Hawaiian Tuna Cakes with Pineapple Habanero Salsa
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These Hawaiian inspired tuna patties are made with a few simple ingredients, cooked until crisp, and then topped with a delicious pineapple habanero salsa. They are the perfect crowd-pleasing dinner recipe!
With the holidays fast approaching and fall tailgating in full force, it can be difficult to always make good choices when it comes to food. One thing I try to do is make sure, anytime I am serving food, I include at least one clean-eating focused recipe for my guests (and me!) to enjoy. Hawaiian tuna cakes with pineapple habanero salsa is a great option for this and I love making them for parties or just a light dinner.
These tuna cakes use tinned tuna as the base making them super easy to make. I frequently use the sea salt flavor of Blue Harbor Fish Co. wild Albacore tuna but you can choose your favorite brand and type for this recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Tuna Patty Recipe:
- Fresh Flavors! These tuna patties are so flavorful and, especially when combined with the tropical salsa, taste like a meal by the beach.
- It is very easy to make! Other than a little bit of extra time for the tuna cakes to chill in the fridge, this recipe is fast and simple. Use the chill time to put together the salsa for max efficiency.
- Make it ahead! You can make the tuna patties and salsa ahead of time. Then, cook the tuna cakes when you’re ready to serve.
- Balanced flavors. From the crisp exterior of the tuna cakes to the tropical flavors of the salsa, this recipe has all the right balance of flavors.
Ingredients for Hawaiian Tuna Cakes with Pineapple Habanero Salsa
- Oil – I typically use avocado oil in the recipe but coconut oil works great too.
- Albacore tuna
- Greek yogurt
- Egg – You’ll use the egg yolk as a binder.
- Pineapple Juice
- Bread Crumbs – I use whole wheat bread crumbs but regular work well too.
- Red Bell Pepper – This adds a little crunch to the tuna patties. You can easily substitute any color bell pepper here.
- Salsa
- Fresh Pineapple
- Cucumber = Use a seedless variety for the best results.
- Red Onion
- Habanero Pepper – Recommend using gloves when handling the pepper.
- Cilantro
- Lime Juice
- Salt
How to Make Hawaiian Inspired Tuna Patties
This recipe is very simple to make and requires only a few steps. You’ll find the full recipe in below in the recipe card but here is a brief overview.
1. Combine the tuna patty ingredients and mix well. Form into patties and then place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
2. Make the salsa by combining the ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Cook the tuna cakes in a pan with oil. Top with salsa before serving.
These are the perfect alternative to those little crab cakes topped with creamy sauce you usually find at parties!
More Great Canned Tuna Recipes
- Creamy Cold Tuna Pasta Salad
- Easy Lemon Tuna Spaghetti
- Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Canned Tuna Ceviche
Hawaiian Tuna Cakes with Pineapple Habanero Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
Tuna Cakes
- 15 ounces Wild Albacore tuna
- 2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 Tablespoon pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons diced red bell pepper
Salsa
- 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple
- 1/4 cup diced cucumber
- 1 Tablespoon diced red onion
- 1 habanero pepper seeded and minced
- 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1/2 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine tuna, yogurt, egg yolk, pineapple juice, bread crumbs and bell pepper. Stir to combine. Form into small cakes and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.15 ounces Wild Albacore tuna, 2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 Tablespoon pineapple juice, 1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs, 2 Tablespoons diced red bell pepper
- In a small bowl, combine pineapple, cucumber, red onion, pepper, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Stir well and refrigerate until ready to use.1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple, 1/4 cup diced cucumber, 1 Tablespoon diced red onion, 1 habanero pepper, 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro, 1/2 Tablespoon fresh lime juice, Pinch of salt
- Heat oil over medium heat. Working in batches, as necessary, cook each cake 2-3 minutes per side. Top with pineapple salsa before serving.1 Tablespoon avocado oil
Notes
- For a less spicy salsa, quarter or half the amount of habanero pepper used.
- You can make the tuna patties and salsa ahead of time. Store separately in the refrigerator for up to one day before cooking the tuna cakes and serving.
Nutrition
