Easy Fish Cakes
These fish cakes make a perfect appetizer, side, or burger for a healthy meal. Made with onion, ginger, garlic, and fresh cilantro, these fish patties are bursting with flavor. And this recipe is simple, easy, and gets done in less than 20 minutes.
You either love or hate cilantro; there is no in-between. Right? But, in these fish cakes, you can use parsley instead of cilantro. So don’t worry.
These remind me of my childhood. My mom would make this fish cake recipe quite often. In fact, she’d make large ones and serve them to us in burger buns. So, we’d have them like ‘fish burgers’ with ketchup. And they tasted so good.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Fish – You can use any fleshy fish for these cakes. For example, haddock, cod, or sea bass. Frozen fish will also work. Ensure you thaw and drain any excess water to avoid a soggy mixture.
- Cilantro – If you do not like cilantro, you can also use parsley. I love cilantro. Also, cilantro has a strong flavor. Hence, you can’t miss it in a recipe.
- Ginger and garlic – These are a match made in heaven. I love them paired together and the fresh taste of ginger in these cakes.
- Egg – This helps bind the ingredients together. So, add just as much as you need, starting with half an egg. And, only add more if you need it.
- Breadcrumbs – I prefer to use fresh breadcrumbs. And yet, dry ones will also work.
Step-by-step instructions
- Thaw, drain, and wipe the fish. Then, cut into smaller pieces. Set aside
Pro tip – It is very important that you don’t have excess moisture in the fish, or the mixture will be difficult to shape - In a food processor, pulse the fresh bread to make breadcrumbs, remove them, and set aside.
- To the same food processor, add the onion, garlic, ginger, and cilantro/parsley. Pulse until minced. Then, add the fish and pulse for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Pro tip – Pulse into smaller bursts so you don’t grind it to a smooth paste. You want to mix until you have some paste and some coarse for some texture. - Remove from the food processor into a mixing bowl. Then, add half the beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Combine. You should be able to shape the mixture into a patty. If necessary, add more to the beaten egg.
- Lastly, add cilantro/parsley and season with salt and pepper.
- Take about 1/4 cup of the mixture and roll it into a ball with your damp hands, then flatten it to make it flat.
- Heat a shallow frying pan or cast-iron skillet with two tbsp oil. Gently place the fish cakes in the hot oil.
- Cook for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove and drain excess on a paper hand towel.
- Serve with tomato sauce, mayonnaise, or tartar sauce on the side.
Fish Cakes
These fish cakes make a perfect appetizer, side, or burger for a healthy meal. Made with onion, ginger, garlic, and fresh cilantro, these fish patties are bursting with flavor. And, this recipe is simple, easy, and gets done in less than 20 minutes.
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500 g) Fish
- ½ cup Onion chopped
- 1 tbsp Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Ginger minced
- ½ tsp Coriander powder
- ½ cup Fresh cilantro or parsley chopped
- 2 slices Fresh bread
- ½ Egg beaten
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 3 tbsp Oil cooking
Method
- Thaw, drain, and wipe the fish. Then, cut into smaller pieces. Set aside Tip – it is very important that you don't have excess moisture in the fish or the mixture will be difficult to shape
- In a food processor -pulse the fresh bread to make breadcrumbs – remove and set aside.
- To the same food processor, add the onion, garlic, ginger, and cilantro/parsley. Pulse until minced. Then add the fish and pulse for another 2 to 3 minutes. Tip – Pulse into smaller bursts so you don't grind it to a smooth paste. You want to mix until you have some paste and some coarse for some texture.
- Remove from the food processor into a mixing bowl. Then, add half the beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Combine. You should be able to shape the mixture into a patty. If necessary add more for the beaten egg.
- Lastly, add cilantro/parsley, and season with salt and pepper.
- Take about 1/4 cup of the mixture and roll into a ball with your damp hands then flatten to make them flat.
- Heat a shallow frying pan or cast-iron skillet with two tbsp oil. Gently place the fish cakes in the hot oil.
- Cook for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove and drain excess on a paper hand towel.
- Serve with tomato sauce, mayonnaise, or tartar sauce on the side.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
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10 minutes recipes are such savior! These fish cajws are filled with simple and amazing flavors! I bet they tasted delicious.
Thank you Sonal. Absolutely such quick dishes are my go-to when juggling work and home.
Thee sound so delicious! I love most things fish, and the flavors sound amazing together.
Thank you Danielle.
these sure look tasty! I love fish cakes I have made them and they have been a flop here .. Will be trying your recipe Thanks!
Aww sorry to hear Claudia. We love these.. You must try this.
Yummy! These sound so good! I love cilantro but never tried it in a fish cake like this. I must try it soon!
Thanks April. If you love cilantro you must try this. It’s delish.
I LOve fish cakes and yours look really good and moist. I like cilantro but never tried it with fish. I usually do a fish and dill combo
Oh Julie that is another one of my favorite Combos.. Fish and Dill I do like it very much. I do use it less cause my Aadi does not seem to like it much yet but it is an absolutely amazing combination..
I love seafood & these fish cakes sound terrific, especially with the fresh cilantro!
Thank you DanZehr. Yes I love Cilantro so makes a great addition here.
Yum. I love fish cakes! I have never thought of putting cilantro in mine. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Yeah Elaine cilantro is a great herb for fish – you must try !
Goodness, this has me wishing my husband enjoyed more seafood because I’d love to add this into our dinner rotation. I’d even like to try switching up the fish for salmon since it’s my favorite.
Salmon Fish cakes would be so amazing Alysas, I hope you try them.
These sound delicious — I love fish cakes in any form, but the flavors you’ve added to this one really sound terrific! Is that just a plain tomato sauce or ketchup you’re serving it with? — I think it would work with with a garlicky aioli, too!
Absolutely!! Lisa my kids love ketchup/ tomato sauce but you right it with a garlicky aioli too! Thanks
Coriander is so good with fish, really like the look of these.
Thank you so much Kavey. I love Coriander with fish too!