Description
Delicious and tender salmon balls served with a fresh and creamy French-inspired avocado sauce. This recipe combines flavorful wild salmon, herbs, and a zesty avocado dip, perfect as a light appetizer or main dish prepared either by baking or stovetop pan-frying.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salmon Balls
- 1 pound fresh salmon, skinless and boneless
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
For the Creamy Avocado Sauce
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Water (to thin the sauce, if necessary)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven or Prepare Skillet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) if baking the salmon balls, or heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat if cooking on the stovetop.
- Prepare Salmon: Dice the salmon into small pieces or pulse in a food processor until coarsely chopped, maintaining some texture without pureeing.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chopped salmon, breadcrumbs, green onions, parsley, minced garlic, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.
- Form Balls: With clean hands, shape the mixture into golf ball-sized balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet if baking.
- Cook Salmon Balls: For stovetop, cook balls in heated olive oil about 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. For oven, bake for 15-20 minutes until firm and fully cooked.
- Make Avocado Sauce: While salmon balls cook, blend avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: Season sauce with salt and pepper. Add water a little at a time if you prefer a thinner dipping sauce.
- Serve: Remove cooked salmon balls from heat or oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm with creamy avocado sauce on the side.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- You can bake or pan-fry the salmon balls depending on your preference and time.
- If the avocado sauce is too thick, add water gradually to achieve desired consistency.
- Ensure salmon is fresh and skinless for best flavor and texture.
- These salmon balls can be served as an appetizer or with a side salad for a light meal.
