Asian Tuna Cakes with Kimchi Mayo Aioli {GF, DF}

30 Minute Chickpea and Hearts of Palm Asian Tuna Cakes make for an easy low fuss weeknight meal. Minimal clean up and maximum flavor. Serve with a kimchi mayo aioli. GF + DF.

Super quick 30 minute lunches or dinners. Love ’em or hate ’em? I’m pretty sure we can all simultaneously throw both thumbs up. Well these chickpea and hearts of palm tuna cakes are just that.

Canned fish = perfect for a super quick meal. Know when you get home and instantly it hits you that you didn’t take anything out of the freezer to defrost over the day?

What to do?

Just sit there eating some sad celery sticks? Nope. Whip out a few cans of tuna, as well as a few other cans as well (chickpeas, and hearts of palm) and a handful of other ingredients as well as a mixing bowl.

These tuna cakes literally are mixed up within minutes and then pan fried. It doesn’t get easier than that. And let me tell you – they taste way more sophisticated than you would think. I love making all sorts of tuna cakes but wanted to throw in some extra veggies and protein into these so a can of mashed chickpeas boosts that protein per serving and the hearts of palm + avocado + cilantro take care of the veggies.

And naturally because this is me we’re talking about I obviously need to add an Asian spin to the recipe. Remember how I said I’m currently obsessed with Asian flavors (exhibit A- vegan Asian cucumber carrot salad with ginger carrot dressing, exhibit B- Asian cucumber rolls with shrimp, avocado and wasabi aioli, exhibit C – Asian salmon salad with sesame ginger dressing), well that is continuing.

I just need to add a few of drops of tamari to everything I do. Anyone else like that out there?

So to Asian-ize this recipe I added in some tamari, sesame oil (so fragrant and delightful smelling), chili garlic sauce (one of my besties), lime zest (always makes everything so refreshing) and sesame seeds (no explanation necessary).

Now we’re talking. All of that gets mixed together before being formed into patties, dredged in even more sesame seeds and pan fried. I’m a pan frier – not going to lie, more so than a baker, so I pan fried these in a bit of coconut oil.

If you want these even healthier go for the baked version.

While they’re cooking whisk together the sauce.

My newest latest favorite kitchen ingredient? Kimchi. Can not get enough. I can eat the whole jar in one sitting if I don’t actively restrain myself and talk myself into at least breaking this up into a 3 day snack.

But best yet, once all that fermented cabbage is gone, in the jar is the leftover magical kimchi juice. Yep, I said it – kimchi juice.

And you’re going to love it whisked into an aioli for this tuna cakes.

My family eats way way way too much mayonnaise as is, so I’m always looking for new aioli ingredients to dilute that heavy mayo mix. Kimchi liquid is my new favorite one. Mix the kimchi liquid with tamari, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil and mayo, for the best kimchi aioli ever. I mean this aioli is my new favorite dipping sauce. The kimchi liquid adds a super soft and subtle spicy fermented taste that you can’t quite pinpoint, but know something interesting has been added to the mix.

It also dilutes the aioli a bit so it isn’t as quick and more of liquidy sauce which I personally prefer.

So next time you don’t know what to make for a quick lunch and dinner be sure to give these Chickpea and Hearts of Palm Asian Tuna Cakes with Kimchi Mayo Aioli a go. They’re ready in 30 mins and packed full of delicious flavors, protein and hidden veggies.

5 from 1 vote

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Asian Tuna Cakes with Kimchi Mayo Aioli {GF, DF}

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

30 Minute Chickpea and Hearts of Palm Asian Tuna Cakes make for an easy low fuss weeknight meal. Minimal clean up and maximum flavor. Serve with a kimchi mayo aioli. GF + DF.

Course: Appetizer, Lunch

Cuisine: Asian, Healthy

Servings: 4

Calories: 358 kcal

Author: Vicky

Ingredients

• For the tuna cakes:
• 3 small cans tuna drained
• 1 can chickpeas rinsed, drained and mashed 
• 1 can hearts of palm diced 
• 1/2 avocado mashed
• 1 tablespoon tamari
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
• 1 lime zested
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds + additional sesame seeds for dredging
• handful cilantro chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil

For the Kimchi Aioli:

• 1 teaspoon tamari
• 1 teasoon chili garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 tablespoon mayo
• 1 tablespoon kimchi liquid omit if you don't have it, or replace with 1/2 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

1. In a large bowl mash the drained chickpeas until crumbled. Mash the avocado with the chickpeas.
2. To the bowl add the hearts of palm, tuna, 1 tablespoon tamari, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce, lime zest, 1/4 cup sesame seeds and cilantro. Mix until smooth.
3. Form round flattened patties out of the mixture.
4. Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium heat. Dredge the tuna cakes in additional sesame seeds and pan fry on each side for a few minutes until browned and cooked through.
5. In a small bowl combine the kimchi aioli ingredients - 1 teaspoon tamari, 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 3 tablespoons mayo, and 1 tablespoon kimchi liquid

Recipe Notes

Calories per serving: 566 Total Fat 33.6g 52% Saturated Fat 6g 30% Cholesterol 42.5mg 14% Sodium 1386.9mg 58% Total Carbohydrate 36.7g 12% Dietary Fiber 13.4g 54% Sugars 4.7g Protein 35.4g 71% Vitamin A 3% Vitamin C 21% Calcium 31% Iron 51%

Nutrition Facts

Asian Tuna Cakes with Kimchi Mayo Aioli {GF, DF}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 358 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 50mg17%

Sodium 929mg40%

Potassium 420mg12%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 27g54%

Vitamin A 110IU2%

Vitamin C 7.4mg9%

Calcium 122mg12%

Iron 3.8mg21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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