Okay, there is a salad in the photo at end of post. It’s just not the salad I’d like with these tuna fish cakes. A large bowl of: rocket/arugula leaves, artichoke hearts in oil, ripe avocado, pumpkin seeds, bacon crumbs, chopped capers, half a boiled egg with a simple dressing of white balsamic and extra virgin olive oil and, maybe a little Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese freshly grated on top. A purple olive or 2? Hmm…dream on. Trying to get that list together would be almost impossible, here. One of the downsides of living outside of Central London. Of course, I could pop up to a superstore only 4 miles away. Yet, I can’t stand those places. Especially as I’m usually the only person with a basket holding a handful of items whilst others frenetically whiz past with huge trolleys loaded up to the hilt like there’s going to be a food shortage.
The potatoes couldn’t be simpler. They’re salad potatoes (a large floury potato would be more suitable as mine were quite crisp) sliced crossways into circles, about 4mm (0.15 “) in thickness, and pan-fried until golden on both sides. My rather meagre salad was vine tomatoes, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Not quite the feast I’d hoped for.
Fish were nice, though. Crunchy on their outside, moist and flavoursome in. Again, I’m not using an egg to bind the mixture. Instead, I’ve used 2 heaped dessertspoons of full fat cream cheese. If on a diet, and I never am, use low fat instead. Or, try using mascarpone or crème fraîche. The cakes do need to be coated in breadcrumbs (the cakes in the photos above and below this text were coated with ground almonds instead) rather than floured to prevent them from sticking to a heavy-based pan, as I found out last night. Oops! And it’s a quick home-made parsley sauce in the photos above and below.
Tuna Fish Cakes
INGREDIENTS:
- rapeseed and olive oil
- If caramelising onions: 200g (7.05 oz) x onions, top sliced off, peeled, cut in half and chopped
- If not caramelising onions: 100g x onions, top sliced off, peeled and grated or finely chopped
- 2 x medium garlic cloves, peeled and crushed/minced
- 1/4 x teaspoon cayenne pepper, less or more to personal taste
- 1 x 185g or 130g drained weight (6.52 or 4.58 oz drained) can tuna flakes, well drained
- 200g (7.05 oz) x white potatoes or floury potatoes, scrubbed (if using waxy potatoes use 300g (10.58 oz) as the mixture will be too wet)
- 1 – 2 x tablespoons fresh curly parsley (or more to personal taste), washed and either finely snipped or finely chopped, including stems (if serving these with parsley sauce use 1 tbs in the burger mixture and the other within the sauce)
- large pinch freshly ground black pepper
- 2 x heaped tablespoons full fat cream cheese with garlic and herbs AND/OR
- 1 x medium egg, whisked lightly for binding
- 1/2 x teaspoon finely grated lemon zest – optional
- ground almonds, to coat cakes OR
- 1 x slice wholemeal brown bread (or your favourite type, especially if gluten free is needed), toasted and finely crumbed
- thin wedges of lemon or lime, to serve
Measurements within brackets above are approximate only.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- This step isn’t absolutely necessary, especially if short of time. However, I’m not keen on onions and garlic that haven’t been thoroughly cooked. Yes, if the onions and garlic are left raw they will cook whilst the fish cakes are in the pan. But, chances are the flavour of both will taste slightly acerbic. Besides, I think pan-frying the tuna until beginning to turn golden gives an overall better taste. OK, put a heavy-based pan on electric heat No 3 (out of 6), add the onions with a glug of olive oil and leave them for about 10 minutes, stirring through occasionally. Reduce heat to No 1 and add a splash of water to prevent them from drying out. Continue to cook until nicely golden. Remove them and place in a suitable large bowl. Up the heat to No 3 and add the tuna to the same pan with a little more oil. Stir through until the flakes take on a slight golden colour. Push the tuna to one side, reduce heat to No 1 and add the garlic and allow to settle for 3 – 5 minutes. Any sign of the garlic scorching, take off heat. When cooked sprinkle over the cayenne pepper and take off heat. Allow to cool, then follow the instructions below.
- Don’t pan-fry the grated onion and garlic together as the garlic has turned my onions blue on several occasions. I’ve no idea why that should happen. If anyone knows let me know!
- If not using the above step: add the potatoes to a saucepan with just enough lightly salted water to cover. Put on electric heat No 4 and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to No 2, add a lid, and simmer until cooked. Drain and allow to cool.
