Crab cakes is comfort food and a favorite for many, however having access to fresh crab or even canned crab, isn’t something most people have on hand in their kitchen or weekly grocery list. Tuna on the other hand, is an item that is often stored in most kitchen cupboards, so why only use it for making tuna sandwiches? Taking an ordinary can of tuna and mixing it with a few ingredients, makes a dish that looks like you spent hours on, when in reality takes very little time and effort.
Tuna Cakes Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3-4 cans of tuna; 3 if using large cans, 4 if using smaller cans (Spicy Thai tuna, or regular tuna if preferred)
- 2 cups of bread crumbs
- 2-3 eggs (beaten)
- 1 onion (chopped finely)
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 2 red peppers (chopped into small bits)
- 3-4 shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or black pepper, if preferred)
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine tuna, onion, garlic, red pepper, shredded carrot, fresh parsley, and cayenne pepper. Mix ingredients well.
- Add beaten eggs and bread crumbs, and mix thoroughly until you have a somewhat mushy, yet firm enough consistency that holds all of the ingredients together. If the mixture seems to runny, add more breadcrumbs. If the mixture is too dry, add another egg. You want the mixture to be able to take form, similar to when shaping meatballs.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop a good portion of the mixture onto the spoon and begin to roll like a meatball. Proceed by flattening the ball into a patty.
- Place tuna cake onto a non-stick, greased baking tray and repeat process until mixture is finished. Be sure to leave enough space in between each cake/patty so that they don't overlap while baking.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until cakes have a golden brown color.
* Makes approximately 20 tuna cakes.
Serve With:
This recipe can be served in a variety of ways. It works great as an appetizer when hosting a party. If doing so, make the tuna cakes smaller in size so that it can be eaten as a finger food. Dip with sour cream or a mango-based salsa for a complimentary pairing. These tuna cakes also work great as a side dish to any meal. And, how about making it a meal on its own? Go for it! Serve a few tuna cakes with oven-roasted vegetables or a salad and baked potatoes, and you have yourself a healthy meal full of flavor!
