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Fish cakes are made with filleted fish that is mixed with a starch. The patty is then fried, resulting in a golden brown tasty treat. If you’ve been craving a tasty fish cake, you may be stumped about which sides to make alongside this seafood meal. If you’d like to know what to serve with fish cakes, you’ve come to the right place!
Table of Contents
- What are Fish Cakes?
- What Goes with Fish Cakes?
- What You Can Serve with Fish Cakes
- So, What Can You Serve with Fish Cakes?
- FAQs
What are Fish Cakes?
As we shared above, fish cakes are made using filleted fish. The fish is combined with a starch and additional ingredients and seasonings and is then fried.
There are two main styles of fish cakes: Asian-style and European-style. The differences in the ingredients used to make each style of fish cake result in unique dishes. For example, European-style fish cakes are made using fish, potato, egg, flour, and onion, making them pretty similar to croquettes. Whereas Asian-style fish cakes are typically made with fish water, flour, egg, salt, and often fish paste. Asian-style fish cakes may also be served steamed or grilled.
Many people see fish cakes as an ideal meal when they have left over fish that needs to be used. They are relatively simple to make and allow for some flexibility and versatility based on the availability of other ingredients and each individual’s preferences.
What Goes with Fish Cakes?
Fish cakes work well as the centerpiece of your meal. Finding the right side to pair with them, however, can really make their flavors shine and enhance the texture.
As with crab cakes, there are many different side options you can choose from for your fish cakes; each will deliver a unique spin to the overall meal. Some of these sides may be better suited to either European- or Asian-style fish cakes, but many of them can go well with either style.
What You Can Serve with Fish Cakes
What to have with fish cakes? If you’re stumped with trying to come up with a side to complement your fish cakes, continue reading. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the best side dishes to serve with fish cakes:
- Tartar Sauce
- French Fries
- Corn Pudding
- Creamed Spinach
- Roasted Vegetables
- Baked Potato
- Side Salad
- Potato Salad
- Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Roasted Red Potatoes
- Soup
Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce may be the best accompaniment for fish cakes. Tartar sauce has a smooth texture, which plays nicely with the crispier texture of the fish cakes. Plus, the creamy and tangy taste of the tartar sauce perfectly complements and brings out the flavors in the fish cake.
If you’d like to make your own tartar sauce to serve with fish cakes, it really is a simple side to whip up. You only need mayonnaise, pickle relish (or chopped pickers), capers, dill, and lemon juice.
French Fries
As you’re thinking about what to serve with fish cakes, don’t overlook french fries. They’re not particularly fancy, but boy are they tasty! French fries are crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside; the perfect combination that is sure to taste great with your fish cake.
Serving french fries with a fish cake can give the meal a ‘fish and chips’ kind of vibe, and what’s not to love about that?
Corn Pudding
Corn pudding is both creamy and chunky. The way the corn melts in with the creamy pudding sauce makes it simply irresistible. The flavors in corn pudding also make it an excellent side for fish cakes; tasting the two together will be quite enjoyable.
If you’re planning to make corn pudding to serve alongside your fish cakes, be sure to make a bit more than you think you’ll need. It can be hard to say ‘no’ to an extra helping of this creamy treat, and it is certain to disappear quickly once set out on the table!
Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach can also taste great when served with fish cakes. It is a quick, easy, and inexpensive side, but also one that will help add some color and different textures to the plate. If you want to pump up the flavor of the spinach, consider adding in some minced garlic or parmesan cheese.
Roasted Vegetables
What goes with fish cakes? Why not roast some vegetables to serve on the side. Vegetables are, obviously, very healthy. Plus, roasting them makes them tender and delicious!
As far as what vegetables to roast, well, that is really up to you. What are some of your favorite veggies? Some good options to consider include cauliflower, carrots, onions, brussels sprouts, and zucchini. Choosing a variety of different colors can help enhance the visual appeal of the finished meal too!
Baked Potato
Baked potatoes are a classic, yet simple, side dish that everyone loves. Wrap the potatoes in foil and bake them directly on the rack in a 350-degree oven for 60 to 90 minutes.
You can choose to serve the potatoes with just butter, or you could offer additional toppings for people to make loaded baked potatoes. If you’d like to do this, some of the other toppings you may want to have on hand include sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, and chives.
Side Salad
As you contemplate what to eat with fish cakes, a side salad is another healthy option to add to the list. Side salads can help ensure that you feel full and satisfied after a meal while also keeping you from indulging in too many additional calories.
To prepare side salads, start by washing and chopping some lettuce. Then, add some fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, and onions. Make a homemade oil and vinegar dressing, or pick up some ranch, Italian, or blue cheese dressing from the grocery store.
You may even find that you enjoy the taste of the fish cake on the salad. If this is the case, you can chunk the fish cakes and serve them atop the salad with the dressing on the side.
Potato Salad
A homemade potato salad can also be the perfect match for your fish cakes, especially when you’re planning lunch. Potato salad is easy to make, too. Start by boiling the potatoes until they’re just tender. Then, drain them to let them cool, remove the peels, and chunk them. Place the potato chunks in a big bowl and add in some chopped celery, onion, hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and apple cider vinegar.
Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Steamed and roasted asparagus both taste amazing. However, adding some hollandaise sauce to the mix will really elevate this side dish and complement the flavors in the fish cake. You can make your own hollandaise sauce at home using egg yolks, butter, water, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Who knows, if you really enjoy the taste of the hollandaise sauce, you may even decide to pour some on top of your fish cake too!
Macaroni and Cheese
Who doesn’t love macaroni and cheese? This cheesy and creamy pasta can make the perfect side dish for your fish cakes. Obviously, it tastes great by itself, but pairing the gooey cheese with the crispy fish cakes can take your taste buds to another level.
Roasted Red Potatoes
Another top choice for what to serve with fish cakes is roasted red potatoes. Roasting really helps to bring out the flavor in the potatoes, and they pair so nicely with the fish cakes.
Before placing your potatoes in the oven, you’ll want to wash them and cut them into chunks (leave the skin on). Then, toss the potatoes in olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread them evenly over a baking pan. Put them in a hot (400-degree) oven for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes.
Soup
A creamy soup can also help complete your fish cake meal. The hot and creamy texture of the soup will pair nicely with the crispy and crunchy coating on the fish cake.
Consider making a nice pot of broccoli cheddar soup; the cheesy broth will really taste nice with the fish. Or, if you’d prefer to stick with the seafood theme, you could consider whipping up some clam chowder. Some other creamy soups to consider include potato, cream of mushroom, or even creamy tomato.
So, What Can You Serve with Fish Cakes?
Now, you should have some great ideas for what to make alongside your fish cakes. From a classic tartar dipping sauce to roasted vegetables, baked beans, or tried and true french fries, you should be able to come up with the perfect side or sides. What do you think you’ll be putting on the table with your fish cakes? Whatever you choose, you’re sure to enjoy a scrumptious meal!
FAQs
What is a good side dish for fish cakes?
Many sides pair well with fish cakes including french fries, asparagus, coleslaw, baked beans, and roasted vegetables.
What goes good with fish food?
Fish tastes good with lots of other foods. Some popular fish sides include mashed potatoes, salads, roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, and coleslaw.
