Cashew Free Ginger-Turmeric Snapper Cakes with Carrot
These golden fish cakes are bright, aromatic, and genuinely exciting — the kind of thing that makes a weeknight dinner feel like a real occasion. Fresh red snapper gets hand-chopped for texture, then folded together with grated carrot, punchy fresh ginger, and earthy turmeric before being pan-fried in coconut oil until deeply golden on both sides. The squeeze-dry step for the carrot and the short chill in the fridge are small moves that make a big difference, giving each cake a compact, satisfying bite rather than a soggy one. A cool ricotta dipping sauce with parsley and a splash of apple cider vinegar cuts right through the warmth of the spices and ties everything together beautifully. The ingredient list is refreshingly straightforward — rice flour, fresh herbs, a single egg — so there's no need to scan labels or worry about hidden tree nut derivatives sneaking into your meal. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or just treating yourself, these cakes hit that rare sweet spot of feeling special without being fussy.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the cakes
- 1 lb fresh red snapper fillets, skin removed, pin bones removed
- 1 cup finely grated carrot (about 2 medium carrots)
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp rice flour
- ¾ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, for frying
For the dipping sauce
- ½ cup fresh ricotta
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Make the dipping sauce: stir together the ricotta, parsley, apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 tsp salt in a small bowl until smooth. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the cakes.
- 2
Pat the snapper fillets completely dry with paper towels, then finely chop them by hand into pieces no larger than 1/4 inch — do not use a food processor, as the fish should have some texture, not become a paste. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
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