Wheat Free Ginger-Turmeric Snapper Cakes with Zucchini

Total time55 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time20 min

4.5

(30)

Wheat Free Ginger-Turmeric Snapper Cakes with Zucchini

These golden fish cakes are bright, aromatic, and genuinely exciting — the kind of weeknight dinner that feels like it came from a restaurant kitchen. Fresh red snapper gets hand-chopped for a satisfying chunky texture, then folded with grated zucchini, warm turmeric, zingy ginger, and a handful of fresh herbs before being pan-fried in coconut oil until deeply golden. The binding here comes from rice flour and egg rather than any wheat-based breadcrumb, so the cakes hold together beautifully without sacrificing that crispy, caramelized crust. Wringing the moisture out of the zucchini is the small but essential step that keeps everything from falling apart in the pan — don't skip it. The creamy ricotta dipping sauce, brightened with apple cider vinegar and a whisper of turmeric, ties the whole plate together in the best way. It's a dish that proves you don't need conventional flour to get a satisfying, crave-worthy result — just good technique and bold, fresh ingredients.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the cakes

1 lb fresh red snapper fillets, skin removed
1 medium zucchini (about 8 oz), coarsely grated
1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
1 tsp ground turmeric
2 scallions, green tops only, thinly sliced
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 large egg, lightly beaten
¼ cup rice flour
¾ tsp salt
3 tbsp coconut oil, divided

For the dipping sauce

¼ cup fresh ricotta
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp salt
1–2 tbsp water

Instructions

1
Place the grated zucchini in the center of a clean kitchen towel, gather the edges, and wring firmly over the sink until no more liquid drips out. The zucchini should feel nearly dry to the touch. Set aside.
2
Pat the snapper fillets dry with paper towels, then finely chop them by hand into pieces no larger than 1/4 inch — you want a rough, chunky texture, not a paste. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

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