So I am sitting at the dinner table, eating the delicious meal pictured above, and I say to my husband…. “See! This is as good as a restaurant!… wow… this tastes gourmet.” He looks back at me, grimacing … “STOP SAYING THAT.”
We are always having a constant battle about this, he says “I like your cooking better than eating out”…and to “stop comparing it to restaurant food” but in the back of my mind I am thinking…”But I’m not a trained chef, I didn’t go to culinary school, I didn’t learn to cook until my late 20′s!, (my Dad didn’t let me touch the stove until I was 18) and for goodness sakes…. I just want to be able to compare my cooking to what I find spectacular…something…anything….. that’s all.”
I’m left with this dilemma all the time…If you have any good solutions to what I should say next time I make a killer meal, I’m OPEN ears…I still have no idea.
Ok… on to that killer meal…(maybe that’s all I need say?!)
This meal started with the best frozen WILD salmon I’ve ever had. (I never buy or eat farmed salmon, here’s exactly why). Before we got a Whole Foods here in Charlotte, I would rely on Trader Joe’s for frozen wild caught salmon…but no more!
Whole Foods variety has totally blown me away on multiple occasions, which totally makes sense considering the very high sustainability and quality standards they adhere to for their seafood. If you have had better frozen salmon than Whole Foods – I want to know… because I’m not sure it gets better than this!
Salmon cakes are really really easy to make…however, I decided to leave out the “cake” part – i.e. the flour. I just don’t think using flour is even necessary for these bad boys to taste good. And you know how I feel about flour in general…unless it’s whole grain and sprouted, I’m not really interested in making it a staple in my house.
I throw in a couple of really great cleansing and detox herbs like cilantro and parsley and some lime, a few spices and an egg into the blender (yes, blender! you don’t even need to get out your food processor) and the salmon comes alive.
Then I make some patties, let them rest in the fridge for 5 mins and throw them on the grill or the oven, (your choice)…
And while they are cooking, I make the bed for which the cakes lie on…. I massage (yes, massage with my bare hands), some arugula with some super quick avocado based dressing (~1 min to make) and chop up some cherry tomatoes…. And that’s it. Quick. Easy. Done. DYNAMITE!
- For the cakes:
- 1 pound of wild salmon frozen (thawed) or fresh, skin removed and chopped
- 1 handful of cilantro
- 1 handful of parsley
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp of dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp chopped red or white onion
- black pepper to taste
- juice of ½ lime
- For the salad:
- 6-8 cups arugula
- 1 avocado
- juice of ½ lime
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees or preheat grill
- Toss all cake ingredients into a blender or food processor and pulse until well combined (don’t over process, you still want texture and medium size pieces)
- Form mixture into 4 patties, refrigerate while making salad and while grill/oven is still warming
- In a large bowl, put the juice of half a lime, a pinch of sea salt and cracked pepper and 1 ripe avocado in a bowl, and mash/stir until well combined
- Throw arugula on top of dressing and massage it with your hands, making sure all leaves are covered
- Chop some cherry tomatoes to top salad
- Spray salmon patties with a little bit of cooking spray (olive or coconut) and cook salmon patties anywhere between 5-10 mins on the grill or 7-15 minutes in the oven – the cooking time varies quite a bit between grill and oven… but they are fast to cook, so don’t let them overcook or burn
- Plate salad, and top with cakes
Again…I’d love to hear from you (by leaving a comment below)… if you’ve got a good solution for my dilemma or a delicious salmon recipe to share I want to know!
Bon Appétit!
Food Babe
great recipe
. As for your dilemma, honestly I find the best thing is to say nothing and let the food speak for itself. It will surely be appreciated , especially since it ‘s made with lots of love.
Wow…that’s going to be hard (I wear my heart and emotion on my sleeve)… but I’ll give it a shot
I really appreciate you Food Babe, your knowledge is helping alot of people become healthy eating healthier. Lol! I’m definetly going to Whole Paycheck, I meant Whole Foods, to get the salmon. As for as your dilemma, just say I did that! and pat yourself ion the back. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and saving lives.
