# Southwestern Salmon Cakes

Updated: 2026-10-25

By Chef Pierre. Southwestern Salmon Cakes is a home recipe from Fountain View Fish Market in Houston, family run since 1972. It serves 4. Coarsely chopped salmon cakes in a crisp panko crust, with lime wedges and a cool cilantro-yogurt sauce.

Serves 4 · 40 minutes · Updated 2026-10-25


## Why this recipe works

Chopped salmon, not a puree and not canned fish, keeps juicy flakes inside the cake. A dry panko coat browns before the center overcooks, and a cold yogurt sauce carries the lime and herbs so the cakes themselves stay simple.

## Substitutions

Ask the counter about another mild fish that chops cleanly, such as swai. Shrimp, chopped the same way, also works. Skip canned fish.

## Ingredients

- 1 pound salmon, skinned and cut into coarse chunks
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, plus 1 cup for coating
- 2 green onions, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus 2 tablespoons for the sauce
- 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced, divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus a pinch for the sauce
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 tablespoons neutral oil
- Lime wedges

## Steps

1. Stir the yogurt, lime juice, 2 tablespoons cilantro, a little of the jalapeño, and a pinch of salt. Chill the sauce while you shape the cakes.
2. Chop the salmon by hand into pea-size pieces and leave a few larger flakes. A smooth paste turns bouncy in the pan.
3. Fold in the egg, 1/2 cup panko, green onions, the remaining cilantro and jalapeño, cumin, chili powder, lime zest, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Chill 15 minutes.
4. Shape 8 cakes and press both sides into the remaining panko.
5. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium. Fry until the crust is deep gold, about 3 minutes per side. The center should look opaque and read about 145 F.
6. Serve with the yogurt sauce and lime wedges.

## Get it at the fresh counter

**Salmon.** Get it at the fresh counter. Ask at the fresh counter for salmon.

HTML page: https://www.fountainviewfishmarket.com/recipes/southwestern-salmon-cakes