For Crab Cakes On A Budget, Try Tuna Cakes

Served as a starter or paired with sides as a main course, crab cakes can make for quite the decadent dish. The problem is that fresh crab meat, and even high-quality packaged varieties of the shellfish, can be pricey. But that doesn't mean you have to give up a seafood spin on dinner, because the canned tuna you have reserved for a creamy salad can actually turn into a similar dish to those crab cakes.

Our inspiration comes from recipe developer Michelle McGlinn's delicious dill tuna patties with cucumber cream sauce. McGlinn's recipe uses two 5-ounce cans of tuna, which is far more affordable (and easier to source) compared to its crab counterpart. Tuna is flaky, and is therefore easy to turn into cakes or patties like you would make with crab or salmon with just a few extra ingredients. The protein-packed and low-calorie canned fish is also full of nutrients like vitamin D. And if you don't already have cans in the pantry, or a go-to brand to grab at the store, we have you covered with a ranking of the best brands of canned tuna.

McGlinn's recipe speaks for itself, but here's some advice on how to turn the canned fish into tuna cakes. First, drain off any excess water or oil packed in the can to prevent watery tuna cakes. Next, break up the chunks into flakes with a fork to get the right texture to make the patties. Combine the tuna flakes with raw egg and breadcrumbs that function as binders plus other more flavorful add-ins like dill, dijon mustard, and lemon zest.

If those particular mix-ins don't satisfy your cravings, don't worry. Canned tuna works for a variety of homemade patties. For starters, if dill isn't your favorite herb, use fresh parsley instead. Chives, green onions, and red onions are flavorful alternatives to the mild shallot in our recipe. Mix in some cayenne pepper, red curry powder, diced jalapeño or serrano peppers, or a dash of hot sauce to make spicy tuna cakes. Or add different texture and flavor to the patties with bell peppers for crunch or sun-dried tomatoes for chewiness. And you can't go wrong with a dash of Old Bay seasoning to lean into the seafood inspiration.

Finally, tuna cakes are the ideal vessel for a creamy sauce, like the cucumber cream sauce in our recipe. However, you can just keep things classic with this simple tartar sauce recipe or add spice to the accompaniment with vegan chipotle mayo to serve with your budget-friendly tuna cakes.