Lvoing every minute of your posts!I almost want to adopt you!!lol.I just wanted to thank you for your time blogging and teaching us,of all ages about healthier choices.About the husband thing…same here…I now say…I know it would be so much easier to eat out butI love cooking for you because I know I am contributing to keeping you with me for longer wth a healthier lifestyle and I want you near me for as long as possible!
How about finding a professional chef you love and then comparing your cooking to him/her. Such as saying, “this is as good as Emmeril Lagasse’s cooking!”
Hi Vani-
This is my first time posting, but I love your blog! Thanks for all of the information you post. I make salmon cakes a lot and I cannot wait to try your version. You can always use some breadcrumbs if you want to make them a little crispier (that’s how my kids like them). My father is quite a good cook, so whenever he makes a good meal he verbally prices it according to what you might pay in a restaurant. He will take a few bites, then say “$24″ or some other variation. We always find it so amusing!
That’s hilarious!!! I love that!!! I’m going to the price comparison one time for sure, I’ll let you know how it goes. haha… can’t wait.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Marisa – comments like these, totally make blogging and sharing worth all the effort… especially when I learn something new!
Wanted to follow-up that I made this for lunch today. I did not have avocado, so I changed lime juice to lemon juice and served with a lemon/EVOO vinaigrette. So good and my kids loved them too (except for the arugula part, but hey they’re 3)!
Is “Beta-Carotene” as a food additive unnatural/unhealthy? I purchased a natural lemonade at Earthfare and found this ingredient on the label.
Mmmm… it’s ok … but they may be using it for color… interesting.
I like to say certain meals are life-changing
Awww…. why compare at all? Do what I do, take a big bite and just give a big “YUM”!! and enjoy it, all on it’s own.
These look awesome, I’m definitely going to try — thanks for sharing!!
That is funny! I do the same thing! I don’t think I am bragging as much as being surprised it does taste better than a restaurant! And then I am like, why do we pay SO MUCH to eat out when I am awesome and can make awesome meals:)
Exactly!… It’s nice to know, I’m not alone! It’s always just the surprise of it tasting so darn good…
The recipe looking delish and I am definitely going to try….As far your dilemma “Silence is Golden” and a smile of pure joy speaks volumes
Blessings~
This post made me laugh. I, too, am a new cook and I pat myself on the back after creating a good meal too!
I don’t think you should change what you’re doing at all! Be proud of your meal! Your husband will just have to accept your comments as one of those little things that might get under his skin sometimes! I hate when my boyfriend cracks his knuckles but it jut adds to his charm! If you are proud of your meal, show it! Wear your heart on your sleeve! Or maybe just write it down for us to read about instead
These look great! I have some frozen wild sockeye from Trader Joes in my freezer now!
One question – what kind of pan would you use for the oven? A baking sheet or more of a dish?
Could you also sauté them in a frying pan? thanks!
Yes – you could use any and all of the above… just remember to use a little oil so they don’t stick and fall apart.
How about “Wow, look at that! Aren’t you lucky to be married to me?!”
I like your salad ! Thank you!
I love making salmon cakes but I do add almond flour so they stick together a little better. My 5-year old son goes to town on them too.
Can I just say how much I love your blog. You are inspiring and I’ve been able to learn so much from reading your posts!
I actually do, just sayin 
This conversation made me laugh out load to the computer, haha.
GOTTA LOVE HUSBANDS!
You are a breath of fresh air! Definitely going to try this fabulous dish. Have a little fun and use reverse psychology say something like: Uh, I”m not ordering this again
after the first bite. Spice it up!
Hahaha… spicing it up, nice – I like it!
Wow, looks so good. I have arugula growing in big pots outside, locally grown organic cherry tomatoes from a hoop house, wild caught sushi grade salmon filets from our local Asian market, and a nice ripe avocado. This is perfect for tonight’s menu for ourselves and 2 guests!
