Lemon Sauced Salmon Patties

My sister and I were talking earlier today. She was telling me that she had had to throw away a dozen cans of out of date Salmon from my mother's larder and that there were still about half a dozen that were still in date but that she was taking to the food bank. She wouldn't have dared throw it away while mum was alive, but now mum is gone, there is no point keeping it.

Mum did love a bargain, and tended to hoard things like tinned salmon, toilet paper and shampoo. I don't think my sister will have to buy toilet paper for years, (LOL) and the local charity shop has been gifted with a nice box of shampoos and creams for their employees to share.

We were remembering how in the summer when it was hot sometimes my mom would open a tin of salmon and we would each get a spoonful on our plate along with some potato salad, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, etc. and that would be supper. We both hated it . . .

I am still not fond of it served that way, and I confess when I buy tinned salmon, I always buy the one without any skin or bones. I don't care how much more it costs.

On its own I would much rather have a nicely cooked fillet of salmon or salmon steak . . . but I do love tinned salmon in a casserole, loaf or pie.

It would be a shame to use a nice fillet of salmon in this way, but one feels no compunction or guilt about using a nice tin of salmon for dishes such as this.

Simple salmon patties . . . flaked and mashed tinned salmon, mixed with some breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley, grated onion (I use my micro plane grater) and seasoning, mixed together and spooned into well buttered muffin cups . . .

Baked until set and golden brown. You could add some finely minced green pepper if you wanted to, which would be nice or even some finely chopped green olives . . .

I try not to pack them into the muffin cups . . . I want them light and fluffy and I love the little crispy bits that you get from the uneven texture on the tops of them . . .

I always like to make a sauce to serve with them . . . sometimes I will use creamed peas . . . which is very old fashioned . . .

Today I made a creamy lemon sauce, which is different than my usual Lemon Butter Sauce . . .

Its like a basic bechamel sauce but with the addition of lemon juice and cayenne pepper . . .

This gets spooned over the baked patties . . .

Such a simple dish, but so flavourful. I served them with some scalloped potatoes and steamed baby peas.