Of all the world’s cuisines, there are very few that marry up to a nice pint better than that of Ireland.
Of all the world’s cuisines, there are very few that marry up to a nice pint better than that of Ireland. The luck o’ the Irish lives on in a Guinness served alongside fresh oysters or a traditional lamb stew that’s washed down with a gorgeous Irish Red Ale. This recipe pairs together an Irish Pub Style Smoked Salmon Fish Cake with the Oyster Stout made by The Porterhouse Brewing Co. in Dublin, Ireland.
The oyster stout has notes of salty seawater because it’s actually brewed with oysters. Thus, being somewhat reminiscent of the sea, the beer complements the fresh salmon in the cakes while the fish’s sweetness matches nicely with the caramel malty notes in the stout. The smoked salmon in the recipe pairs beautifully with the beer’s flavors while the oyster stout’s lingering dryness provides an interesting contrast to the relative richness of the fish cake. This is truly a delicious pairing and the smoked salmon fish cakes would be a welcome main-attraction to any St. Patrick’s Day party. Sláinte! 
The full 3-course Irish pub beer pairing menu is available on my blog, HERE.
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Irish Pub Style Smoked Salmon Cakes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
A flavorful and satisfying salmon fish cake made with mashed potatoes that would be perfect for a main dish or as an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 250g/8 oz or four medium sized potatoes, cooked and mashed
- 250g/1/2 lb smoked salmon, cooked, skinned, and flaked
- 250g/1/2 lb fresh salmon, cooked, skinned, and flaked
- few drop Tabasco sauce
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2TB finely chopped parsley
- 1 large egg yolk, beaten
- plain flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- Plain white bread crumbs
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook and mash the potatoes and set aside allowing them to cool.
- In the meantime, pan-fry the salmon filets. When finished, flake the salmon meat off the skin. Allow to cool.
- Once cooled, mix together the mashed potatoes, salmon, the Tabasco, lemon, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Knead in the beaten egg yolk to bind.
- Lightly flour a flat surface and form the mixture into cakes. Allow them to refrigerate for about 15 minutes. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 150C/300F
- Dip the cakes into the beaten egg and then coat with breadcrumbs.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Once heated, brown all sides of each cake–about 2 minutes per side.
- Then bake the cakes in the oven for about 8 minutes or until heated all the way through.
- Garnish with lemon wedges and serve.
- Get Loaded!
Notes
- If you make these with half smoked, half fresh fish the smoky flavor will be more subtle and that fresh fish flavor will come through.
- Feel free to mix and match or even substitute any other fish that you’d prefer like cod, haddock, or smoked trout.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon cake
- Calories: 180
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
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- Parsnip Latkes with Smoked Salmon and Caviar
- Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Bruschetta
- Vodka-Cured Salmon with Juniper and Rosemary
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this recipe combine smoked salmon and fresh salmon rather than using all smoked?
The notes explain the balance directly: using half smoked and half fresh salmon makes the smoky flavor more subtle while allowing the fresh fish flavor to come through. The recipe uses equal quantities — 250g (½ lb) of each — to achieve that balance.
Why do the formed cakes need to refrigerate before breading and frying?
The instructions call for refrigerating the formed cakes for about 15 minutes before dipping them in beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Chilling firms the potato-salmon mixture, making the cakes hold together better during the breading and frying steps.
What is an Oyster Stout and why does it pair with these fish cakes?
The article explains that the Porterhouse Brewing Co. Oyster Stout is actually brewed with oysters, giving it notes of salty seawater. The article describes how the stout’s seawater character complements the fresh salmon, while its caramel malty notes match the fish cake’s sweetness, and its dry finish contrasts the richness.
Can I substitute different fish?
Yes — the notes say you can mix and match or substitute other fish such as cod, haddock, or smoked trout in place of the salmon.