- Add all ingredients including the grated onion and crushed garlic (if not caramelising them – I don’t know how they will taste!), except the ground almonds or breadcrumbs, to a suitable large bowl. Mix thoroughly with a fork. Mine was the right consistency to start shaping into burgers, about 2.5cm (1 inch) thick and 5.1cm (2 inches) in diameter. I didn’t need to chill mine. The consistency should feel almost dry to the touch. If too wet either add more potato or a little plain flour. Second time around I used baby new potatoes called Nicola and didn’t achieve the right consistency. Third time I used white potatoes and they were perfect.
- Sprinkle either the ground almonds or breadcrumbs on a plate or suitable chopping board. Gently press the cakes into the crumbs on both sides.
- In the meantime, put a heavy-based pan on heat No 4 initially. When pan is hot, but not smoking, add a glug or 2 of rapeseed oil (it’s better to use on fairly high heat, apparently) and reduce heat to No 3. Add the fish cakes. If there’s any sign of scorching reduce heat even more. Carefully turn them over and cook for about 5 minutes each side.
- Serve with your favourite salad.
All photographs within (Todas las fotografías dentro de) Feed the Piglet:
All rights reserved (© Todos los derechos reservados) – Copyright © Johnny H Hepburn
Ooooh these look delicious!!!
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Thank you! Actually, they were quite nice. Very easy to prep and cook, too. Hope you’re nowhere near those tornadoes. Sounds rough around Dallas.
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I’m not, thankfully Dallas is about 5 hours North of us so we’re out of harms way for now. We’ve had some bad storms this week, but no tornadoes!
I love fish cakes at home, but I’ve never thought to make my own out here, your recipe might have just changed that! 🙂
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Yes, Texas is a large state. Still, too close to home.
Hope so! I’ve never bothered to make ’em, and yet they’re so easy. Sooo much better than shop bought.
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Definitely too close to home, we’re predicted more storms over the coming days too. Fingers crossed no one else get hurt!
Can’t wait to try them 😀
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Yum!!! They look so delicious!
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Thanks! They were. I’m really into slightly crunchy burgers with salad. Even though it’s not very warm, yet.
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Ooh I really like the idea of these! Good recipe!
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They’re so simple to make. It’s getting the right consistency, especially as I’m not using an egg as the binding ingredient. And the pan at the right heat so they don’t stick!
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Pingback: Dish Of The Day: Home-made Fish cakes « JUST PEPPA
I see that I indeed liked it then. I certainly still like it and trying to figure out WHY oh WHY have I not tried this yet?!
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You’re quick!
This is the first time I’ve cooked them since posting. Must do them more often as they’re nicely moreish. I have to go the long route and caramelise the onions. So they do take a bit of time. Worth it, though
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Yum yum and yum!
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HaHaHa. They are yum! This batch turned out even better than before. Admittedly I kept them quite a lot smaller this thime so there was less chance of them falling apart. Parsley sauce was good, too. That’ll be my next post
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Most of the cakes I’ve had are crab and salmon. Tuna is unique and yours look so adorable and I love that crust! I’ve never had parsley sauce. I’m intrigued. Yum yum yum!!!
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Parsley sauce is a big thing over here, or at least it used to be. It’s quite often served with ham. I love it. The one I’m posting is going to be a relatively quick version.
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I have been pondering how to make a tuna cake. Now I know! 🙂 Lovely flavors here. I bet the potatoes make for a very moist patty. We have been on a patty kick lately – most recently with black bean cakes and this salmon cake recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/bestof/toprecipes/bestsalmonrecipes/recipes/food/views/Salmon-Cakes-with-Lemon-Yogurt-Sauce-243164
Can’t wait to try the delicious tuna dish!
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Had a look at this last night. As it’s been so long since I made them. Yes, it’s usual for tuna or fish cakes to be made with potatoes over here. And it does keep them moist. Within this post I haven’t included info on using eggs, yet. Must update. As I probably wouldn’t make these again without adding an egg yolk to the mixture and the white whisked to be used for coating before dipping in breadcrumbs. Talking of which, I would definitely bake one of my quick breads for the crumbs. Anyway, using egg to bind would be so much easier as these were quite soft. I tend to lose my patience if things stick to the pan or start to fall apart!
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Thanks, Johnny. Yes, falling apart is no good. I am not adverse to using eggs! 🙂 Best – Shanna
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