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Tortitas de Atun on a white platter served with lime wedges and lemon aioli dipping sauce.
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5 from 2 votes

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!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 (makes 8 cakes)
Calories: 212kcal

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: 4g | 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