Fish Cakes can be so dull and boring. But THAI Fish Cakes are FABULOUS! A classic Thai street food and my favourite starter at Thai restaurants along with Chicken Satay.
Surprisingly easy to make at home – all you need is fish, red curry paste, egg, rice flour and fish sauce. Blitz, make patties and pan fry!
Thai fish cakes
If I order an appetiser at a Thai restaurant, 9 times out of 10 it will either be Thai Fish Cakes or Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce.
And both of these are irritatingly pricey at Thai restaurants for what you get! $7 for 3 piddly little fish cakes or 3 teeny tiny skewers with a midget tub of peanut sauce.
Homemade is 80% cheaper – and just as good as takeout!
Thai Fish Cakes are (in my humble opinion) the most fabulous fish cakes in the world!
What Thai Fish Cakes taste like
The main flavouring in Thai Fish Cakes is red curry paste, so if you love Thai Red Curry, fish and food made to be eaten with hands, then this has got your name written all over it!
The unique thing about these fish cakes is the texture. It’s like Asian fish balls, kind of spongey. I know that sounds thoroughly unappetising, to say they are “spongey”, but there’s no other word I can think of! 😂
It’s not an unpleasant texture, it’s just different to other pattie shaped things like fritters and sausage patties!
What you need
Best fish for Thai Fish Cakes
Most of the most common white fish fillets are great here, also very tasty with salmon and trout.
Great for: Ling, Tilapia, Snapper, Barramundi, Silver Dory, John Dory, Basa, Hokki, Perch, Flathead, Monkfish
Avoid:
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super lean fish (swordfish, tuna)
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delicate fish (flounder, Dover sole)
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small whole fish like sardines or mackerel
The BEST Thai Red Curry Paste – Maesri
For recipes like this where you only need a few tablespoons of curry paste, I typically use store bought rather than homemade Red Curry Paste.
The best store bought Thai Red Curry Paste by a long shot is a brand called Maesri. This is also the brand I use for Thai Green Curry. Other brands tend to have less authentic flavour and are (usually) too sweet.
Sold in small cans for around $1.30 (it’s the cheapest!), it’s available in some Aussie large grocery stores (Coles, Woolies, Harris), Asian grocery stores and here is the cheapest one on Amazon US.
**Don’t worry if you can’t find Maesri. This recipe is still great even with mainstream curry pastes.**
How to make Thai Fish Cakes
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Place fish, red curry paste (homemade or store bought), cilantro/coriander, egg, lime juice and fish sauce in a food processor, whizz to mince;
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Mix in rice or cornflour (cornstarch) and green beans; and
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Form patties and cook.
Simple, right? Do you really need me to write out the whole recipe for you??? (Don’t worry, I did! I always do!)
A note on authenticity!
Thai Fish Cakes are a classic Thai street food that you’ll find all over Thailand, from Bangkok to the popular tourist islands like Pukhet and Koh Samui (I really need to go back soon, I miss Thailand!!).
Here are the 2 things I do differently to the real authentic Fish Cakes made in Thailand:
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Inclusion of rice flour – Truly authentic recipes are made with fish paste which is starchy fish (yes there is such thing!) that has been fermented and is a pretty smooth paste. This is then beaten for ages (i.e. 30 minutes by hand!) to activate the starch and this is the secret to beautifully bouncy, spongey fish cakes. However, in Western countries, the same texture is achieved by starting with fish fillets, minced them and mixing in either rice flour or cornflour (cornstarch); and
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I don’t deep fry! In both Thailand and restaurants, Thai Fish Cakes are deep fried. I really believe that very little compromise is made by pan frying instead of deep frying!
How to serve Thai Fish Cakes
A simple store bought bottle of Sweet Chilli Sauce serves well as a convenient version of the dipping sauces you get at Thai restaurants.
In terms of what to serve it with, Thai Fish Cakes are typically served as a starter at Thai restaurants.
