Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Lauren Matheson ·

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Made with leftover fish and potatoes, this easy Fish Cakes recipe can be ready to enjoy in a little over 30 minutes and this simple meal is guaranteed to become a family favourite! Serve with your favourite salad, vegetables, homemade tartare sauce and sprinkle with lemon juice.

Find both regular and Thermomix instructions in the recipe card below.

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (1)

You will love:

Budget Friendly – this traditional Fish Cake recipe can be made using leftover fish and potatoes, making it a perfect budget friendly and easy meal.

Versatile – Serve these Fish Cakes with a simple salad or vegetables.

Great for entertaining – Make these Fish Cakes a little smaller to turn them into the perfect finger food or appetiser for your next party.

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (2)

Ingredients

Please note you will find both regular and Thermomix instructions in the recipe card below.

  • Cooked Fresh Fish – Basa Fillets were used to make the Fish Cakes pictured.
  • Cooked Potatoes – mashed potato can also be used.
  • Milk
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Garlic
  • Lemon Zest
  • Onion Flakes
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Chives
  • Eggs
  • Panko Breadcrumbs – using Panko Breadcrumbs will help to give your Fish Cakes a crunchy crust.

How to Make Fish Cakes:

Step 1. Place the fish fillets and mashed potatoes into a large mixing bowl and mash.

Step 2. Add the milk, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon rind, onion flakes, mustard, egg and salt and pepper and stir well to combine.

Step 3. Use a large spoon to scoop up the fish mixture and shape with your hands to form fish patties.

Step 4. Coat with the bread crumbs.

Step 5. Transfer to the fridge and let chill.

Step 6. Place olive oil into a large frying pan and heat over a medium heat. Cook the Fish Cakes for 3 -4 minutes on each side before flipping over.

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (3)

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe Hints and Tips

This recipe is very simple to make and it’s also really versatile. We enjoyed the ‘chunkier’ texture of the fish and potatoes, however you can choose to use a food processor to combine your fish and potatoes if you would like a smoother texture.

Leftover mashed potato can also be used for this recipe.

You can use any type of white fish for this recipe, I used Basa Fillets in the Fish Cakes pictured.

You could also add some leftover corn or other vegetables to your mixture as well as using other types of fish, such as salmon, too.

This recipe is not only perfect for using up leftovers, but it also makes a great simple meal or snack.

It’s important to chill the fish cakes in the fridge before cooking as this helps them to keep their shape.

We like to serve these with some homemade vegetable chips and salad, but they are also yummy when served with steamed vegetables and rice too. You may also like to enjoy these with homemade tartare sauce and lemon juice.

Store in the fridge and consumed within two days and leftover Fish Cakes can be frozen for up to three months. Uncooked fish cakes can also be frozen for up to three months.

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (4)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep Fish Cakes from falling apart?

Break the fish into small pieces to help it bind together. It is also important to let the cakes chill in the fridge as this will help them to hold their shape.

Is it ok to freeze Fish Cakes?

You can freeze Fish Cakes for up to three months. They can be stored in the fridge for up to two days.

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (5)

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes:

  • Zucchini Slice
  • Baked Chicken Cheese and Zucchini Balls
  • Spinach and Cheese Gozleme
  • Rissoles Recipe

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (6)

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe

This easy Fish Cakes recipe is a great way to use up any leftover fish and potatoes. These Fish Cakes are simple to make, freezer friendly and both regular and Thermomix instructions are included too.

4.44 from 60 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Chilling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Modern

Servings 12 Fish Cakes

Calories 180 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 x Frying Pan

Ingredients

  • 500 grams cooked fish
  • 350 grams cooked potatoes
  • 2 tablespoon milk
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese finely grated
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 lemon rind
  • 1 tablespoon onion flakes
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chives finely chopped
  • 2 eggs
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • olive oil for cooking

Instructions

  • Place the panko breadcrumbs into a bowl and set aside until needed.

  • Place the fish and potatoes into a large bowl and mash. Alternatively, if you would prefer your fish cakes to have a ‘smooth’ consistency, you can process these ingredients in a food processor.

  • Add the milk, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon rind, onion flakes, mustard, egg and salt and pepper and stir well to combine.

  • Use a large dessert spoon to scoop up the mixture and shape with your hands to form a ball.

  • Place the ball into the panko breadcrumbs and gently roll to coat.

  • Place the coated fish cakes onto a plate and repeat steps 4 and 5 until all of the mixture has been used.

  • Transfer the fish cakes to the fridge for 30 minutes to chill, this will help them to hold their shape.

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and add 4 – 5 fish cakes. The amount of fish cakes you can cook at a time will depend on the size of your frying pan. Cook for 3 minutes before carefully flipping and cooking for a further 2 minutes on the other side or until nice and brown.

  • Repeat until all of your fish cakes have been cooked.

Thermomix Instructions

  • Place the panko breadcrumbs into a bowl and set aside until needed.

  • Place the fish and potatoes into your Thermomix bowl and mix on speed 5 for 5 seconds to combine. Scrape down the sides of your bowl.

  • Add the milk, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon rind, onion flakes, mustard, egg and salt and pepper mix for 6 seconds, speed 5 on REVERSE.

  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for a further 5 seconds, speed 4 REVERSE or until combined.

  • Follow instructions as above from step 4.

