If my Homemade Salmon Patties are on the menu this week, you have to try this easy Salmon Patty Sauce. This 5-minute creamy lemon dill sauce is the perfect topper for seafood cakes.
This creamy lemon dill sauce perfectly compliments the salmon mixture. It's luscious and rich, with bright citrus notes from lemon juice, a little heat from the Dijon and herby freshness from the dill.
This is also a great recipe for an everyday sauce to keep on the condiment shelf in your refrigerator. It is easily adaptable to many seafood courses, including Broiled Crab Cakes, Blackened Grouper Sandwich or on or a simple grilled Fresh Salmon Fillet.
The simple ingredients in the sauce create a great foundation for making busy weeknights a little tastier. So make your delicious salmon patties even more unforgettable with this dynamite salmon patty sauce.
Here is what you'll need to make this recipe:
Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:
Dill: the original version of this recipe used dried dill, because we had recently moved to Portugal and I couldn't find fresh! Now that I know all the secret market stalls that carry dill, I highly recommend the fresh variety. But dried will do in a pinch!
Mayo: the recipe calls for full-fat mayo, but substitute light mayo, if needed.
Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients
Add all sauce ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning.
2. Enjoy with your favorite seafood dishes
Serve with additional fresh dill fronds for garnish.
FAQ's and Serving Suggestions:
Green onions would be a great option. Other dried or fresh herbs could also be used, including dried or fresh parsley, dried or fresh chives, or fresh tarragon. Just choose something your whole family will enjoy on their salmon patty recipe.
If you like the flavor of garlic but don't have any fresh cloves on hand, garlic powder is the best option. One large clove of garlic is equivalent to a scant ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. If you don't love the taste of garlic mixing with your salmon flavor, you could grate a tablespoon of yellow onions into the sauce, or even add a pinch of Old Bay Seasoning to give flavor without a prominent garlic tone. A third option would be adding a few tablespoons of finely chopped dill pickles to the sauce, creating your own homemade tartar sauce.
Absolutely. Yogurt has more sour notes than mayonnaise, so I would recommend adding a teaspoon of lemon zest instead of the lemon juice. Lemon zest brings all of the lemon flavor without any of the lemon tartness.
Once all the ingredients are combined and you taste and adjust the seasoning, you can always add a bit of juice if you would like more brightness and acidity. Sour cream would also be a good substitute for the mayo.
Spicy is always a good option! A pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes would be a great way to add spice to this sauce. Or a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce. I've used Tabasco, Texas Pete and Portuguese peri-peri sauce in this easy recipe and all three have been delicious.
Leftover sauce can also be served over seared or grilled fresh salmon filets, or you can flake salmon over a salad and use this sauce as a salad dressing.
We don't often eat fried seafood, but I have more than once fantasized about skipping the easy salmon cakes with sauce and diving face first into a pile of Baked Fish & Chips with this salmon patty sauce ladled over the top.
For storing, move to an airtight container or cover very tightly with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
Easy Salmon Patty Sauce Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
Description
Creamy, lemony and herbaceous - this is the sauce you want to keep on hand for all your seafood dipping, topping and spreading needs.
Ingredients
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup fresh dill (or 1 tablespoon dried dill), plus more for topping
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 large clove of garlic, grated
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well and taste test. Adjust seasoning.
- Serve with additional fresh dill fronds as garnish.
Notes
This is the perfect sauce for so many kinds of seafood, including salmon patties, blackened fish sandwiches and simple grilled salmon!
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: American, Seafood
Barbara Smith
Hi! I moved to Porto just over a year ago. I’m retired and living the good life near the beach in Matosinhos.
I love the recipes I’ve seen so far and would love to get weekly updates. Are you set up for that?
Regards,
Barbara Smith
Christina
Thanks so much, Barbara! We're practically neighbors...just a quick train ride away. Matosinhos is one of our favorite places in Portugal. We visit often - the fish is exceptional!
I'm building out the weekly email structure now. You can sign up on my homepage, about halfway down that first page. Here's the exact link:
https://weekdaypescatarian.com
Thanks again for your support and feel free to reach out with any questions!
Cynthia S
This was sooo good! We had it on tuna patties and it was excellent. I’m planning on keeping this recipe on hand all the time. If we have fish…THIS will be on it. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Christina Jolam
I love hearing this, Cynthia! It's been my go-to sauce for years and I'm obsessed with getting it on more kitchen tables! Appreciate you coming back to leave a positive review. Enjoy your seafood sauce 😉