I have made a lot of different type of patties. In India we also liked to call them cutlets. Vegetable cutlets, Chicken cutlets, Shrimp cutlets and Beef Cutlets. They all have almost a similar base – mashed potatoes, onions, garlic, some spices and then dipped in egg wash and coated with bread crumbs. Shallow fried to get a crispy crust and a soft inside. Ooh my mouth is watering!
Now that I am on a grain free and egg free diet, the above recipe wasn’t going to be of much use to me. But if you know me, you will know that I don’t give up that easily! A few months ago, I made Beef Cutlets that were grain free and egg free by using tapioca flour and shredded coconut. And since then I had been using this technique for a lot of other things – Crispy Calamari being another such recipe.
Tuna had been on my mind for the longest time. But somehow never got around to making Tuna cutlets until now. Last week I finally rectified that. And I am SO GLAD I decided to make these Tuna cutlets. OMG! These are I think the best patties/cutlets/cakes of all the different ones that I have made over the years. These are to die for! Seriously, I made a small batch of 6 cutlets and I ate almost 4 in one sitting!
Then I felt guilty and so made another batch the next day so I could share with the family and the kids absolutely loved it too! The crispy coating imparted by the shredded coconut and the soft interior with the shredded tuna mixed with just the right amount of spices, makes eating these cakes an incredibly delightful experience that every foodie needs to indulge in! Now I did add potatoes to this and so this is not Paleo. However, you could easily sub mashed yucca for potatoes in this same recipe. As for me, I LOVE potatoes and although I limit the quantity of starch I have, once a week I do like to cook something with potatoes in it. (actually it ends up being chicken and potato curry almost every week:) )
- 2 cans 4.5 oz each of shredded tuna (in water or olive oil - I prefer olive oil)
- 2 small or 1 medium size boiled potatoes (about 1 cup when mashed)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ of a red onion, chopped fine
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 2-3 fresh curry leaves(optional)
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp kashmiri chilli powder (or a pinch of cayenne pepper)
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp sea salt or as needed
- 2 tbsp cassava flour(see Notes)
- pinch sea salt
- ¼ cup plus 2 tbsp water
- about 1 cup dry shredded coconut (I used Bob's Red Mill)
- Coconut Oil for shallow frying
- Drain the water or the oil from the can of tuna and add the tuna to a large mixing bowl. Peel the potatoes and mash them well. Add to the bowl with the tuna. Keep aside.
- In a small pan, add the coconut oil and the onion. Saute for about 2 mins and then add the chopped garlic and the grated ginger and the curry leaves )if adding). Saute for another 1 min. Lower heat and add all the spices. Sir well for 30 secs and turn heat off.
- Add this onion and spices mixture to the bowl with the tuna and potatoes. Sprinkle the sea salt on this mixture (before adding salt make sure tuna is not very salty and accordingly lower amount of salt if needed). Now using a masher or your hands mix everything well to incorporate the onion and spices with the potatoes and tuna. The mixture should resemble a dough like consistency at this point.
- Shape into about 6-8 patties (depending upon size of patty). Keep patties aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the cassava flour and water and mix to get a batter. Keep this aside.
- In a plate, add the shredded coconut.
- Heat a frying pan with a layer of coconut oil (just enough for shallow frying)
- When the oil gets hot, turn heat to medium and then dip each patty into the cassava batter coating it fully with batter and then dip it in the plate with the shredded coconut to get he coconut coating. Place the patty on the pan. Repeat similarly for all the patties.
- Cook each patty for about 2 mins on one side until golden brown. Flip and cook the other side. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil. Serve warm!
