Summer Food and Drink Pairings: Salmon Cakes and Tom Collins Cocktail

Finally time for summer. Cooking the perfect meal is an exciting way to enjoy the company of family and friends. Also, knowing which cocktails to pair with the meal you are making is also important. The perfect pairing of taste between your drink and dish can make the difference between a decent meal and an outstanding dinner that your friends and family will talk about until your next creation. Below is a recipe for salmon cakes with a delicious dill tartar sauce that is paired with a Tom Collin cocktail. The recipe for that drink is also below.

Salmon Cakes with Dill Tartar Sauce
4 servings-248 Calories per patty and 1 tbsp of tartar sauce

¼ cup plus 6 tbsp nonfat mayonnaise
1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
2 tsp plus 3 tbsp chopped dill
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Dash of hot sauce
1 (14 3/4 -ounce) can salmon, drained
1 celery stalk finely chopped
3 tbsp plus ¼ cup plain dry bread crumbs
3 tbsp grated onion
2 tsp canola oil

• To make sauce, mix together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons of the dill, lemon zest, relish, and hot sauce. Put in refrigerator.

• For the salmon cakes, mash together salmon with mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons of bread crumbs, celery, 3 tablespoons of dill and onion.

• Shape this mixture into four patties and put in refrigerator for about one hour.

• Dredge the patties in the remaining bread crumbs. In a nonstick skillet, heat oil and add patties.

• Cook about five minutes until golden and serve with tartar sauce.

Try this salmon dish with a delicious cocktail such as the Tom Collins. This is a great drink to pair with this fish, the recipe is as follows:

Tom Collins

2 oz gin
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp sugar
Chilled club soda
Slice of orange or lemon
Maraschino cherry

• Mix lemon juice and sugar together in a glass.

• Add ice cubes and gin to this mixture.

• Top it off with the club soda and stir.

• Add lemon or orange slice to rim of glass for garnish and put cherry on top.

Sora, J. W. (2004). International Bartender's Guide. New York: Random House.

Weight Watchers. (2002). Simply Delicious: Winning Points Cookbook. New York: Weight Watchers Publishing Group.