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Salmon Meatballs (BLW Friendly)

If you’re looking for a baby salmon recipe, you should try these baked salmon meatballs. They have a soft interior and are great as finger food for babies (6-7 months +), older kids and adults. Flavorful, packed with omega-3, vitamin D, protein sand tasty enough that the whole family will love them!

These baked salmon balls are also ideal for babies and toddlers starting baby led weaning with salmon because they’re tender enough even for a new beginner eater exploring a new food texture. 

Salmon Meatballs For Baby (BLW) Toddlers and Kids As Finger Food

This recipe for salmon meatballs requires only 40 minutes to prepare, it’s healthy and easy to make because the salmon “cakes” are baked rather than fried.

Check out another salmon recipe for your baby: Salmon Cutlets Recipe

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Key Ingredients Needed

  • Wild caught salmon – fresh or frozen. Wild caught salmon is growing in a healthier environment so I always prefer to choose that. I don’t recommend using canned salmon in this recipe, the texture will differ greatly.
  • Rolled oats – a healthier substitution of bread crumbs. I’m using gluten free organic oats.
  • Carrots – as bulking ingredient, to provide a sweet soft texture once baked.
  • Egg – is used to “glue” the salmon meat together with the rest of ingredients.
  • Avocado – helps to moisten and soften the overall texture.
  • Onion and garlic – for flavor.
  • Seasonings – to improve the taste (adjust to baby’s age).
Salmon meatballs as baby finger food.
Salmon meatballs as baby finger food.

How To Make The Salmon Meatballs

To make it quick and easy you need a food processor. Grind the salmon fillet and the rest of ingredients in just one bowl. But first you need the prepare the ingredients.

Step 1. Prepare The Salmon

If the salmon is frozen (the wild caught one is usually sold frozen) make sure to thaw it slowly, overnight in the refrigerator. Fast thawing will change it’s taste and have more water.

Process shots showing the amount of salmon used for this recipe and how it was chopped.
This is the amount of salmon I used for this recipe (about 1.3 lb). Use a paper towel to draw out the excess water.

Pull the skin off and roughly chop into large chunks so they could fit in the food processor.

Step 2. Process Into A Ground Mass

First, ground the carrots and oatmeal in the food processor, these are tougher ingredients.

Then place the chopped salmon, onion, garlic, egg, avocado, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Pulse in food processor a few times to combine.

Process shots showing how to process salmon with the rest of ingredients in a food processor to make salmon meatballs for baby.

Step 3. Form The Salmon Balls

Form the salmon meatballs by rolling between the palms of your hands. Place them on a prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.

Bake until the salmon balls are firm to the touch and cooked through, about 18 to 20 minutes, at 420F.

Process shots showing how the salmon balls are made and baked in the pan.
Raw salmon meatballs vs baked.

Storing Tips

  • Store leftovers for 3-5 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze up to 3 months in an airtight container.
  • Thaw / reheat – just pop the fish meatballs out of the freezer and place them in a covered pot with a touch of water to provide steam. Reheat until heated through, about 10 minutes.
Picture of salmon meatballs shown the texture inside.
How it looks inside.

More Meatball Recipes For Babies

Salmon baby meatballs - perfect salmon recipe as finger food or baby led weaning.
Need more recipes? Check out the finger food category for more ideas!
salmon balls baby food blw recipe

Salmon Meatballs (BLW Friendly) Recipe

ThrivingNest
These baked salmon meatballs make a great salmon baby food for babies (6-7 months +), also older kids and adults. They’re flavorful, packed with omega-3, vitamin D, protein sand tasty enough that the whole family will love them! The salmon balls are also ideal for baby led weaning and tender enough even for a new beginner eater without teeth. 
DIETS: Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Baby Food
Servings 23 salmon meatballs
Calories 73.56 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1.3 lb salmon fillet (fresh or frozen, preferably wild)
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (breadcrumbs substitution)
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1.5 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/3 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt (omit for babies under 12 months)

Instructions
 

Step 1. Prepare The Salmon

  • If the salmon is frozen (the wild caught one is usually sold frozen) make sure to thaw it slowly, overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Pull the skin off and roughly chop into large chunks so they could fit in the food processor. Make sure to pat dry the fish before chopping.

Step 2. Process Into A Ground Mass

  • First, ground the carrots and oatmeal in the food processor, these are tougher ingredients.
  • Then place the chopped salmon, onion, garlic, egg, avocado, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Pulse in food processor a few times to combine.

Step 3. Form The Salmon Meatballs

  • Form the salmon meatballs by rolling between the palms of your hands. Place them on a prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
  • Bake at 420F (215C), until the salmon balls are firm to the touch and cooked through, about 18 to 20 minutes,

Notes

Grain free salmon meatballs – remove the oats and add some almond meal instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 73.56kcalCarbohydrates: 3.45gProtein: 7.56gFat: 3.2gFiber: 0.85gSugar: 0.34gVitamin A: 60234IUVitamin C: 1.18mgCalcium: 10.3mgIron: 0.53mg
Have you tried any of these recipes? Your feedback is really helpful, please rate and leave a comment below recipe card!!
If you’re looking for a baby salmon recipe, you should try these baked salmon meatballs. They have a soft interior and are great as finger food for babies (6-7 months +), toddlers, older kids and adults. Flavorful, packed with omega-3, vitamin D, protein sand tasty enough that the whole family will love them! The salmon balls are also ideal for baby led weaning and tender enough even for a new beginner eater without teeth. #salmon #babyfood #recipe #meatballs #toddler #blw #fingerfood #fish
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4 Comments

    1. You can freeze them raw or cooked, it’s up to you. To cook frozen raw meatball – place them on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven (about 7-10 minutes longer than fresh).

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