Fish Cakes Recipe - Fish Cakes with Wild Rice | Hank Shaw (2024)

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4.91 from 20 votes

By Hank Shaw

January 30, 2015 | Updated April 02, 2021

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Americans tend to reject fish with more bones than they think are appropriate. This is a shame because many of these fish are fantastic to eat, once you deal with the bones. And this fish cakes recipe is a prime way to fix that problem.

Pike, especially, is a wonderful fish. Very firm, very white, as mild to eat as the fish is fun to catch. I had the opportunity to chase gigantic northerns in Manitoba a few years ago and brought a few fish home to cook with.

Fish Cakes Recipe - Fish Cakes with Wild Rice | Hank Shaw (2)

Since then I’ve made classic pickled pike, fried pike nuggets and a pike soup I dedicated to Manitoba. That left me with just enough pike to make this Midwestern-style fish cake recipe.

Oh, and you should know that you can use virtually any species for these fish cakes. Pike is just what I happened to use.

I must admit the idea to mix wild rice with a fish cake isn’t original; I developed my recipe from one I read in Midwestern Living magazine. It’s a great idea, though, as the wild rice is both native to the region and adds a bit of color and texture to the fish cakes. Just make sure you cook the wild rice completely before adding to the fish cakes, because the cakes cook up quickly.

Pike cakes are a natural because of the fish’s many bones. True, it’s not that hard to fillet a pike, and I have detailed instructions here, but it’s easier to fillet as normal, gently poach the fish in chicken broth, and then flake out the meat. This is an especially good method for other bony fish like shad, carp or little panfish.

You only need a half-pound for this recipe, so vacuum seal any extra and freeze for later. You’ll want to make these fish cakes again.

How do these fish cakes taste? Just really good. There’s no one overwhelming flavor, although you do pick up the mustard and the chives in every bite. The fish is mild, the mayo keeps everything moist and the Worcestershire and lemon just brighten things. This is good Midwestern food without the blandness that mars that region’s culinary reputation.

What’s more, they are easy to make, and can be done start to finish in 30 minutes, if you’ve precooked the wild rice — which I do. I cook a batch of wild rice, then freeze it for when I need it. Do this, and you have a light, easy, 30-minute meal. A rarity on this site.

I do fish cakes a lot, and I have some other fish cake recipes on the site, such as trout cakes, and a salmon cake based of a Chesapeake crab cake. Lots of different fish will work in these recipes.

4.91 from 20 votes

Fish Cakes with Wild Rice

Needless to say this recipe can be done with any white fish, but if you are in the Midwest, please try to get perch, pike or walleye for this. It just seems right. Trout would also work well, here, especially Great Lakes lake trout or steelhead.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound cooked, flaked pike or other white fish
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup cooked wild rice
  • 1/4 cup minced onion, red if you have one
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon mustard, Dijon if you have it
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives
  • 1/4 cup butter, lard or vegetable oil for cooking
  • Greens for a salad

Instructions

  • Make sure any little bones are out of the fish. Mix everything (except the oil and salad greens) together in a large bowl. Divide the mix into 8 roughly equal parts and form into patties. If you have time, set the patties on a cookie sheet in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. You can skip this step if you are rushed.

  • Fry the patties in the butter until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with a green salad with a nice vinaigrette, or try my saffron aioli.

Notes

If you want, you can fully cook these fish cakes, then set them on a baking sheet or plate in the freezer. Once frozen solid, put them in a freezer bag and they will be good for months. Reheat them in a toaster oven or fry them again.

Nutrition

Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 736mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 615IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
American Recipes, Featured, Fish, Foraging, Recipe

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Fish Cakes Recipe - Fish Cakes with Wild Rice | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

Fish Cakes Recipe - Fish Cakes with Wild Rice | Hank Shaw? ›

Eggs and cracker crumbs will help bind everything together below a drift of spice. Make sure to leave some time to chill the resulting patties in the refrigerator – the cold will help them set up so they don't fall apart in the sauté pan.

What is the best binder for fish cakes? ›

Eggs and cracker crumbs will help bind everything together below a drift of spice. Make sure to leave some time to chill the resulting patties in the refrigerator – the cold will help them set up so they don't fall apart in the sauté pan.

How do you keep homemade fish cakes from falling apart? ›

What can I do to stop my Thai fish cakes falling apart in the frying pan? You need to work the mixture more. Kneading or mixing the mixture changes the protein and makes it sticky. That help the cakes stay together.

