Citrus Free Ginger-Turmeric Snapper Cakes with Carrot
These golden fish cakes are packed with bold, warming flavor — fresh red snapper hand-chopped for real texture, earthy turmeric, bright ginger, and sweet carrot all pressed into crispy rounds that cook up beautifully in coconut oil. The combination sounds exotic but comes together with straightforward pantry staples and a little knife work. Many fish cake recipes lean on lemon or lime juice to brighten the flavor, but here the ginger does all that heavy lifting, making this a genuinely satisfying option for anyone avoiding citrus without feeling like anything is missing. The cool ricotta dipping sauce — stirred together with parsley and just a touch of apple cider vinegar — is the perfect creamy contrast to the crisp, spiced cakes. Squeezing the moisture out of the grated carrot is a small but important step that keeps the cakes firm and golden rather than soggy, so don't skip it. Serve them straight from the pan while the edges are still crackling, with a scattering of fresh parsley on top for a little color.
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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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