she did not dredge the Croquettes in Flour/Starch or Breadcrumbs prior to frying.
Making Salmon Croquettes
After scanning a bunch of Salmon Croquette recipes on line, it would appear that most people use Italian Seasonings. It makes sense, since Seasoned Breadcrumbs are pretty much breadcrumbs and Italian Seasoning. For all I know, she might have used Seasoned Breadcrumbs at times.
I also noticed that most people do dredge the Croquettes in Breadcrumb prior to cooking. My Crab Cakes recipe (coming soon) is mostly Lump Crab and I don’t dredge those either. Moral of the story is that the Matzo Meal and individual Seasonings can be replaced with Italian Seasoned Breads and then just add Kosher Salt and Pepper.
The Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes recipe makes one dozen Salmon Croquettes.
Place 6 Patties in Greased Air Fryer Basket
Make sure to Grease your Air Fryer Basket really well. Coconut Oil has been working really well. Here is my Article on how to Properly Season/Grease Air Fryer Basket.
This will help, so that food does not stick to the surface of the Air Fryer Basket. You may have to Air Fry the Salmon Croquettes in two or more batches.
My large Go Wise Air Fryer, nicely fits six Salmon Croquettes. The larger Philips Avalance, will just fit five Croquettes at a time.
Another wonderful recipe for your air fryer is my Air Fryer Turkey Croquettes. These are seriously amazing. We make sure to make extra Instant Pot turkey breast and Instant Pot Stuffing at Thanksgiving so we can use the leftover for the turkey croquettes.
Generously Spray the Croquettes with Olive Oil
Using an Oil Mister
Use an Oil Mister to generously spray the Salmon Croquettes. My favorite Oil Mister to use is the Olive Oil Sprayer / Mister for Cooking.
It uses a pump action and after pumping, it sprays continuously to be able to spay the Croquettes really well.
You may think you are using a lot of Oil, but you will be surprised.
Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes {Mom Style}
Serve the Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes with my Lemon Dill Aioli on the side.
Pair the meal with my Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes and a nice Green Salad.
For a nice lunch or brunch, prepare a salad of greens and place a couple of Salmon Croquettes right on top, with a dollop of Lemon Dill Aioli. That will make a beautiful presentation!
Other easy and delicious Air Fryer recipes to try are my Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Hamburger Hamlet Zucchini Zircles and so much more. Check out all my Air Fryer Recipes.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Ultrean 8.5 Quart Air Fryer
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
- Alton Brown Salt Box
- Gravity Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder
- Olive Oil Sprayer / Mister for Cooking
- 3 ounce Porcelain Dipping/Condiment Bowls
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Hand or Box Grater
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
“Jewish Style” Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes
Print Pin Save RateIngredients
- 29.5 ounce Bumble Bee Pink Salmon bones/skin removed (2 cans)
- 1 medium Carrots grated
- 1 small Yellow/Brown Onion grated
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons Matzo Meal
- 1 Tblespoon Chives chopped
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning Blend
- 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
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Instructions
- Mix together Aioli and place in airtight container in refrigerator.
- Remove skin and bones from Salmon and place into medium bowl.
- Peel and grate carrot and place into bowl with salmon.
- Grate onion and squeeze out excess water and add to bowl with salmon.
- Add eggs, mayonnaise, matzo meal, Italian seasonings, chives, lemon juice, salt, pepper and mix together well.
- Form into 12 sections and roll into balls.
- Flatten out balls onto a cookie sheet, so that they are about 3 inches diameter by 3/4 inches thick.
- Place patties into refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Place 6 patties in a single layer into greased air fryer basket and spray well with oil.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 6 minutes and then flip over.
- Spray again with oil and cook 4 minutes, or until brown on both sides.
- Garnish with chives and lemon zest. Serve with Lemon Dill Aioli.
Notes
Nutrition
PIN this Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes!
Can the Mealthy Crisplid be used for this or any of your air fryer recipes? I just received one would love to try many of your recipes. . Thanks much.
Yes, it can be used with all my air fryer recipes, as well as many pressure cooker recipes where you will need to brown the top. Jill
Hi Jill:
I hope you are staying out of FB jail. lol. I just got an air fryer and figured, I’d check out your site. (good move on my part). Anyway, I did follow your link and bought an oil mister. Thanks for all you do!
Hehehe, Janie, you remember last year at this time, do you? That was awful. I know you will enjoy using your air fryer. Thank you. Jill
I like to coat my salmon patties with a little cornmeal. I think that was my great grandmother’s secret ingredient
I’d like to know what the nutritional value is on this recipe.
I was looking at this recipe and was wondering if you had ever thought about using a hamburger press to make the salmon patties?
I don’t, but it is a good idea. Jill
You’ve removed so much nutrition from this recipe!
How so?
You are aware that the bones in canned salmon are cooked soft and provide a nice bit of calcium? My mom made salmon croquettes similar to these, but crushed the bones and mixed them into the fish. I never knew they were there until she told me.
Actually, the bones can be left in and are a great source of calcium. When I make salmon patties (as we call them), I use a fork and crush them against the side of the bowl. They crush very easily. Just about of info. ?
This looks so good! I am waiting for my air-fryer to come in today and I think this will be the first thing I try along with the Instant-pot mashed potatoes!