When I was growing up a can of Tuna often constituted a good square meal. My Mother’s repertoire of recipes was small and Tuna was a big part of that list on regular rotation.
Tuna Cakes are Easy
For a working Mother, Tuna not only had nutritious qualities worth considering, it was also very quick. Staples like, Tuna bake or a Kedgeree with Keens English curry powder or Rise a Riso with Tuna and peas, always our favourite, were constants on the menu. This dish was a packet of Risoni with added flavouring from the supermarket, to which we added tuna and peas and any other stray vegetable in the fridge and all four of us learned to make it over time. While our neighbours of Italian, Maltese and Polish heritage were tucked away in the surrounding houses making all kinds of hand rolled pastas, dumplings and stuffed cabbage rolls for dinner, we were taking turns to whip this up.
Although I scoff just ever so slightly at my Mothers cuisine choices, she grasped the industrial production of quick meal ideas with both hands and after teaching us to cook them, she collapsed on the couch. Some foods from your child hood just can’t seem to be erased from the memory banks, they are sometimes comforting and they can become a part of our childrens’ childhood too. When Skater was young I tried to encourage him to eat Tuna bake or this Rise Riso with absolutely no success. In fact a can of Tuna opened anywhere within close proximity of his nose can drive him out the front door. Sad really.
This is what lead me to buy some fresh tuna pieces and offcuts at the market the other day . You can buy 500gm of tuna offcuts and pieces in most shops in the fish market for around $14. You could also use 500 gm of Tuna fillet, just a little bit more expensive. I thought if I made fish cakes with fresh tuna I may have more luck, and I was right.
Serve the Tuna cakes with capers or caper mayonnaise and some nice roasted sweet potato chips. They make cute party food too. Put them on a platter and hand them around.
The little capers I have are from the Island of Pantelleria, in the Strait of Sicily, 100 km (62 miles) southwest of Sicily and just 60 km (37 miles) east of the coast of Tunisia.
These fish cakes are very simple, made with very few ingredients so that the flavour of the Tuna shines through the crispy Panko Crumbed exterior.
Ingredients | Unit: |
- 500 gm raw tuna
- 500 gm steamed potato preferably a waxy one like Deseree
- 1 Tablespoon very finely chopped shallot or Spanish onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 whole Egg
- 50 gm Panko crumbs 1/2 cup
- 40 ml lemon Juice 2 Tablespoons
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- 1 whole chilli if you like
- 2 cups Panko crumbs
Instructions
- Cook and crush the potato and refrigerate till cool. ( I steam whole in the skins and peel after)
- Cut the tuna into pieces and put into a food processor and blitz till it is well minced but not completely smooth.
- Then in a bowl, add the parsley, tuna, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, egg, salt and pepper and crumbs to the potato and mix well.
- Shape the mixture into cakes flattening to around 5-6 cm so they are not too thick to cook through.
- The recipe can be made to here and chiiled if you want to cook them later.
- Put 2 cups of panko crumbs into a dish and coat the cakes with the crumbs. Pushing them onto the outside so they stick. I had no need to eggwash, the crumbs should stick with no problems but you can egg them first if you prefer
- Heat a fry pan with 3 cm of oil. When it is hot add the fish cakes in batches frying till golden on both sides, drain on kitchen paper.
- Serve them with caper mayonnaise
- This recipe makes approximately 12 cakes or around 24 small ones
Recipe Notes
They make great canapes and only take minutes to cook. You can prepare them ahead of time and cook them at the last minute, just before handing around with a sauce.
Delicious tiny Tuna cakes with caper mayonnaise and Bella Cerignola olives
I’ve eaten tuna out of a can. Yes, I do pronounce it like an American. It’s toona. John rolls his eyes and says, “It’s tiewna, Maureen.” Yeah, whatever.
I’ve never made tuna cakes from fresh tuna. These are beautiful!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Sous Vide Cheeseburgers
What a great recipe!
I really do love any sort of fish cake- and I don’t care if that’s a bit daggy!
erin recently posted..Spelt Pancakes with Banana Jam and Bacon
These look insanely good!! And I am absolutely loving your food styling too by the way. I think these are definitely going to be making an appearance in our house soon! Thank you for linking up with our FFF party – have a great weekend! xx
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile recently posted..Fabulous Foodie Fridays #16 – Cornflake Cookies
We certainly grew up with tinned tuna as well Tania. Tuna Mornay was definitely a regular, but swapped out with tinned salmon for special occasions!
I do love your take on an old classic sweetie, the fresh tuna and capers definitely elevates it beyond its humble beginnings xox
InTolerant Chef recently posted..Sweet and Sour Pork with the Billyboil
What beautiful tuna cakes they look really elegant 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..My Hatred of Stats
These are definitely a great alternative to eating tuna straight from the can!
Joanne recently posted..Drunken Noodles with Tofu and Peppers
You’ll probably shake your head at me but I’m a bit like Skater and can’t stand the smell of tuna! I’m sure these are quite delicious though.
Claire @ Claire K Creations recently posted..Sun, sourdough and Sydney
Your poor mum! I do feel for her with working full-time, trying to feed a family on a budget and hating being in the kitchen. Your tuna cakes are certainly a very sophisticated take on any tuna dish your mother would have produced xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..1st Clifton Gardens Sea Scouts 70th Birthday
Don’t think my very European Mum made those, but I still occasionally do and using fish from one of those envelopes many manufacturers offer these days 🙂 ! Five minutes from brain wave to plate, well almost!!! But, there are SO many ways to make one think it is not tinned tuna 🙂 !! More exciting than a boring sandwich!! And, with an exciting salad, not bad at all for a ‘minor’ meal 🙂 !!!!
So delicious! I often make salmon cakes, but have not made them with tuna.
These look delicious – especially with fresh tuna and caper mayonnaise ! My boys never liked canned tuna either though I do remember rise a risa from my childhood – we thought it was quite exotic!!
Oooo, these sound fantastic! I love good tuna cakes and these are gorgeous. 🙂
Krista recently posted..Garden to Plate: Radishes
I love these made with fresh tuna! They look fantastic, Tania.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Matcha Spelt Madeleine
oh wow i really want to eat these right now. yum the capers sound wonderful.
sherry from sherryspickings recently posted..My Sunday Photo 24 August 2014