Memories of growing up involve memories of comfort food, and regardless of your cultural upbringing there are always some great dishes that bring us back to our childhoods. It seems a common theme on my blog is comfort food, because it is what makes us feel so great, especially when we are down, but even when we are just hungry and don’t know what to make for lunch or dinner.

Things have changed in society, and in my own morality as it relates to my food choices, so sometimes I come to a dilemma. One such debate occurred when I realized that eating non-sustainably fished seafood was not an option for me. What about my beloved tuna melt, and salmon patties, even the much unloved tuna casserole!? Would they be gone forever, or was there an option out there for me?

Was talking to a chef I know, who deals with sustainable fish and we were talking tuna melts. An option was to take a tuna loin, and make a melt out of it, but that didn’t seem very economical. Tuna should be cherished, and not consumed very often, so with a great specimen like when you would get when you bought a loin, it is best for tartare or sushi.

Then someone told me about Raincoast Trading, and the day was saved. Canned sustainable fish and seafood, readily available, and not overly expensive either. I immediately emailed to company to see if they would like to send me some samples, so I could try it and maybe develop some cool recipes to share with my readers. 

I paid a visit to a very cool Asian market recently, and picked up some cool ingredients. This had an influence on how I made dinner last night, when I had a craving for salmon patties.

Layers, as follows:

• Pickled onions, recipe here.
• Fried garlic. Make your own, or buy from the Asian market.
• SupiCucu Diabla’s Fuego, sweet hot sauce.
• PC Black Label Truffle Aioli.
• Salmon patties, made from Raincoast Pink Salmon, recipe below.
• Steam bun, available at any Asian market in the freezer section.

Sustainable Salmon Patties

• 1 can Raincoast Trading Wild Skinless Boneless Pink Salmon
• 1 Egg
• ¼ cup panko or breadcrumbs
• Salt
• Fried garlic
• Mayo

Mix all ingredients well, and adjust the consistency and taste until you are happy. The mixture should form firm patties. Cook in some butter until brown on both sides.

I am going to play with the Raincoast products some more, very soon, and I am even thinking about a recipe for spicy tuna roll influenced casserole. What do you think? What variations to tuna casserole do you make at home, let me know.