Salmon is dependable. Salmon is nutritious. Salmon is easy.
But salmon is also boring. Salmon is often chalky. Salmon is, well, salmon. And your child–well, he/she is your child but also, I assume, occasionally fickle. Even if salmon and him/her have had a long detente, there will eventually be a falling out. It happens.
If/when you want to make it work–for the first time or for forever time–this is the way. You can literally carve it out of your dinner, using the sides and scraps of the fish for your child while keeping the filets for yourself, your partner, and/or older children; you may just want to make it for yourself, too. It’s crispy. It’s sweet and tangy. It’s really satisfying.
Just one ask, from the recipe and us: Do.Not.Overcook.The.Fish.Into.Oblivion. Nearly every other for-the-child salmon recipe out there has you cook the salmon twice (first on its own, then again to make the cake/patty); it’s maddening. If you wouldn’t eat overcooked salmon for all the obvious reasons, why would you expect small children with limited taste buds and fear of the unfamiliar to enjoy it? Stop that. Try this.
(Important note: this recipe assumes you will be cooking roughly a half- to one-pound of fish, with most of it to be served in filet form to adults and/or older children and the rest set aside for your young child; there will be enough servings for the rest of your family to have a cake or two. But if you want to make the cakes the main dish for all, increase the amount of sweet potato, breadcrumbs, and seasonings in proportion with how much of your fish you use.)
Check out our pther great salmon recipes!
Ingredients Overview
Here’s what goes into these salmon–sweet potato cakes (and why):
- Salmon – A mild, high-protein fish that provides omega-3s and a familiar fish flavor once blended. On its own, filets can be intimidating for toddlers; flaked and mixed, it becomes approachable. newdadskitchen.com
- Sweet potato – Provides natural sweetness, moisture, and softness; helps bind the cakes and mellow out the “fishiness,” making the texture more toddler-friendly. newdadskitchen.com+1
- Crackers (or breadcrumbs / cornmeal) – Adds a light crunch or structural binder so the cakes hold together, but still stay soft inside. newdadskitchen.com+1
- Mustard + Mayonnaise (or mild binder) – Adds mild richness and helps mash everything into a cohesive mixture that’s not too dry. newdadskitchen.com
- Seasonings (dried parsley, dried chives, garlic powder, optional parmesan, salt/pepper) – Mild flavor enhancers to make the cakes savory but not overwhelming — tuned for toddler tastebuds. newdadskitchen.com
Steps Summary
- Prep the salmon and sweet potato — Roast or cook the salmon (as per method), then select and set aside a small portion (~ 3 oz) of cooked salmon for the cakes. Meanwhile, prick the needed portion of sweet potato with a fork and microwave (or otherwise cook) until fully soft; let cool, then scoop the flesh into a bowl. newdadskitchen.com
- Make the binding crumbs — Crush the crackers (or use breadcrumbs / cornmeal), combine with grated parmesan (if using) and dried herbs, until you get a crumb-like texture. Add these crumbs to the mashed sweet potato. newdadskitchen.com
- Flake the salmon and combine — Shred the reserved salmon into small flakes and add to the sweet potato + crumbs mixture; add a bit of mustard and mayonnaise, plus seasonings (parsley, chives, garlic powder, salt/pepper). Mix thoroughly. If needed, add more crumbs to help the mixture bind. newdadskitchen.com
- Form cakes — Take small clumps of the mixture and shape into patties by hand, pressing to compact. Let rest a few minutes so mixture firm up. newdadskitchen.com
- Pan-fry until crispy and golden — Heat a thin layer of oil in a pan over medium. Place patties in, then gently press each down with a spatula. Cook ~ 2 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Remove and drain excess oil. newdadskitchen.com
- Serve/present for toddlers — Optionally, break cakes into small strips or bite-sized pieces; serve with a squeeze of lemon or a dab of yogurt for dipping. This helps make the texture and flavor more familiar for picky eaters. newdadskitchen.com
FAQ
Q: Can I use canned salmon instead of fresh?
A: Yes — if you use boneless, skinless canned salmon, drained well, that will work fine. The texture won’t be exactly the same as fresh-cooked, but combined with sweet potato and crumbs, the cakes stay soft and kid-friendly.
Q: What if the mixture is too wet and won’t stick together?
A: Add a bit more crushed crackers or breadcrumbs (or a touch more cooked sweet potato) until the mixture binds properly. Letting it rest a few minutes before shaping can also help.
Q: Can I bake instead of pan-frying?
A: Yes — though pan-frying gives a crispier exterior that helps toddlers enjoy texture. If baking, flatten patties slightly and bake on a lightly oiled or parchment-lined tray; you may need to flip halfway to get even browning.
Q: Can I sneak in extra veggies (e.g. zucchini, peas)?
