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    Home » Recipes » Seafood » Fish » Tortitas de Atún (Tuna Cakes)

    Published: Aug 16, 2021 Modified: Jun 13, 2023 by Catherine Arena 2 Comments

    Tortitas de Atún (Tuna Cakes)

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    An easy and tasty recipe to make anytime of the week. These Tortitas de Atún (Tuna Cakes) are quickly made with just two cans of tuna! Have a delicious appetizer, lunch or dinner ready in 20 minutes! Not to mention the fact that everyone will absolutely love these!

    If you have never made Tortitas de Atún, but love tuna, then today is the day to give these a try at home because they’re super easy to make and incredibly tasty!

    Keep a few cans of tuna in your pantry to make these a part of your weekly meal repertoire. Made in under 20 minutes, these are just perfect for a quick yummy appetizer, lunch or dinner.

    Who doesn’t love having a quick delicious treat at their disposal! So make sure to pick up a few cans next time you go to the supermarket so whenever the mood strikes (which I’m sure if you love tuna like I do, it will be often) you are ready to go!

    What are Tortitas de Atún?

    Tortitas de Atún are simply tuna cakes that use a lot of the same ingredients as crab cakes. Other than the crab of course! Which makes them economically friendly any day of the week!

    Truly a simple no fuss recipe with easy to acquire ingredients.

    Yes! Because sometimes the tastiest dishes do not require a ton of ingredients or hard to find ingredients!

    Sometimes it’s just 2 cans of tuna, a little bit of produce, some spices and of course a great dipping sauce!

    That is why you will always find tuna in my pantry. Tuna is just so versatile, delicious and affordable.

    Have a few cans of tuna and you can create so many delicious dishes quickly and easily that everyone will love.

    Think not just these tuna cakes but other dishes such as Albacore Tuna Ceviche, Ensalada de Atún (Tuna Salad), Sandwich de Atún (Tuna Sandwich), tuna casserole, (recipe by Spend with Pennies) tuna wraps and so many more recipes can be made at a moments notice!

    Tortitas de Atun on a white platter served with lime wedges and lemon aioli dipping sauce.

    Ingredients You Will Need

    • 2 cans of tuna in water ( I like to use solid white tuna)
    • ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
    • ¼ cup green pepper, finely chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
    • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
    • ½ cup homemade breadcrumbs (about 3 slices of bread)
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • ¼ salt and pepper
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon of oil plus more for frying cakes

    Lemon Garlic Aioli

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • a few dashes of hot sauce (optional)

    Como Hacer Tortitas de Atún (How to Make Tortitas de Atún)

    Lemon Garlic Aioli

    1. Begin with making the dip so that it is ready once the tortitas are done.
    2. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a fork.
    3. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

    Homemade Breadcrumbs

    Add slices of bread to a blender and pulse to make fresh breadcrumbs. Set aside until ready to use.

    Ingredients to make tortitas de atun (tuna cakes) on a wooden cutting board.
    • Rinse tuna cans with cool water to remove any factory residue.
    • Chop all the veggies and finely mince garlic.
    Open tuna cans on a wooden cutting board.
    Tuna cans on a wooden cutting board drained of liquid.
    • Open tuna cans and drain liquid from cans really well over kitchen sink by pressing the lids against tuna.
    • Add drained tuna to a bowl and flake using a fork.
    Tuna flaked with a fork in a glass bowl.
    • In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 teaspoon of oil and cook pepper and onion until softened.
    • Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove from skillet and add to bowl.
    • Add all the other ingredients and mix well.
    Veggies cooking in a skillet until softened.
    All other ingredients added to bowl to make tortitas de atun (tuna cakes).
    All ingredients mixed together with tuna and now ready to form tuna cakes.

    Forming Tortitas de Atún

    Option 1

    • Take 2 tablespoons of prepared tuna mixture into the palm of your hand and form tuna cakes into small rounds. Set on a plate.
    • Continue forming tuna cakes until all tuna cakes are ready.
    • Bread all tuna cakes on both sides.
    • Cover plate with plastic wrap and chill tuna cakes for 1 hour before frying.

    Note: This last step is optional but helps to prevent cakes from ever breaking apart.

    Tortitas formed inside a ¼ measuring cup.
    Tuna cake formed using a ¼ measuring cup.

    Option 2

    • Use a ¼ measuring cup and add 2 tablespoons of tuna mixture inside and gently press down.
    • Flop tuna cake over plate and repeat procedure with the rest of tuna mixture.
    • Bread all tuna cakes on both sides.
    • Cover plate with plastic wrap and chill tuna cakes for 1 hour before frying.