To make a meal out of it, try these on the side:
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Steamed Jasmine rice, Thai Fried Rice, Pineapple Fried Rice or Coconut Rice
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Crunchy Asian Slaw on the side – great all rounder Asian salad that goes with all Asian foods
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Asian Sesame Dressing for any fresh salad or steamed vegetables
If you try these Fish Cakes, and I really hope you do, all it will take is one bite to be overwhelmed by a sense of familiarity. These really do taste just like what you get at Thai restaurants! – Nagi x
More Thai takeout favourites
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Pad Thai – truly just like takeout!
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Pad See Ew – Thai stir fried noodles
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Browse the Thai recipe collection
Watch how to make it
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Thai Fish Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 lb / 500g white fish fillets , skinless and pin boned, cut into chunks (Note 1)
- 3 tbsp red curry paste (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp cilantro/coriander leaves , chopped
- 1 tbsp fish sauce (sub soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup (40g) rice flour (or cornstarch / corn flour)
- 6 green beans , finely sliced (optional, Note 3)
- 4 - 6 tbsp oil (vegetable, canola, sun flower)
To Serve
- Sweet chilli sauce
- Cilantro/coriander leaves
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Place fish, red curry paste, cilantro/coriander, fish sauce, lime and egg in a food processor. Whizz until the fish is minced and it looks like a paste. (See video)
- Transfer to a bowl and stir through rice flour and green beans until flour is all incorporated. (Note 4)
- Measure 1/4 cup of mixture (I use an ice cream scoop - Note 5), form 1cm / 2/5" thick patties.
- Heat enough oil in skillet over medium high heat to cover the base (4 tbsp or so)
- Place in oil, cook 2 minutes until deep golden brown, then turn and cook the other side for 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towel lined plate.
- Repeat with remaining mixture, adding more oil into the skillet if required.
- Serve with Sweet Chilli Sauce, garnished with cilantro/coriander leaves and lime wedges on the side. Add a side of Thai Fried Rice or even just plain jasmine rice to make a meal!
Recipe Notes:
- super lean fish (swordfish, tuna)
- delicate fish (flounder, Dover sole)
- small whole fish like sardines or mackerel
Nutrition Information:
Originally published April 2016. Minor recipe updates to make cooking process easier, brand new video, photos, process shots and Life of Dozer update!
LIFE OF DOZER
Weekend Nana Naps often end with Dozer using ME as his pillow. It’s the wrong way round – I should be laying MY head on his fluffy, soft mass!! 😂
Flashback to when this recipe was originally published:
Snippet from Life As Dozer. He basically has 4 modes: playing, sleeping, eating food or hoping for food. He lives a hard, hard life, doesn’t he?
Made these tonight fabulous. I had fish cakes when I went to Thai restaurant for the first time and loved them. Have had a version of them at many restaurants since and they were like rubber hockey pucks. Will never order them again in a restaurant but will be making them at home again
Hi Nagi. Just wondering why my mix is so wet and sticky? Doesn’t look like yours. Could it be the size of the egg? All the other measurements are correct. Or is it the blitzing time? Please help. 🙏
I found that with my second attempt and added more cornflour. My first attempt wasn’t too bad because I had a meltdown. I got all the ingredients together to be processed and my food processor died on me. I put the mixture in the fridge and had to wait 24 hours before I ran out and bought a new one to continue with the recipe. I think the frypan size and the amount of cakes you place in the hot oil is a factor. Both times, mine have crumbled around the edges. I’m determined to keep at it because this will be a crowd pleaser for our next gathering. From an Aussie 🇦🇺 fan.
Yum yum yum. Made these twice now – both times I have grilled them, spraying with Canola spray each side first – 3 mins each side. Fab and no faff!
I had some Barra in the freezer so decided to make these fish cakes. So delicious.
Hi Nagi,
Thank you for such a easy recipe to make.
I bake the fish cakes, 200°C for 8min flip then another 8min.
I thought about this. Cooking in the oven rather than frying. My next try.
Just made these but as i didn’t have any made or jar red curry paste, I used harissa paste instead.
They tasted very good. Served with homemade skinny fries and a citrus based salad.
