Description
Swedish salmon balls bring a delightful twist to your weeknight dinner routine. Fresh fish, herbs, and a zesty avocado sauce create a quick, protein-packed meal that’ll make your taste buds dance.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 450g fresh salmon fillet (skin removed)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour for gluten-free option)
- 1 large egg
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- Salt and black pepper
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for grilling)
Avocado Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 ripe avocado
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Pulse 450g salmon fillet in a food processor until finely minced, creating a texture similar to ground meat.
- Transfer salmon to a large bowl and combine with ¼ cup parsley, ¼ cup cilantro, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Mix ingredients thoroughly with your hands until evenly distributed.
- Shape the mixture into 12-16 compact balls, each measuring 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- Carefully place salmon balls into the hot skillet, ensuring they do not touch each other.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown, rotating gently to achieve even coloration.
- Verify internal temperature reaches 145°F using a meat thermometer.
- Blend 1 avocado, ¼ cup cilantro, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 minced garlic clove, salt, and pepper until completely smooth.
- Transfer cooked salmon balls to a serving plate.
- Drizzle creamy avocado sauce over the salmon balls or serve sauce on the side.
- Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges for extra zest.
Notes
- Always pulse salmon gently to prevent over-processing, which can make the texture too mushy and dense.
- Choose fresh salmon with firm, bright flesh for the best flavor and texture in your salmon balls.
- When forming salmon balls, wet your hands slightly to prevent the mixture from sticking and help create smoother, more uniform shapes.
- For a lower-carb version, replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds to maintain the binding and crispy exterior.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salmon
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 to 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg