It's Hatch Chile Season. If you live near a Central Market or pretty much any higher-end grocery store in the southwest, you will find everything possible made with hatch chiles. Everything from chocolate cake to tortillas. These Whole30 Salmon Cakes are filled with hatch chiles to offer a little spice to the traditional recipe.

Ingredients in Whole30 Salmon Cakes

Traditional salmon cakes combine cooked salmon with some sort of breadcrumbs, egg and flavoring agents. I have replaced the breadcrumbs with almond flour which actually somehow makes them even more crispy. To add flavor, I add lime zest, hatch chiles and green onions.

What are Hatch Chiles?

Hatch Chiles are a specific kind of spicy pepper (chile) from New Mexico. They have a very herbaceous flavor and can range from very mild to very hot and everything in between. Look for them in your local grocery store starting in late July to early September. To learn more about them and how to roast, peel and seed them yourself (and save big $) visit this link.

Ways to Serve Whole30 Salmon Cakes

• Serve as below with slaw, chipotle mayo and pickled jicama or other veggies to offset the richness of the salmon

• Serve on a paleo friendly bun with the slaw and chipotle mayo with a side of sweet potato fries for a fun alternative to a burger

• Make mini salmon cakes to serve as an appetizer with the chipotle mayo as a dipping sauce

• Serve cold in a bento box for lunch

• Serve over a large salad. Thin the chipotle mayo out with lime juice and use this as the dressing. Toss in a few sprouted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) to carry out the southwest theme.

How to Make Whole30 Salmon Cakes

Step One:

Drain salmon and empty into bowl then add remaining ingredients.

Step Two:

Form into cakes. I used a large ice cream scoop to portion and got about 11 cakes. You will probably have 10-12 depending on size.

Step Three:

Fry in coconut oil or avocado oil or a mixture of the two. (I totally ditzed on the photo, but as you can see in final product, they are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle)

Step Four:

Serve drizzled with chipotle mayo, pickled jicama and your favorite slaw. Note: If you don't want to make your own chipotle mayo try Primal Kitchen Chipotle Mayo

Can Salmon Cakes Be Made Ahead?

Absolutely! You can make them up and freeze in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet. If you freeze them uncooked, just make sure to remove them at least an hour before cooking so they won't spatter when hitting the oil. If you cook them and then want to freeze, just place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and freeze until solid.