Would mahi mahi work here? It’s a white fish and that’s what I have, but it needs something to zing it up, and I’m thinking these fish cakes would do the trick.
I review so many of yr recipes ( because there amazing) i forget which ones ive done 🤣…. So i do these alot , they are outstanding… A massive hit in our house … I always use frozen fish.. so it tends to be a bit wet still after the addition of the flower …. Im gluten free so i add some smashed rice Krispies in to bind it together… Works a treat…
Anything that makes my daughter smile and refers to this has her favourite thing… Makes me a very happy mom 😊…. Always double up because they so good x x
Sorry, I’m confused? If you’re gluten free why would you need change the recipe? Rice flour is safe…
Always make these on Good Friday. Everyone looks forward them the whole year. They are the tastiest, best you can have & so easy to make. Thank you Nagi
This was the best thing ever. I noticed that someone said they weren’t good. Not sure what they did wring but mine were fantastic. I didn’t even bother with a sauce, they were that fantastic on their own. Will be making them again as an entree to my birthday dinner.
Was asked by grandsons to make this again. These are so yummy! They asked for the leftovers (doubled the recipe) in their lunchboxes the next day. They were delicious
Make these all the time and they’re soooo delicious! Absolutely KEY is the curry paste. The ones in jars from the supermarket are rubbish. We always use Mae Ploy now and the difference in flavour and consistency is huge.
I don’t add green beans but other than that I follow the recipe to the letter.
Absolutely great! Another one to recommend to family and friends.
Spewing I didn’t get to meet Nagi at the Perth GFAWS, I even bought my assistance dog Arlo in case Dozer wanted a stunt double haha x
Sadly, not everything is wonderful. I made this to a T and it was….meh. Same thing for the chicken enchilada rice casserole thing–a little less than meh. But the asian stuff is TERRIFIC…well, except for the fish cakes.
Have made these so many times with a Thai feast we cook (Larb Gai ad Pad Thai recipes from the site too! Perfect).
The key is the quality of the curry paste. If you’re in the Uk don’t even bother with the hot garbage jars in the supermarkets! Used one in a pinch once and good grief. Not good!! But a proper red curry late from an Asian grocer wowee. Winner every time. Will continue using this recipe forever more!
This is SO GOOD! I was looking for new fish recipes for a large Spanish mackerel we caught and came across your blog. I followed this recipe but tweaked it to my own taste adding the following in the blender: Penang curry paste (what I had on hand), 1” ginger, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 shallot, zest of 1 lime, and a pinch of salt. If I had a kefir lime leaf or galangal I would have added those as a substitute for the lime zest & ginger. When it came time to add in green beans I added an equal portion of scallion greens and mixed it all together with the rice flour. I let this mixture sit overnight in the fridge to let the flavors marinate. When we pan fried this the next day it smelled heavenly, and as my husband ate the fish cakes he just kept saying “WOW”! Really great flavors, a keeper recipe for sure!
Last notes: the mackerel worked out even though it is mentioned as a fish to avoid here. I also think these are naturally a bit on the dry side when cooked properly so they definitely benefit from Thai chili sauce, which I love anyways. We will absolutely make this again, thank you!
EZ ,tasty as fries and authentic as Soi Suan Plu
Amazing. Almost identical to a favourite recipe From Franks Seafood in Darwin, sadly no longer there. Only difference was he used cut up Kaffir lime leaves in the mix. Try it, takes it up a level. I always use Mackeral cutlets.
Absolutely disgusting. Threw it out and had cheese on toast
That’s a shame! Have made these so many times and they’re incredible!! The key is the red curry paste though. If you’re in the UK the red curry paste in jars from the supermarkets are hot garbage!! Get yourself a proper one from an Asian grocer (Mae Ploy is an awesome brand and lasts forever). Game changer! Used a supermarket one in a pinch once and it was rubbish. The quality of ingredients are so important with this one but so sooooo worth it. Restaurant level at home ever time if you have a good paste!
The BEST fish cakes I’ve ever eaten, I caught mullet today on Kangaroo Island, on hand ingredients and easy, everyone raved!!