BTW, I’m always saying the same thing to my husband. But we’ve eaten at some pretty pricey restaurants and still prefer our own food. He just agrees with me!
I always say, “Damn, I can cook!” HAHA!
Girl just claim that gift! If it’s superb I just say “oh, Sharla this is amazing! Thank you for cooking it!” Usually myhusban chimes right in after that! Haha
I have never made salmon patties, but I do make tuna patties and I use ground flax seed instead of flour.
I’d rather eat at home because I can do better than most restaurants. Be proud that you can because too many people call opening a can or a box cooking. Even when my daughter took Foods class in school, everything was made from boxes and cans. She didn’t like that too well.
I’ve told my husband the same thing about my cooking and restaurants. Even he has come home from a work luncheon thing and told me that my food was better.
I don’t really say it out loud anymore, but you better believe I am saying it in my head.
Vani,
You your life and your cooking look not like any dilemma to me. Being creative in life and in the kitchen are assets and being able to love what you do is a true gift! I have gone to culinary school and still that does not mean all people who do can really cook. When I make something good that I think is comparable to a restaurant, I say, ” Pretty good if I do say so myself!” or, “Wow! I did a good job!”
Owning who we are and what we create is so important! Your husband is extremely fortunate to have you cook for him and be there for him for everything!
Keep up the good work!
Blessings,
Melissa
Yum, these look great! We are still blissfully enjoying the Quinoa Masala burgers. How about this: create a “5 star rating system”! Let hubby give it 3 stars, 4 stars, or 5 stars…and you do the same! Or give it more room and make it a 10 star system! I think it might do this with my family, just for fun. Keep it fun and humble. Have some gratitude for the awesome brain and the creative passion that you’ve been blessed with. I know that I am grateful for your passion! And your wisdom, your knowledge…which you so freely share.
Hi Vani aka food babe,
Those salmon cakes look great…:( but I really would like your opinion about going vegan…my boyfriend and I have recently went vegan because we feel it may be a healthier lifestyle and we love animals so much it makes us sad to see what some of them go through in those horrible feedlots and factories. When I did eat meat I always supported the small farmer and wild caught fish. I am freaked out about all this Monsanto power (Genetically engineered salmon…really? Ugh!!!) and the lack of care from the FDA and the USDA, even the EPA. I would like to know if you have any tips on getting all the nutrients and vitamins to live a healthy vegan lifestyle. So far we have been getting really creative with our meals and we juice a lot of green drinks and fruit… Thank you and you rock!!!
My husband and do do a “oh its good” “yeah but is it good or make it again good” conversation ….question I’m allergic to cilantro…other spice ideas…I know its a very robust herb so what should I replace it with?
You can just leave it out… parsley is enough for freshness – Good Luck!
Yummy. I’ll have to try this. I must say that I believe my salmon might be better than that because well….I live in Alaska and I caught that dang salmon myself, vacuum packed it, and put it in our deep freezer.
<3
WOW… you just one upped shopping at Whole Foods like by 1,000!
When I saw this recipe yesterday, I knew I wanted to try it and since I had most of the ingredients on hand it was a no brainer. The only things different I did were to add a little (maybe 2 T.) of spelt flour and I fried them in a little grass fed butter and olive oil. I also added chopped yellow pepper to the salad. It was very pretty and very delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
You are very welcome!
This looks fantastico! I am planning to give it a try this week… it will be great from the mundane “same ol’, same ol’.” Yahoo!
Don’t compare to how others did it, don’t fret about it if you don’t think it’s perfect…just accept the compliment with a “thank-you, I’m glad you like it !”
Hi Vani, I have been married all my life
(going on 43 years). The trick is to let hubbies think they thought of it, FIRST! So, if you don’t comment, he will eventually compare it to a meal he has eaten out in a restaurant!
I can salmon, caught in Northern Michigan, so luckily, I have a few cans available. It is so fresh tasting home canned this way! You can actually unthaw frozen salmon and can it as well.
