These mini cakes look a lot like the Portuguese codfish cakes (bolinhos de bacalhau in the North or pastéis de bacalhau in the South) but they’re not quite what they look. I must say that I inicially wanted to make some regular fish patties but then quickly remembered my Portuguese roots.
Portuguese fish cakes are not round flat but beautifully spoon shaped. Traditionally they are made with dry cod and purée and take a bit of time to prepare. These cakes, on the other hand, are quick and easy as they are made with canned tuna and grated veggies. Well, there is the spoon shape trick that takes a while to master, but you can always keep it simple by making round patties 😉
The base ingredients are tuna and boiled potatoes cut into little squares. The grated zucchini and carrots add consistency and fluffiness, while green onions add flavor and freshness. To combine, I used rice flour and an egg.
These cakes are very versatile: you can easily take them to work, have them for dinner with a green salad or serve them as appetizers. They are also gluten free and low fodmap.
Tuna and Veggies Patties
Ingredients
- 5 oz | 150 gr can tuna
- 2 medium potatoes boiled and cut into little squares
- 1 medium zucchini grated
- 1 medium carrot grated
- 1/2 cup scallions green tops only, chopped
- 3 tbsp rice flour
- 1 egg
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper optional
- 6 tbsp of olive oil or any other oil of your preference
Instructions
- Grate the zucchini in a colander over the sink and press to drain the water from the courgette.
- In a large bowl, combine tuna, potatoes, grated carrot, zucchini, green onions, salt and pepper (optional) and gently mix.
- Add the flour and egg and combine.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Scoop a big tablespoon of batter for each cake. Use 2 tablespoons to make the desired shape (please check this video for instructions). Otherwhise you can flatten the batter with a spatula.
- Cook and flip until all sides are nicely golden brown, about 2 minutes each side.
- Serve immediately.
Do you think the tuna cakes would freeze well?
Yes, you can freeze them. I would suggest freezing separately in a dish and put them in a bag when frozen. This way you can then fry them without any problem.
Can you recommend a dipping sauce for these?
Anything with chives. Lactose free yogurt with chives?
Do you drain the tuna ?
Yes, for this recipe the patties will turn out better.
Olá Joana, será possível fazê-los no forno ou fritar em óleo de coco? isto para evitar alguma reacção mais adversa do intestino às frituras.
Cumprimentos.
Olá Nuno! Pode fritar em óleo de coco. No forno, tenho receio que se desfaçam , mas nada como experimentar. Espero ter ajudado. Cumprimentos!