Five quick, easy, nutritious and economical canned salmon recipes

We're all conscious of the limitations of our food budgets, but still want to serve nutritious food that is a pleasure for the family to eat. Time is also at a premium for many of us these days, so we look for quick recipes that also meet the above criteria. Sound impossible? Not at all. As proof, we offer five canned salmon recipe meals. Fresh and frozen salmon are good for a special occasion, but are also becoming a bit pricey.

Canned salmon comes in chunks, much like canned albacore, rather than as a fillet, but this doesn't mean you should turn your nose up at this economical alternative. Look through these five canned salmon recipes and see if you might want to stock up on several cans to tuck away in the pantry for a quick, nutritious meal and a change of pace.

When preparing canned salmon recipes, first drain the juices don't just put them down the drain pour the juice into a small freezer container and save for use later in a chowder or fish-based casserole. Your recipe will benefit from the added flavor. When drained, place the salmon in a wide, shallow container and carefully pick through for any bits of bone or cartilage. Now you're good to go.

1.Salmon patties are a tasty alternative to the burger, a good choice for dieters and those who want to get some extra antioxidants in their diet. In a medium bowl, beat 2 eggs well. Add the salmon and mix throughly. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of freshly snipped tarragon. Mix well. With clean hands, shape the salmon into 4 patties. Dredge the patties in bread crumbs. Fry in a tablespoon of olive oil until crispy around the edges. Serve with lemon wedges, a dinner salad and a chunk of French bread.

2.This canned salmon recipe couldn't be easier, as most of the ingredients are canned. Don't let that put you off it's delicious! Prepare the salmon. Open two 15-1/2 ounce cans of cream of shrimp bisque soup, 1 15-1/2 ounce can of new potatoes (drained), and one 8-ounce can of corn (drained). Put all of the ingredients in a 2-3 quart pot and set the heat on low. Add 1 cup of milk and stir. While the soup is heating, dice one large red sweet bell pepper and one medium sweet onion. Add to the pot. Turn the heat to medium, stirring occasionally. Cut up about cup of fresh Italian flat leaf parsley. When the soup's hot, serve with warm French bread. Garnish each bowl with parsley and a small pinch of cayenne.

3.This canned salmon recipe offers a welcome and refreshing twist on the traditional chef's salad. After cleaning the salmon, put it in a bowl, sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Meanwhile, clean your greens a Mesclun mix is great with salmon and arrange tomato wedges, a hard-boiled, sliced egg and 2-3 slices of avocado around the edge of each plate. Divide the salmon among the plates, mounding it in the center. Serve with a side of Thousand Island dressing and the bread of your choosing.

4.Make a salmon salad sandwich for a quick and healthy lunch. Mix mayonnaise in with the salmon, to your taste. Add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Finely slice 2 green onions, including the tops, and add to the mix. Snip cup of fresh parsley and mix well. In pocket bread, layer lettuce, the salmon mix and top off with alfalfa sprouts. Lunch is ready!

5.Here's a canned salmon recipe that makes a hearty, satisfying and nutritious casserole. Butter the bottom of a 3 quart casserole. Cook and drain 8 ounces of wide egg noodles. Remove the noodles to a large bowl. Coarsely dice one medium red onion. Finely slice 3 green onions, including the tops. Thickly slice 4 large mushrooms. Add the salmon, veggies and teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper to the noodles. Add 2 cans of cream of shrimp bisque soup and cup of whole milk and mix well. Spoon into the buttered casserole dish. Crush a snack size bag of plain potato chips and sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with salad and corn muffins.

You can see how canned salmon recipes add variety to your usual repertoire of menus. If you serve just one of these each week, you'll be saving time and money, while giving a serious boost to the nutritive value your family enjoys. Even kids like these recipes!