Recently, I made salmon patties using Mary’s Gone Cracker’s, finely crushed, instead of flour,and an organic egg, salt & pepper and gently sauted them in a little organic olive oil! Yummy!
LOVE LOVE LOVE that idea of using Mary’s Gone Crackers as the flour sub… did you know they have come out with a breadcrumb product? I saw it at a food show last year, but haven’t had any luck finding it in stores yet.
Awesome recipe. I can see both sides to the dilemma. It’s probably equivalent to saying “see, told you so” to your husband when you say that (even if it’s not what you mean). No matter your intentions, I can see where that might cause him to get defensive, and the man probably just wants to sit back and enjoy the damn food! Rather than feeling like you made a point every time you make a killer meal, let the food speak for itself and know that your husband wouldn’t expect anything less from you. He knows you’re good. That way you can both relax and enjoy. Cheers!
Your husband knows you’re a great cook by now so let him tell you when you really knock it out of the park and you won’t be worried if you’re tooting your own horn just a tad lol. Great recipe!
I can’t wait to try this! Yum! I am coming to Charlotte in June – maybe we can meet up for some juice!
I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I especially enjoyed its simplicity. Oh, and the avocado dressing — delish! Thanks for sharing.
This This sounds great. I’m having my brother, sister and respective spouses over for dinner dinner, and if I make the salmon cakes and salad little smaller in size, this will be a great starter.
I purchased some yummy frozen Salmon from Wegmans. =) I find they a little less pricey than Whole Foods.
My boyfriend and I don’t eat out in restaurants because the food we prepare at home is almost always superior to what can be had eating out. it’s cheaper and we know exactly what goes into it.
Just made the Salmon/salad dinner and loved the Advocado dressing best of all- a keeper! Had to break down and use breadcrumbs to keep them together and then added a bit of Olive Oil on dressing as well as “cakes” – a little dry for me otherwise. In an effort to be healthy I skipped the wine, but it sure would have been good with it!
Perhaps try a more “regional” approach next time and tell your husband, “This is so damn good is makes you want to reach out and slap yo’ momma!”
))) My husband (not southern like I am) usually just stares at me when I say that. Good shock value.
Love your blog! I love to cook and use only organic ingredients and meat that is Certified Humane. We juice everyday, too. My husband and mother-in-law always say “this is better than any restaurant”. Too funny, but very nice, and I haven’t had any culinary training either. You should tell your husband “I think this dish is husband worthy!” Of course, say it with a smile to make him think about what you just said.
Yum! That looks delicious. Funnily enough I’m sitting here munching on a bowl of your roasted broccoli and cauliflower that you posted a few weeks ago. You’re taking over my kitchen!
Well, this mouth-watering dish really is a killer, Food Babe. I was actually looking for some avocado recipes before I came across this site. And now, having seen this, I must try it out. I guess I’ll cook a dinner for my wife. Many thanks, you’re very creative!
Thanks for this delicious recipe! We cooked it last night and our 1-year old daughter loved the salmon cakes. Guess I’ll be cooking this quite often now, it’s our new favourite and so easy to make too. And most importantly: it’s totally yummylicious!
Hi Babe.com Iam new at all this. Like what your doing. I saw iformation on Subway that alone open my eyes. Iam now learning alot about food. Now the challenge is learning how to cook all over again, I’am getting there. I’am keeping you posted on my favorites. Thank You. “I support you a hundred percent”
Vani, tried this recipe Weds and it was a hit! I used canned wild salmon because my supermarket didn’t have fresh wild salmon but it was still delicious, loved the bed of arugula with avocado/lime dressing. Do you approve of canned salmon in a pinch? I think it was sockeye. I will keep this recipe in my rotation. thanks so much.:)
This meal made me hungrey just looking and reading about it!!! Love shopping at Whole Foods too,
Thank goodness we finially got one in Richmond, Va! Can’t wait to try this recipe!!!!
Delicious!! Loved every bite!!! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!!!!
Loved every bite!!! Wonderful recipe!!
Thank you!!
Looks good. Thanks.