A: Yes — you can finely dice or grate mild vegetables into the mixture. If you add more veggies, just adjust (increase) the amount of crumbs or sweet potato so the cakes stay cohesive. newdadskitchen.com+1
Q: Are these safe for toddlers learning to self-feed / baby-led weaning?
A: Yes — once cooked and cooled, cakes can be broken into manageable strips or pieces. The soft interior + mild flavor + hand-friendly size makes them a good candidate for early self-feeding.
Recipe Links
What to Serve With The Best Recipe to Convert Salmon Haters
- This Cheesy Orzo Will Be Your Toddler’s New Favorite Side – A soft, cheesy pasta side that’s easy for toddlers to scoop up alongside the salmon cakes. newdadskitchen.com
- How To Make The Best Broccoli For Kids – Simple, flavorful broccoli with just-right texture that pairs cleanly with the richer, crispy patties.
- Healthy, Vegetable and Protein-Packed Dip For Toddlers – A veggie-forward dip you can serve with cucumbers, crackers, or raw veg to round out the plate.
More Toddler-Friendly Recipes Like This
- Easy Salmon Bites for Toddlers – Healthy, High-Protein Finger Food – Oven-baked fresh salmon bites with a soft interior and kid-friendly flavor profile, great if these patties land well and you want another salmon option.
- The Best Toddler Salmon Cakes (Fingers and Sticks) – A dedicated salmon cake recipe designed specifically as a finger food, with shapes and textures tuned for little hands.
- The Best Toddler Salmon Recipe Is Already in Your Pantry – A Goldfish/Ritz-powered salmon dinner that uses pantry staples to make fish feel fun and familiar for picky eaters.
The Best Recipe to Convert Salmon Haters
Description
These salmon-sweet potato patties combine nutritious salmon with creamy sweet potato for a tender, mild-flavored fish cake that even picky toddlers can enjoy. Quick to mix and pan-fry, they crisp up beautifully while staying soft inside — ideal for little hands and growing appetites.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
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If your salmon is not already in filet form, cut it in half or in thirds horizontally to produce two or three relatively even pieces. Marinate or crust your salmon filet as you see fit. (This recipe* can be made at the same time as the cakes, with basically the same ingredients)
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Cut off the portion of a whole sweet potato you need, then poke all over the spud with a fork; microwave until completely soft, roughly 5-6 minutes. Allow 10 minutes to cool. When cool enough to handle, cut open the sweet potato and push out its innards into a large bowl; discard the skin.
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Heat your oven to 375. While heating, blitz the crackers, a generous pour of grated parmesan, and parsley in your blender until the size and texture of breadcrumbs. Pour the crumbs into the bowl containing your sweat potatoes.
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When your oven is ready, place your salmon on the center rack and cook for two minutes. Remove salmon from heat and cut off the portion size you need, drawing from the thinner pieces/edges on both sides of the fish. Return the remainder of fish to heat source to finish cooking: roughly 8 minutes.
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Over the bowl in which you placed the sweet potatoes, pull or shred the flesh of the fish until it is scattered into small shards. Add in a squirt or two of mustard, a spoonful of mayonnaise, a generous shake each of the parsley, chives, and garlic; a shake of salt and pepper; and some more parmesan if using. (Note: if using breadcrumbs or cornmeal, pour in a 1/4th cup to start--enough so that the crumbs are visible and binding the salmon and potatoes.) Smash it all together.
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Grab a small clump of the salmon mixture and form a ball in one hand by using the other to turn and sculpt a circular motion; if you can’t keep the ball intact, add more breadcrumbs. Repeat for the remainder of mixture. Allow a few minutes for the mix to solidify and cohere.
Cook
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Heat a thin layer of oil in a large pan. When hot, place salmon balls all around the pan, then smash each one down with a spatula; cook for about 2 minutes until browned and crisp on outside; flip and cook 1-2 minutes on the other side until evenly browned. Remove from heat and pat down to remove excess oil.
Serve
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Squirt with lemon and dab with a tiny bit of yogurt. Break into strips or small bites. If your child is resistant or not particularly engaged initially, break off a chunk and place on a cracker or coin of cucumber.
Adapt
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Whitefish will work just as well in this dish; come to think of it, more challenging meat–say, lamb–will, too. Vegetables–say, peas or zucchini–can easily be added to the mix, just be ready to add more breadcrumbs and/or sweet potato to compensate for the additional contents.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Serving Size two small salmon cakes
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 170kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7g11%
- Sodium 150mg7%
- Potassium 250mg8%
- Total Carbohydrate 12g4%
- Dietary Fiber 3g12%
- Protein 10g20%
- Vitamin A 1000 IU
- Calcium 80 mg
- Iron 1 mg
- Vitamin D 100 IU
- Vitamin B12 1.5 mcg
- Phosphorus 150 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
User Reviews
I’ve seen a bunch of salmon recipes w/sweet potato like this one elsewhere, but this is the only one that doesn’t taste like sawdust.