    Note: This last step is optional but helps to prevent cakes from breaking apart.

    Frying Cakes

    1. Add about ½ cup of oil to a skillet over medium heat.
    2. Gently add tuna cakes to skillet and cook until golden brown on one side.
    3. Carefully flip over and cook until golden brown.
    4. Drain on paper towels.
    5. Serve immediately with the Lemon Garlic Aioli.
    Tortita de atun (tuna cake) dipped in lemon garlic aioli.

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Although I only added green pepper, garlic and onion to my mixture, you can also add shredded carrots, celery, scallions, jalapeño or red peppers. Or maybe a combination of all!
    • Add chopped fresh parsley for extra pretty cakes.
    • I used homemade breadcrumbs because I find store bought alters the taste to much in these cakes but if you prefer to use store bought breadcrumbs, feel free to do so.
    • You can also use finely crushed crackers in place of breadcrumbs.

    What to Serve Tortitas de Atún

    Whether making these as an appetizer, lunch or dinner, I highly recommend serving these alongside the tangy yummy lemon garlic aioli.

    I wouldn’t make tuna cakes without this great aioli!

    Serving as an appetizer? Serve on top of a bed of lettuce with the Lemon Garlic Aioli.

    If serving for lunch or dinner, serve these tuna cakes with a side of veggies, salad or inside a sesame bun with the aioli spread on bun.

    Enjoy!

    Tortitas de Atun on a white platter served with lime wedges and lemon aioli dipping sauce.

    📖 Recipe

    Tortitas de Atun on a white platter served with lime wedges and lemon aioli dipping sauce.

    Tortitas de Atún (Tuna Cakes)

    An easy and tasty recipe to make anytime of the week. These Tortitas de Atún (Tuna Cakes) are quickly made with just two cans of tuna! Have a delicious appetizer, lunch or dinner ready in 20 minutes! Not to mention the fact that everyone will absolutely love these!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 (makes 8 cakes)
    Calories: 212kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Ingredients

    • 2 cans solid white tuna (in water)
    • ¼ cup onion finely chopped
    • ¼ cup green pepper finely chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves finely minced
    • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon oil plus more for frying cakes
    • 1 lime or lemon cut into wedges for serving

    Homemade Breadcrumbs

    • ½ cup homemade breadcrumbs about 3 slices of sliced bread

    Lemon Garlic Aioli

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tsp garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • a few dashes of hot sauce (optional)

    Instructions

    Lemon Garlic Aioli

    • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a fork.
      Taste and adjust salt if needed.

    Homemade Breadcrumbs

    • Add slices of bread to a blender and pulse to make fresh breadcrumbs. Set aside until ready to use.

    Tortitas Mixture

    • Rinse tuna cans with cool water to remove any factory residue.
    • Chop all the veggies and finely mince garlic.
    • Open tuna cans and drain liquid from cans really well over kitchen sink by pressing the lids against tuna.
      Add drained tuna to a bowl and flake using a fork.
    • In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 teaspoon of oil and cook pepper and onion until softened.
    • Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
      Remove from skillet and add to bowl.
    • Add all the other ingredients and mix well.

    Forming Tortitas

    • Option 1
      Take 2 tablespoons of prepared tuna mixture into the palm of your hand and form tuna cakes into small rounds.
      Set aside on a plate.
    • Continue forming tuna cakes until all tuna cakes are ready.
      Bread all tuna cakes on both sides.
    • Cover plate with plastic wrap and chill tuna cakes for 1 hour before frying.
      Note: This last step is optional but helps to prevent cakes from ever breaking apart.
    • Option 2
      Use a ¼ measuring cup and add 2 tablespoons of tuna mixture inside and gently press down.
    • Flop tuna cake over plate and repeat procedure with the rest of tuna mixture.
    • Bread all tuna cakes on both sides.
    • Cover plate with plastic wrap and chill tuna cakes for 1 hour before frying.
      Note: This last step is optional but helps to prevent cakes from breaking apart.

    Frying Tortitas

    • Add about ½ cup of oil to a skillet over medium heat.
    • Gently add tuna cakes to skillet and cook until golden brown on one side.
    • Carefully flip over and cook until golden brown.
    • Drain on paper towels.
    • Sprinkle a little bit of lime or lemon juice over tortitas and serve immediately with the Lemon Garlic Aioli and extra lime or lemon wedges.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4 | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 1012mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 134IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!
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    Comments

    1. Chelsea says

      March 23, 2022 at 11:24 pm

      My family absolutly loved these. Next time I will double the recipe 😊

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        March 25, 2022 at 6:38 pm

        That’s great to hear! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how much you and your finally enjoyed them and rating the recipe! 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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