Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa is a delicious way to branch out when you’re looking for a new way to eat tuna. The light and fresh tomato salsa pairs wonderfully with the savory tuna cakes.
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I’m trying to do a better job of eating tuna.  It is light, delicious, healthy, and pairs well with a wide variety of foods. I don’t really care for seared tuna steaks, but I’ll eat it almost any other way. At home, I eat canned tuna and my favorite type is White Albacore. Yes, I do know that white Albacore has higher amounts of mercury than chunk white tuna, but I prefer the texture and taste of Albacore. Besides, Albacore is a better source of omega-3 fatty acids.
As much as I like tuna, for a long time I only had two recipes in my collection. One was my Tuna Pasta Salad, and I was eating it almost weekly. So when I found a recipe for Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa, I knew I had to try it.
Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa is so delicious. The cakes have a very nice dense bite, and the tomato salsa is so light and refreshing.
GETTING THE PERFECT TUNA CAKES
The tuna cakes come together quickly, with just a few simple ingredients
- Canned tuna: I use White Albacore
- Bread Crumbs: the original recipe I found called for Rye Crackers, but I’ve never bought those. I use Panko Bread Crumbs, as I always have those on hand
- Mustard: I use whatever I have on hand, including Yellow Mustard, Spicy Brown Mustard, or Jalapeno Mustard for an extra kick
- Egg, onion, garlic, lime juice, salt & pepper
To get the beautiful color and crisp exterior, you have to pan fry the cakes in oil. I’ve tried baking them, and even using cooking spray, but the result just isn’t the same. I use a small amount of oil, pan fry them over high heat, and let them drain well. My favorite oils for frying are Canola Oil or Avocado Oil. Both are light, and have high smoke points.
The fresh tomato salsa is fantastic. The salsa adds a gorgeous pop of color, and the mixture adds so much flavor to the savory cakes. I always make the salsa first, so the flavors have time to develop. The longer the salsa sits, the better. In a pinch, I’ve also let the salsa sit for as little as 10 minutes while I make the cakes, and it still has a wonderful flavor.
These Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa are a very good addition to my tuna recipes, so they often make an appearance on my lunch rotation.
Adapted from The Novice Chef
SHOP THIS RECIPE
- 2 3- ounce packages of white Albacore tuna in water, drained
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 green onion, diced
- 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 2 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 cloves roasted garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 Tablespoon mustard
- 2 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- canola or vegetable oil, for frying
- 12 grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 1/2 green onions, diced
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- Combine tomatoes, onion, parsley, green onion, lime juice, garlic salt and pepper in small bowl
Set bowl into fridge for about 20 minutes. This will allow flavors to develop and deepen
Put tuna into large bowl, and flake. Add onion, spring onion, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, lime juice, mustard, hot sauce, salt & pepper. Stir lightly to combine, and taste to ensure seasoning.
Add egg and combine thoroughly. Form mixture into patties (I use 1/4 cup measuring cup to ensure uniform size)
Heat oil in large non-stick skillet. When oil is hot, add patties to skillet. Cook patties for approximately 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Patties are ready to turn when they pull away from skillet easily
- Remove patties, and set on paper towels to drain excess oil
Top patties with tomato salsa, and serve immediately
Yum! I love tuna myself and this is a great alternative to the typical tuna salad, and a more creative way to eat a bit more veggies with a meal. Thanks for sharing another great take on a recipe with us on #SHINEbloghop. Happy you could make it again for another round!
Thank you! I have a couple other tuna recipes, but I seem to always gravitate to this one. I think it’s the salsa that really puts it over the top
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Mmmm! I CANNOT wait forlunch now because I am DEF having some variation of these!!!!
Lol!! These are so good and really simple to make. Thanks for stopping by!
