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    Home » Appetizers and Sides

    Mar 25, 2020

    Keto Fish Cakes

    Published on Mar 25, 2020. Updated on Jan 21, 2021. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 22 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image for keto fish cakes

    These keto fish cakes are full of protein and make a great breakfast or side dish. They also make a great keto lunch with a side of low carb salad. Talk about one versatile dish!

    low carb codfish patties

    The first time I made these fish cakes I don’t think they lasted more than 10 minutes in my house. My husband and kids jumped in and ate everything almost immediately and begged me for more.

    These keto fish cakes are seriously addicting and so filling. When I make a batch, I eat 2 or 3 and I’m too full to eat anything else for hours. And I usually have to make more than one batch at a time because everyone in my house loves it.

    image of low carb fish patties with spicy mayonnaise

    Ingredients used in making keto fish cakes

    • Codfish: I use codfish but you can use any other white, flaky fish like tilapia, catfish, or grouper.
    • Eggs: This acts as a binder so that the cake can hold its form and not fall apart immediately.
    • Coconut flour: This makes the fish cakes even more filling and helps to absorb excess moisture when preparing the fish cakes.
    • Vegetables and herbs: I use parsley for this recipe but you can use any of your favorite herbs. I also add some chopped onions for a burst of flavor.
    • Spices: I use black pepper, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and salt for this recipe. You can always use your favorite spices.
    picture of codfish fish and other ingredients

    How to make keto fish cakes

    Wash and pat dry the codfish. You don’t want it to be soaking wet or dripping with water or it will become soggy and not hold its shape.

    Spray a pan with a little oil, and rub the fish with salt and pepper. Fry on one side for about 5 minutes, then flip and fry the other side.

    image of codfish being pan-fried

    When the codfish is done, take it out of the pan and give it about a minute to cool. Then use a fork to flake it into smaller pieces. It does not have to be perfect because we will still use an immersion blender to blend and mix everything.

    Add in the chopped onions, parsley, coconut flour, eggs, and spices. Mix together and use an immersion blender to blend everything together. It does not have to be smooth; a coarser texture is actually preferred.

    I found out through trial and error that the fish hold its shape better when coarsely blended especially since it contains onions.

    codfish being mixed with other ingredients

    Use a quarter measuring cup to scoop out the fish and press in to compress it. Flip it on a plate and gently pat down to shape it. This should give around 6 to 8 fish cakes dependent on how large or small you make them.

    Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a frying pan and place the fish in it. Let it fry for about three minutes on each side on low to medium heat.

    Gently flip the fish cakes over using a spatula. As the outer edges begin to brown nicely on both sides you know your fish is ready.

    Don’t panic if you see the top and bottom begin to turn dark brown. It is not getting burned, this is supposed to happen. This shows that the fish cakes have cooked through.

    Serve and enjoy!

    What can I eat my keto fish cakes with?

    I love to eat this with spicy mayonnaise or top it up with this spicy avocado salsa for an amazing flavor combination.

    You can also serve it with a low-carb salad for a delicious lunch and add different herbs and spices to mix things up!

    picture of fish cakes on a plate with spicy mayo

    Tips when making keto fish cakes

    • Make sure the fish is not too soggy. If you end up with too much water in your fish and it is not holding its shape, add a little bit more coconut flour. Coconut flour absorbs moisture so it will help absorb the excess moisture from the fish.
    • If it is too dry, sprinkle just a little water on it. You want it to be just moist enough, not too wet or too dry.
    • If your fish cakes are breaking apart when frying, it could be for a couple of reasons. The oil might be too hot. I have noticed that when this happens, the fish breaks apart or burns very easily.
    • Another reason might be the quantity of oil used. If you use a lot of oil, the fish cakes tend to just break apart and float away. I have achieved the best results when I use just a tiny bit of oil on low heat, to give the fish cakes time to cook through without breaking apart or getting burned.
    • Be careful when trying to flip the keto fish cakes when making it. Use a flat spatula and flip it gently.
    • It is also important to give the fish cakes a few minutes to cool down before you eat them. This would give them time to solidify and reduce the chance of breakage.
    closeup image of keto fish cakes

    Check out these delectable keto seafood recipes!

    Baked Whole Catfish

    Fish Pepper Soup

    Seafood Okra

    Pan-Seared Tilapia

    Croaker Fish Recipe

    The best keto and low carb fish recipes

    📖 Recipe

    featured image for making keto fish cakes

    Keto Fish Cakes

    These keto fish cakes are full of protein and make a great breakfast or side dish. They also make a great lunch with a side of salad. Talk about one versatile dish!
    4.65 from 14 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved!
    Course: Snack, Side Dishes and Appetizers
    Cuisine: African
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 153kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb codfish
    • ¼ cup coconut flour
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 small onion chopped
    • 3 tablespoon parsley chopped
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste

    Instructions

    • Wash and pat dry the codfish.
    • Rub with salt and pepper.
    • Chop the onions and parsley.
    • Spray a pan with a little oil, and fry the fish for 10 minutes on medium heat, flipping halfway.
    • When the codfish is done, take it out of the pan and give it a minute to cool.
    • Use a fork to flake it into smaller pieces.
    • Add in the chopped onions, parsley, coconut flour, and eggs.
    • Add the spices – smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
    • Mix with a spoon and use an immersion blender to coarsely blend everything up together.
    • Use a quarter measuring cup to scoop out the fish and press in to compress it.
    • Flip it on a plate and gently pat down to shape it.
    • Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a frying pan and fry the fish for 3 minutes on each side, flipping halfway till it turns a golden brown.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    Each serving contains 3 net carbs and serves 6.
    • If you end up with too much water in your fish and it is not holding its shape, add a little bit more coconut flour. 
    • If it is too dry, sprinkle just a little water on it. You want it to be just moist enough, not too wet or too dry.
    • Make sure the oil is not too hot and you don’t use too much oil or the fish might break apart.
    • Be careful when trying to flip the keto fish cakes when making it. Use a flat spatula and flip gently.
    • Let the fish cakes cool down for a few minutes before eating, so it can solidify and reduce the risk of breakage.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 268mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 511IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Camron Savage says

      May 04, 2022 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      I made it with tuna, and used almond flour instead of coconut flour, and it turned out great! You're right about the low heat. I also chilled them in the fridge for a bit before frying them, hoping they would hold together better. I may try with crab next.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        May 08, 2022 at 8:26 pm

        Tuna makes an excellent substitute!

        Reply
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    Welcome to Low Carb Africa, the home of Keto & Low Carb African-inspired recipes. I specialize in creating mouthwatering recipes with rich, bold, and spicy flavors. Get ready to lose weight, look amazing and be in your best health ever!

    More about me →

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