Clearly this recipe can be done with salmon, kokanee, char or really any fish you want. I just like it with trout. The herbs are also open to improvisation; the combination I use is what I like. Serve these with a green salad or as the filling in a sandwich.
Recipe by Hank Shaw on September 4, 2017
Prep time: PT30M
Cook time: PT15M
Total time: PT45M
Rating
4.97 stars (62 reviews)
Keywords
fish, kokanee, trout
Ingredients
1 pound trout meat, (skinless and boneless)
1 cup minced onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs, (lightly beaten)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped chives
1/4 cup chopped tarragon or dill
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil, (for frying)
Categories
Main Course
Cuisine
American
Steps
Cook the minced onion with the butter in a small pan over medium heat until translucent, but not browned. Remove from the pan and let cool.
Chop the trout meat with a knife into bits. You can chop very roughly and then pulse a couple times in a food processor, but you want the trout in little pieces, not as a paste.
Mix all the remaining ingredients (except the frying oil) together in a large bowl. Form cakes with your hands. I like them about the width of my palm. You will need to wash your hands a couple times to remove debris; this helps you make cleaner, nicer cakes.
Let the cakes sit in the fridge for 20 minutes or so -- this lets the breadcrumbs absorb moisture, which helps your cakes hold together.
Heat the frying oil in a large, wide pan over medium-high heat. Fry as many cakes as will fit in one layer without touching. Cook them until each side is golden brown, about 4 to 6 minutes per side. Serve hot.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 585 kcal
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Protein: 31 g
Fat: 40 g
Saturated Fat: 22 g
Cholesterol: 166 mg
Sodium: 1041 mg
Sugar: 4 g
Reviews
Gus on 2026-06-28 (5 stars): Amazing! Highly recommend using scrapes from your carcasses for this.
D Justice on 2026-01-12 (5 stars): Great recipe! Turned out great. I think letting them sit in the fridge before cooking is a smart step! I’ve filed the recipe & will use it again.
Melissa Cook on 2025-10-05 (5 stars): Made these tonight and they are AMAZING!! Thank you!
Betty on 2025-08-18 (5 stars): Excellent recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Mark E. Mueller on 2025-07-12 (5 stars): These were a hit. Had a leftover grilled laker fillet. Used a handful of Funions cuz I was out of real onion. Served over greens and with some yum yum spicy sauce on the side.
Thea on 2024-10-19 (5 stars): This recipe was delicious and so easy to make! I had leftover trout (with Cajun seasoning), did panko instead of breadcrumbs and soy sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce. Will absolutely make this again and have recommended to friends.
Jaime Parker on 2024-07-22 (5 stars): My husband and I went fishing and camping last week and caught lots of trout. After a good catching day I made this with linguine and a lemon butter cream sauce and it was one of the best meals we have ever had. My guy was not excited to have fish cakes on the menu but after one bite he wants these on regular rotation. They hold together amazing and the ingredients combine well and are flavorful without being too strong. Absolutely perfect.
Katherine Sharon Faber on 2024-07-07 (5 stars): I fixed these the other night, they were delicious. My husband loved them. I had 4 left over and I froze those. They will be a delicious treat down the road.
Jenna on 2024-05-24 (5 stars): these were so freaking good. I used dill & left over brown trout. perfect moisturizer to dry ratio, had no problem with them falling apart.? appetizer!
Jennifer on 2024-05-05 (5 stars): Wow, these were the best! Caught some trout yesterday, smoked it today and came across this recipe - definite do-over and saving this to make again and again! I added the zest of 1/2 lemon and chopped up some capers to add my own twist to it and served with a garlic lemon aoli - super yummy!
Lorne Mitchell on 2024-05-05 (5 stars): Excellent recipe! Thank you. I’ll definitely cook these again!
Ed schetting on 2024-05-02 (5 stars): Hank another phenomenal recipe!! I don’t know how you do it but I’m glad you do! Thank you
Nick on 2024-03-24 (5 stars): I just had these for breakfast with a sunny side egg on top. Delicious, I’ll be saving this recipe.