Pesto Tuna Cakes are a simple and inexpensive dish to prepare using leftover mashed potatoes with flavorful pesto for an easy weeknight meal.
Tuna is one of those proteins that I always forget about and I feel like is really under appreciated. Â I’ve never loved tuna sandwiches but I do enjoy tuna in other ways. Â Although I can think of some ways I don’t, or wouldn’t want to enjoy tuna like tuna spaghetti (a bachelor special of my husband’s, it wasn’t that bad actually) or tuna jello (it was a real dish in the 70’s, heaven help us!).
Tuna cakes are a universal favorite in our house, even with the kiddos.  The tuna flavor is mellowed when combined with the mashed potatoes and adding Pesto Mashed Potatoes this time was a nice flavor boost!  I love finding new ways to reinvent leftovers and for some reason mashed potatoes always seem to languish in my house!
I also love how quickly these come together. They are perfect for those busy weeknights when your staring into the fridge wondering what in the world you are going to make. Â Even if you don’t have mashed potatoes languishing in the fridge like me you can always use the instant potatoes in a pinch, just prepare them according to the package directions before adding to the tuna.
I like to serve these up alongside a nice salad like this Pineapple Rainbow Slaw or a Greek Quinoa Salad for a nice rounded and healthy dinner.
What kind of leftovers tend to hang out in your fridge?
Pesto Tuna Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 can tuna drained and flaked
- 1 1/2 cups Pesto Mashed Potatoes or 1 1/2 cups mashed potatoes plus 1/4 cup prepared pesto
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
- Combine tuna and mashed potatoes and form mixture into 16 patties. Lightly press the tuna cakes into the flour mixture on each side, shaking off excess.
- Heat about a 1/4 inch of canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot add tuna cakes in batches frying until golden brown on each side.
- Serve warm.
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
I’ve never made tuna cakes but I’ve made salmon. I bet these are delicious. I love that used pesto. Great idea!
Sounds like a tasty combination!
I love that you made this with pesto mashed potatoes–so good!