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4.9 from 51 votes

Israeli-Style Fish Cakes

Seasoned fishcakes, known in Israel as ktzitzot dagim. Fried fish patties with pine nuts, breadcrumbs, & seasonings served with tahini sauce.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 97 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup pinenuts
  • 1 pound boneless skinless fish fillets (white or mild fish like whitefish, trout or tilapia)
  • 1/2 cup minced onion (about 1 medium onion)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste (I usually use about 3/4 tsp)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste (very spicy)
  • 1/3 cup Grapeseed or olive oil for frying
  • 1/2 cup tahini sauce for dipping (optional) (click here for recipe)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Pour the pine nuts into a small skillet and toast them over medium heat for 6-8 minutes till golden and fragrant, stirring constantly. They will go from brown to burned very quickly, so keep a close eye on them. When they are golden, pour them immediately into a large mixing bowl and reserve.
  2. Cut the fish fillet into large chunks and place it into a food processor. Pulse just a few times until the fish chunks are coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess or you'll end up with fish mush-- just a few pulses should do the trick. Alternatively, you can chop the fish into small pieces with a sharp knife.
  3. Place the chopped fish into the mixing bowl with the pine nuts. Add the onion, breadcrumbs, chopped cilantro, egg, salt, cumin, and cayenne. Stir till all ingredients are well blended.
  4. Heat your oil over medium till hot enough for frying. Form 2 tablespoons of fish batter into a small disk and place it into the hot oil. Let it fry till golden on both sides-- if your oil is at the proper temperature, it will take 2-3 minutes per side to become dark golden brown. Start by cooking one fish cake, then taste it after it has cooled slightly. Adjust seasonings in the batter if desired, adding more salt or cayenne if needed (cayenne is very spicy, add with care). Once the batter is seasoned to your liking, continue frying in batches of 4-5 patties at a time.
  5. Place cooked patties onto a paper towel to drain.
  6. Serve hot. I like to serve these with tahini sauce for dipping (recipe can be found on my website). It would also pair well with aioli, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or ketchup for the kids. Try it with sriracha if you're in the mood for something spicy.

Nutrition Information

Calories 97kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 7g (11%) Cholesterol 17mg (6%) Sodium 79mg (3%) Potassium 100mg (3%) Vitamin A 35IU (1%) Vitamin C 0.5mg (1%) Calcium 15mg (2%) Iron 0.6mg (3%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 97

% Daily Value*

Calories 97kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 7g 11%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 79mg 3%
Potassium 100mg 2%
Vitamin A 35IU 1%
Vitamin C 0.5mg 1%
Calcium 15mg 2%
Iron 0.6mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.