Notes

This recipe is very simple to make and it’s also really versatile. We enjoyed the ‘chunkier’ texture of the fish and potatoes, however you can choose to use a food processor to combine your fish and potatoes if you would like a smoother texture.

You can use any type of fish for this recipe, I used Basa Fillets in the Fish Cakes pictured.

You could also add some leftover corn or other vegetables to your mixture as well as using other types of fish, such as salmon, too.

This easy Fish Cake recipe is not only perfect for using up leftovers, but it also makes a great simple meal or snack.

It’s important to chill the fish cakes in the fridge before cooking as this helps them to keep their shape.

We like to serve these with some homemade vegetable chips and salad, but they are also yummy when served with steamed vegetables and rice too.

These Fish Cakes are best stored in the fridge and consumed within two days and can be frozen for three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 12gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 253mgPotassium: 341mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 74IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Fish Cakes, Thermomix Fish Cakes

Tried this recipe? Please leave a rating and tag me on Instagram! Mention @createbakemake or tag #createbakemake!

You can find more simple and delicious recipes (and easy weeknight dinners!) in our books and eBooks, shop the range here.

Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (7)
Easy Fish Cakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep homemade fish cakes from falling apart? ›

How do you keep fish cakes from falling apart?
  1. Use forks to flake your leftover fish into small pieces (smaller flakes hold together better when forming the cakes).
  2. Have a clean plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper ready before you form your fish cakes.
Oct 29, 2022

How are fish cakes made? ›

A fishcake (sometimes written as fish cake) is a culinary dish consisting of filleted fish or other seafood minced or ground, mixed with a starchy ingredient, and fried until golden. Asian-style fishcakes usually contain fish with salt, water, starch, and egg. They can include a combination of fish paste and surimi.

What is the binder for fish cakes? ›

One thing you'll always need for fish cakes is an egg. The proteins in the egg will help bind together your fish cake mix as it cooks.

How to get fish cake to stick together? ›

Egg – Next, dip the fish cake into the beaten eggs and let the excess drip off. Panko breadcrumbs – And finally, place it in a bowl of panko breadcrumbs. Spoon some breadcrumbs over then use your hands to pat it on to adhere as best you can.

Why won't my fish cakes stick together? ›

The fish must be moist enough for the breading to adhere, often it is dipped in milk or egg first. The oil must be very hot (35–375 degrees F) or the breading will separate. You can't put too many cold fish in the oil at once.

Why are my fish cakes rubbery? ›

Fish cakes can become rubbery if overprocessed or overcooked, as this causes the proteins in the fish to tighten and squeeze out moisture. Do you put egg in fish cakes? Yes, eggs are commonly used in fish cakes as a binding agent to hold the ingredients together and provide moisture.

What is the pink in fish cake? ›

This processed roll is primarily made of frozen surimi (processed, pureed whitefish), while the pink swirl comes from food coloring. Invented in the 1800s and prepared by slicing and steaming, narutomaki has a history of gracing traditional noodle soups, such as ramen and soba.

How do you know when fish cakes are done? ›

Add vegetable oil to a frying pan until it around 1cm deep. Heat this until a small piece of fishcake dropped in starts to bubble. Fry the fishcakes a few at a time until the base is golden, flip them and repeat with the other side. Keep flipping until the fishcakes are a deep brown colour (but not burnt).

What is the function of egg in fish cakes? ›

Fish cakes are just minced or ground fish, seasonings, and something to bind them together. The binder is often egg white, but not always. If you're making fish cakes to cook like burgers in a pan, you can probably skip the binder.

What is a good fish binder? ›

My go-to method is a simple, light smear of yellow mustard and hot sauce, which acts as a binder, then go straight into a "breading" of cornflour, cornmeal, and seasoning. I really like this method unless I'm frying soft shell crabs, then I prefer AP flour.

Why do my fish cakes fall apart when cooking? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

Are fish cakes good for you? ›

Light on the stomach and easy to digest, Fish Cakes are also a healthy addition to your diet as they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Here we share a Fish Cake recipe that is flavourful and easy to make. You can also make this recipe as a snack for a birthday party or a kitty party.

What is fish cake made of? ›

Fish cakes are made from ground fish and flour or starch that is formed into small loafs and then steamed or fried. Fish cakes are used in a variety of Japanese dishes such as soups and stews, appetizers and boxed lunches.

Why are my fish cakes sloppy? ›

Another tip: before you shape and refrigerate the cakes, fry off a small piece of the mixture. Taste it, season it to perfection and, if it is too sloppy, add a little bit of flour (you can use a gluten-free one if you prefer).

What causes a homemade cake to fall? ›

Why did my cake sink in the middle?
  • 1 – Your ratio of ingredients is incorrect. ...
  • 2 – Your cake tin is too small. ...
  • 3 – You're undermixing your cake batter. ...
  • 4 – You're overmixing your cake batter. ...
  • 5 – You're opening the oven door too early when checking your cake. ...
  • 6 – Your oven is too cold.
Apr 28, 2023

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Last Updated:

Views: 5990

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Birthday: 2001-01-17

Address: Suite 769 2454 Marsha Coves, Debbieton, MS 95002

Phone: +813077629322

Job: Real-Estate Executive

Hobby: Archery, Metal detecting, Kitesurfing, Genealogy, Kitesurfing, Calligraphy, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Gov. Deandrea McKenzie, I am a spotless, clean, glamorous, sparkling, adventurous, nice, brainy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.