If you ask us, fresh salmon is basically pink gold, which means there’s never a good reason to let any of it go to waste. Fortunately, leftover salmon is a key ingredient in plenty of no-fuss, tasty recipes out there, and usually makes for a quick and satisfying meal.
So, do you have extra salmon leftover from last night? Here are some delicious recipes you can make with leftover cooked salmon:
1. Make Crispy Salmon Hash
Instead of starting from scratch, add your leftover salmon to this salmon hash recipe. This traditional take features potato, pepper, onion and dill. Simply flake the cooked salmon in at the last minute and you've transformed your leftovers into a beautiful new bowl.
2. Make Chowder
Is there anything better than a creamy bowl of chowder? To spice up this rendition of wild salmon chowder, try replacing the dairy components with one can of unsweetened coconut milk — and maybe add a couple tablespoons of your favorite curry paste, a squeeze of lime juice, and fresh cilantro.
3. Make Quick Salmon Cakes or Patties
Easy and scrumptious, these fish patties combine leftover salmon with the texture of breadcrumbs to make a meal that even picky eaters can appreciate. The patties are baked, and served hot with a squeeze of lemon or accompanied by homemade tartar sauce.
You can even make a large batch of these salmon patties to stash in your freezer for future use. The best way to keep them is to freeze the patties while they are uncooked, as they will be more moist and flavorful upon use. Simply store flat in a freezer-safe bag or container, using parchment to separate each layer of patties from the next to prevent them from freezing to each other. Alteratively, you can store leftover salmon in the fridge for up to four days.
4. Make a Niçoise Salad
Tonight’s leftover poached salmon becomes tomorrow’s French Riviera-worthy lunch in this easy take on the salade Niçoise. Rather than using olive oil-packed anchovies to complete this dish, this recipe replaces features tender flaked Pacific halibut, but can also be swapped with flaked leftover salmon. All you have to do is whisk up the dressing, bake a few components on a sheetpan for a hands off approach — eggs, potatoes, and green beans — and arrange everything over a bed of crisp greens.
5. Make Salmon Tacos
Elevate your fish taco game with leftover wild salmon. All you need to do is prep a few toppings and mash up some ripe avocados, and you’re ready for a gourmet taco dinner, thanks in part to your Alaskan catch. Heat up chunks of salmon with some soft tortillas and serve immediately.
6. Make a Pasta
A creamy garlic sauce, balanced with the bite of broccoli, is the perfect accompaniment to leftover salmon in this decadent pasta dish. While the pasta is cooking — this recipe calls for fettucine, but any pasta will do — you will have plenty of time to make the delicious cream sauce. Fold in the flaked salmon as it all comes together at the end.
7. Make a Frittata
This recipe for veggie frittata with wild Alaskan seafood is truly a chameleon. It calls for any cooked seafood you have on hand, shredded, and any vegetables you have ready. It is truly a leftover-lover's dream. A handful of shredded cheese pulls it together and is complemented nicely but whatever herbs you have on hand.
8. Make Salmon Fried Rice
Have leftover salmon and leftover rice taking up space in your refrigerator? Fried rice is an ideal way to repurpose both of those ingredients into a stellar meal that comes together in under 10 minutes. Note: You can use freshly made rice as well, but leftover rice tends to fry up better due to the fact that it’s been dried out a bit by a night or two in the fridge.
Even More Recipes and Meal Ideas
Wild Alaskan Company is the leading source for wild-caught salmon.
Shop our selection of wild seafood caught sustainably off Alaska's waters and learn more about the six to eight ounce wild coho and sockeye salmon we ship direct to home cooks throughout the world.
Getting hungry? Our blog and recipe collection has meal ideas for everything from sautes to salad.
