I’ve always been drawn to food. From my early days of blissfully devouring jars of Gerber Peaches to watching my Mom, happily cooking in the kitchen, then fast-forward to now…living life as a foodie…I’ve always been enamored. The process of cooking, the science of food, the tastes and the memories they create…I love it all. So, when food is your obsession, cookbooks naturally find their way onto your shelves. To be completely honest, there are many that I just never really open much. I do have a few though, that I love and they inspire me.
The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook is one that I treasure. It’s a resource of knowledge, not just a book of recipes. Similar to the format of their magazine, each recipe begins with “Why This Recipe Works” and explains the tastes and textures of the finished dish. They examine different techniques they’ve tested and sum up what works best and what doesn’t, totally feeding my geeky food-science side. I love that many recipes have several variations and recipes for perfect accompaniments as well. With over eight hundred pages, this book covers just about anything you can think of, from traditional standards to international dishes and everything in between.
It was so difficult, with an extensive book like this, to choose just one recipe to share with you. I wanted something that was special, yet easy enough to prepare any night of the week. These salmon cakes are just that. This recipe works because it uses fresh salmon as opposed to canned and is binded with panko and mayonnaise in place of traditional fish cake’s potato binder that can be doughy. The panko mix gives you a lighter texture within and a crisp exterior. Exactly the way you imagine it should be. I’ve changed a few things to lighten the recipe up just a bit, but really, you’d never know.
Some of my favorite food blogger friends and I thought it would be fun to share our favorite books with you! We are each giving one copy away to one lucky reader! Yes…one of you will win all twelve of them! To be honest, I’m so jealous…I wish I could enter myself! Find the entry form below…best of luck and happy cooking!
Crispy Salmon Cakes
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons plus 1 cup panko bread crumbs I use whole wheat panko
- 1 scallion sliced thin
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 1/4 pound skinless salmon fillet cut into 1 inch pieces (see Notes)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- lemon wedges for serving
- Creamy Lemon-Herb Dipping Sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
- 1 scallion minced
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Line a large dish with paper towels and set aside.
- Combine the 3 tablespoons of panko, scallion, shallot, parsley, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, salt, pepper and cayenne in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Divide the salmon pieces into three batches. In your food processor, pulse one batch at a time to coarsely chop into about 1/4 inch pieces. Two quick pulses should be enough. Transfer each batch to the bowl with the panko mixture. Gently mix in the salmon just until combined.
- Place the remaining 1 cup of panko on a dish. Using a 1/3 cup measure, scoop a level amount of the salmon (avoid packing the mixture) and drop it onto the dish of panko. Carefully coat the cake in the crumbs and pat into a 2 3/4 inch round, about 1 inch high. Place on a dish or baking sheet and repeat with the remaining salmon to make 8 cakes.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon cakes in the skillet and cook without moving for about 2 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully flip the cakes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the cakes to the paper towel lined plate to rest for one minute before serving.
- To make the dipping sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Serve 2 cakes per person with a wedge of lemon and some Creamy Lemon-Herb Dipping Sauce.
Notes
Both recipes adapted from The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook, 2011
Enter To Win…
*This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.
Take a peek at these participating bloggers and their recipes…
Bakeaholic Mama
Foodness Gracious
All Day I Dream About Food
Life’s Ambrosia
The Beeroness
Une Gamine Dans La Cuisine
A Brown Table
Very Culinary
Cooking With Books
Cravings Of A Lunatic
Perhaps doesn’t hold a candle to some other cookbooks in terms of the recipes, but The Cancer Fighting Kitchen cookbook holds a special place for both me and my mom. I bought it for her when she was first diagnosed nearly 5 years ago and purchased a copy for myself as well. It’s helped my mom arm herself with good nutrition in her fight against a terrible disease. Look forwarding to trying your salmon cake recipe, which looks delicious! Also, much respect for the food photography! I love that matte finish – striking. Very tastefully and artfully done!
Chandler, I’m so glad to hear your Mom is doing well and that cookbook helped so much. That makes it the best cookbook ever in my opinion! Thanks so much for your kind words…you made my day. xo
My go-to cookbook is Joy of Cooking.
I love my Joy of Cooking.
My alltime fav would be the Joy of Cooking
Your salmon cakes look perfect! Beautiful! Right now my fave cookbook is Amy Chapin’s At Home in the Whole Foods Kitchen.
My usual go-to is Good Housekeeping’s cookbook. I have the edition from like 1974 and still refer to it though I have other, newer cookbooks.
My go-to book is the Food52 cookbook. Then, really, anything by Martha Stewart. Her original blue book keeps to the basics, but with nice twists.
Currently, my favorite cookbook is Nourishing Meals.
Super excited for the chance to win all these!!
My favourite cookbook must be Joy of Cooking. Most used anyway.
Choosing a favorite cookbook would be like choosing a favorite child.
It’s hard to pick just one. I really like several community cookbooks that i own
All the Taste of Home cookbooks
It’s hard to pick just one……I am a serious cook book a holic……..How to cook everything……love that book!
I love the Betty Crocker from my grandma. It will always be the best to me.
My favorite is Against All Grain.
Plenty More is the cookbook that helped e step out of my veggie comfort zone! :)
Joy of Cooking
Plenty More is the book that helped me venture further into vegetables!
I haven’t found a favorite cookbook. I’m searching for a good one?
clean food is my favourite cook book!
Anything by Cooks Illustrated!
I’ve always loved “How To Cook Everything”.
I love my Jamie Oliver cookbooks.
One of the best cookbooks is indeed “The Joy of Cooking”, which my mother gave me a couple years ago. There are so many recipes. This is a classic!
I like Canadian living cookbooks :D I use them quite often
Lately, my favorite is The Kind Diet
One of my favorite cookbooks is Lisa Leake’s 100 Days of Real Food cookbook.
I love the Better Homes & Gardens cookbooks!
I am always using Mark Bittman’s Around the World cookbook. Fabulous recipes and easy to follow.
I love my copy of “From Curries to Kebabs” by Madhur Jaffrey. We live in a rural area and don’t have access to good Indian restaurants, so instead we’ve been learning to cook it ourselves. This book is great because it includes recipes from throughout South Asia and they all turn out great.
I don’t have one yet!
I love clean food by terry Walters for the seasonal recipes! Would love to try some new cookbooks!
My favorite cookbook right now is Smitten Kitchen’s!
It’s old but I still love The Joy Of Cooking
I am a super fan of Cook’s Illustrated as well!
Favorite cookbook would have to be Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes. Love Italian food, plus the recipes take no time at all.
My all time favorite cookbook is Barefoot Contessa: Make It Ahead by Ina Garten. Love her style, her easy recipes and super delicious!
Choosing just one cookbook is tough! If I have to….I would say the first edition of the Gourmet Cookbook (yellow cover), edited by the amazing Ruth Reichel! I would be thrilled to win this giveaway!!!
My go to cook book is the America’s Test Kitchen, everything I’ve tried has been great!
The Vegan Zombie Cookbook
The Joy of Cooking. Mine is so old, but it was my mother’s and I love it as it reminds me of her.
I must have been tired when I read this. I didn’t know it was one reader getting all 12 books! WOW! Thank you so much! Salmon is also my favorite fish and I adore salmon cakes! Pinned this recipe for Lent! Thanks, again!!
My favorite cookbook is The Silver Palate cookbook
Favorite cookbook: Don’t really have one but my mom loved the Joy of Cooking.