Why are my fish cakes rubbery? ›

Most version include egg which is used as a binder. In this recipe, you have that option but personally I prefer the texture without the egg. Adding egg gives the Thai fish cakes a rubbery texture which some people like.

What are chip shop fish cakes made from? ›

Minced White Fish (33% (Fish), Partially Reconstituted Potato, Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin (B3), Thiamin (B1)], Sunflower Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Water, Palm Oil, Potato Fibre, Seasoning [Salt, Parsley, Black Pepper Extract], Stabiliser: Methylcellulose; Salt, Yeast, Turmeric, Colours: ...

How do you get fish cakes to stick together? ›

Egg – Next, dip the fish cake into the beaten eggs and let the excess drip off. Panko breadcrumbs – And finally, place it in a bowl of panko breadcrumbs. Spoon some breadcrumbs over then use your hands to pat it on to adhere as best you can.

How do you make fish patties stick together? ›

Cream, eggs or a panade mix of flour and butter are commonly used as binding. Some common fish cakes: Gefilte fish.

Why do my fish patties fall apart? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

How do you thicken fish cakes? ›

Add some breadcrumbs if you have them, stir a few handfuls into the mixture before you coat them. Don't add flour, it'll not cook and you will taste it. And when the burgers have been made into the right shape I stick them in the fridge for at least half an hour, which solidifies them a bit more.

How do you keep fish from falling apart when cooking? ›

Fish proteins break apart pretty easily at warmer temperatures, so keep it refrigerated until ready to use. Dry off the fillets/nuggets/tenders before battering to ensure better adhesion, which helps support the fish such that it falls apart less easily. Cook at the right temperature for the right amount of time.

How do you know when fish cakes are done? ›

When the oil is hot, carefully lower the fish cakes into the pan. Cook for 5 - 7 minutes or until golden brown underneath and then carefully flip them over. Fry for another 5 - 7 minutes or until golden on the bottom and heated all the way through.

What is the pink stuff in fish cakes? ›

Narutomaki is made from surimi (white fish paste) that's been molded into a log and steamed. The pink spiral comes from dying half of the surimi with red food coloring and then rolling it into a cylinder.

What is the swirl in fish cake? ›

This processed roll is primarily made of frozen surimi (processed, pureed whitefish), while the pink swirl comes from food coloring. Invented in the 1800s and prepared by slicing and steaming, narutomaki has a history of gracing traditional noodle soups, such as ramen and soba.

What is a Sheffield fish cake? ›

A 'proper' fishcake (Also known as Yorkshire fish cake and Sheffield fish cake) is two slices of potato sandwiching minced white fish (likely cod).

What are the ingredients in King Frost fish cakes? ›

Minced White FISH (33%) (FISH), Partially Reconstituted Potato, WHEAT Flour [WHEAT Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin (B3), Thiamin (B1)], Sunflower Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Water, Palm Oil, Seasoning [Salt, Parsley, Black Pepper Extract], Stabiliser: Methylcellulose; Salt, Yeast, Turmeric, Colours: Capsanthin; MILK, ...

Are fish cakes healthy for you? ›

Light on the stomach and easy to digest, Fish Cakes are also a healthy addition to your diet as they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Here we share a Fish Cake recipe that is flavourful and easy to make. You can also make this recipe as a snack for a birthday party or a kitty party.

What is a good fish binder? ›

My go-to method is a simple, light smear of yellow mustard and hot sauce, which acts as a binder, then go straight into a "breading" of cornflour, cornmeal, and seasoning. I really like this method unless I'm frying soft shell crabs, then I prefer AP flour.

What are the binders used in fish feed? ›

sago palm starch, cassava starch, potato starch, bread or wheat flour, rice and maize; binding being achieved through heat treatment and consequent starch gelatinization), alginates (ie. salts of alginic acid extracted from seaweeds), carrageenin, plant gums (ie.

What is the binder in fish feed? ›

The use of these binders i.e. wheat gluten, pea starch and guar gum in fish feed pellets may also reduce dependence on synthetic binders and minimizes cost.

What is a fish binder? ›

1) Fish feed binder is used to bind every nutrient ingredient together and to reduce breakage and fines. 2) It helps in maintaining the integrity of pellet and to keep the feed stable in the water 2-6 hours.

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