These look amazing! I love tuna, but have never made tuna cakes, I have just done crab cakes. I am looking forward to trying this & the salsa sound wonderful. Pinned 🙂
Thanks Angela! I think the salsa really makes this dish. It adds such a great brightness and punch of flavor. Don’t get me wrong though…the tuna cakes are awesome too 🙂
Tuna cakes are a lunch favorite! Love that you added tomato salsa. Light and fresh! Yum!
Thanks Ilka! I really enjoy making this dish, especially in the summer when tomatoes are so sweet and plentiful
Charlie loves tuna cakes, I’m going to have to try this recipe in place of mine. The tomato salsa sounds perfect. Pinning!
That’s so awesome he loves tuna cakes! this one is super simple, and the tomato salsa adds a great punch.
This is like the ultimate dish to make for my husband. It’s like all of his favorite things tied into one yummy recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!
Haha love it Kim! This is really such a super simple dish to make, and I hope your husband enjoys it.
Yum-my! This looks and sounds amazing. I had to pin it. Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks Annette! I hope you love them
yum!! i love tuna, not sure why i never thought to try it like a crab cake.
Thanks Heather! I hope you get a chance to try these
These look great! I love the idea of doing something else with tuna other than the typical tuna salad sandwich (which is all I ever do with it!). I am excited to try!
Yes Meaghan, it’s so easy to get into a rut with tuna recipes. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do
I need to try this recipe it looks so good 🙂 they might be perfect for my party tomorrow!
Thanks Mimi! I hope you and your friends enjoyed them as much as I do
They look so perfectly golden! I also often bake fish cakes to make them just a little bit healthier but nothing can beat that delicious crispy sear!
I hear you on baking to make them healthier Julia! But then I always go back to pan frying, for that gorgeous color
Wow… what a great idea! I make ones for special occasions with crab, but the tuna is so much more reasonable! I know Im going to love these…. especially paired with the salsa for added freshness!
The tomato salsa is a great idea! I used to not like tuna but when I tried my first cake like this with lots of flavor I changed my tune! I think I would like this version even better because of the salsa addition to kick things up a notch. Excited to try it!
Thanks Mallory! The tomato salsa adds such a bright flavor to the savory tuna cakes
I’ve never heard of a tuna cake, but I love crab cakes! These look really good..I should check them out!
Tuna cakes are similar, Melissa. They are very easy to make, and the golden crust is what puts them over the top
That looks delicious. I am a fan on tuna so this is definitely something I’d make.
Thanks Jolene! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do
Tuna cakes are a prefect side dish in our home. My kids love tuna cakes. They find it much better than adding tuna to a salad or side dish. Those little cups look so cute.
Thanks Veena! I love eating them in cake form as well.
These look SO amazing! Love tuna, so I’m sure that I would love this recipe. My husband would, too! Saving for later!
Thanks Christine! I really appreciate it. It’s such a quick and easy recipe, and I hope you both enjoy it as much as I do
These look so tasty and would be a great option for weekday lunch!
Thanks Kathryn! Yes, it’s one of my weekday lunch staples
I have a coworker that is always looking for a new way to eat tuna. She loves tuna! She will be so excited when I share this with her.
That’s awesome Lois! I hope she enjoys it as much as I do
I love this idea especially paired with the fresh tomato salsa! Canned tuna is such a great inexpensive protein and you took it to the next level!
Thanks Carol! Yes, I love using canned tuna to add some protein punch
Basically I love all kind of fish cakes! Crab is another favorite seafood to make cakes,Tuna is wonderful too.Lovely recipe.
Thanks Prasanna! Oh I absolutely love crabcakes! But I don’t get fresh crabmeat where I live, so I stick to tuna cakes most of the time
What a great way to cook with tuna! That salsa looks so bright and fresh. This would be so great for lunch!
Love the idea of a fresh salsa on top of tuna cakes. Delicious!
My grandmother used to make tuna and salmon cakes all the time. Your recipe really brought back some memories! The condiments you added look great. I will definitely try that next time I make them.