very easy tuna cakes

very easy tuna cakes

• 4.08.2020

How many posts in a row can I reference quarantine cooking? The answer is probably a lot - and probably more for the next two months or so.

As we prepared to eat more out of our houses and with less trips to the grocery store, I impulse bought a couple cans of tuna fish one day at the local grocery store. It had probably been at least three years and maybe five since I last bought a can of tuna fish. Since then, I have probably crushed a can of tuna each week either in the form of a tuna melt... or these very tasty tuna cakes.

I actually got the idea for these from watching an episode of British Home Chef on Hulu. The essential idea of the show is XYZ. In one of the final episodes of season 2, the "rustle up challenge" was to create a meal based on a can of tuna fish. Nearly everyone failed but thankfully the hosts commentary gave good ideas ... and tuna cakes was one of them.

Tuna cakes will come together in probably 15 minutes max - including all prep and cooking. It's a simple case of opening a can of tuna, mixing some stuff into it, making little patties and then eating them. My preferred method was over some chopped romaine with a lemon champagne vinaigrette - but I did also mix one into some pasta with red sauce. Like I said, I've eaten these almost weekly recently. 

Here's my favorite way to eat them. 

1. make tuna cakes
2. cut up your preferred greens. I have been opted for romaine recently. It lasts a really long time in the fridge.
3. Plate tuna cakes on top of the greens. Sprinkle with cheese of choice (feta, goat cheese, etc).
4. Drizzle a combo of champagne vinegar, olive oil, smidge of honey, and kosher salt.

How to make tuna cakes? It's very easy. 

1. mix all the ingredients in a bowl except the bread crumbs.
2. Add the bread crumbs in small increments until you get the mixture to the right consistency. you want to be able to form a ball. But not too many breadcrumbs because then you won't taste all the other good stuff you added.
3. heat a skillet to medium high with a drizzle of olive oil. gently press your patty into the pan. 
4. cook for maybe 2-3 minutes on each side. adjust the heat as needed. remember you don't need to cook any of these ingredients, so you are just heating them to get color on the patties and secure the shape.
5. All done!

Shopping List

1 can of tuna fish

2 tbsp of mayo

1 egg

1/4 cup diced onion

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 to 1/2 cup bread crumbs (or panko flakes)

bonus ingredients?

capers

red onion

chopped parsley