This Tuna Croquette recipe delivers amazing Tuna Croquettes that are crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. In every bite, there is a burst of flavour that will make you want more. This can be served as finger food, snack, appetizer or as a main course. Easy to make and super delicious. If you are looking for something new to try then try this recipe to make some crispy croquettes in your kitchen. Make it and let me know how you like it!
Making Tuna Croquettes is a lovely way to turn ordinary canned tuna into a flavourful and fulfilling dish or meal. Remember that preparing Tuna Croquettes is a creative and flexible process, so don't hesitate to modify the ingredients to suit your personal taste. This croquette can be enjoyed throughout the year but especially during holidays, they are an excellent way to treat your guest with something tasty.
With this recipe instruction that includes a full video tutorial, you can try to make it at home, and let me know how you like it!
This was inspired by my Lemon Pepper Chicken and pairs well with this Gazpacho Soup.
Jump to:
- ⭐Why You'll Love This Tuna Croquettes Recipe
- 🧾Ingredients Needed & Substitutions
- 📖Variations of Tuna Croquette
- 👩🏻🍳How to Make Tuna Croquettes
- 🔪Kitchen Tools Required
- ❄️How to Store, Freeze, Defrost, Reheat and Serve
- 💭Tips for Making Tuna Croquettes
- ❓Frequently Asked Questions for Tuna Croquettes
- 🍲More Appetizer Recipes!
- 🎥Video
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
⭐Why You'll Love This Tuna Croquettes Recipe
This Tuna Croquettes recipe uses a handful of ingredients! Every bite of this croquette melts in your mouth!
There are so many reasons to love this amazing crispy Tuna Croquettes recipe:
- Uses Simple Ingredients: All the ingredients are easy to find in the supermarket.
- Quick, Simple and Easy to Make: In a few simple steps, you will have the croquettes done.
- No-Bake: Doesn't require any baking.
- Incredible Flavour: The tuna filling is super delicious, and the crispy outside makes these croquettes memorable.
- Versatile: This recipe is so versatile. Swap out or mix other types of filling for example you can also use salmon.
- Make in Advance: Make the croquettes 1 or 2 days ahead of time. Keep it in the fridge until ready to serve and eat.
- Perfect Appetizer or Snack: These are perfect for a quick bite or to serve as an appetizer alongside the main dish.
- Suitable for Any Occasion: They are great for parties, afternoon tea, holidays, brunch, lunch, dinner, etc.
- Perfect for Sharing: Great for sharing with friends and family.
Don't miss this Garlic Shrimp and Traditional Gazpacho for your next parties.
🧾Ingredients Needed & Substitutions
The ingredients for this Tuna Croquettes recipe are simple. Here is a list of everything you need:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: For deep frying the croquettes. You can substitute with sunflower oil or a neutral oil like vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Small Onion: For a wonderfully mild and sweet flavour, gives a nice soft texture and aromatic base to the croquettes.
- Salt: For seasoning the mixture.
- Garlic Cloves: Adds depth of flavour to the croquettes.
- Canned Tuna: For amazing fishy flavour with a delicate, sweet and buttery taste; as well as gives a wonderfully soft, smooth and velvety texture to the croquettes. Better to use good quality canned tuna, packed in water o oil. Drain the can well before using. Tuna is the star of the show.
- Black Pepper: To season the mixture, that provides a sharp and pungent flavour. Adds a spicy, slightly hot kick to the croquettes.
- Paprika: To season the mixture, that provides a mild, sweet, smoky, earthy and peppery flavour and colour to the croquettes.
- Oregano: Provides a mild peppery note, citrusy hints, strong and pronounced flavour with herbal and earthy aroma to the croquettes.
- Cream Cheese: Adds richness and creaminess texture and distinguishes flavour. You can substitute cream cheese for mascarpone.
- Bunch Parsley: Provides a fresh, bright and slightly peppery flavour to the croquettes and adds a touch of herbal, earthy goodness.
- Cornstarch: Use a thin layer of cornstarch to create a slightly and delicate crispy coating. You can substitute it with flour to create a thin coating before dipping it in the egg.
- Eggs: Beaten eggs serve as an adhesive to help breadcrumbs adhere to the croquettes and hold the croquettes together.
- Breadcrumbs: Provides a crunchy and crispy texture. Regular breadcrumbs are a popular choice for coating the croquettes. You can substitute for:
- Panko Breadcrumbs: for a lighter and airier texture.
- Cornflakes: for an extra layer of crunch to the coating.
- Cracker Crumbs: Crushed crackers, such as Ritz crackers or saltines, can create a flavourful and crispy coating.
- Potato Flakes: Provides texture and flavour to the coating.
- Panko and Parmesan: A mixture of panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese create a flavourful, extra crunchy and crispy coating.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
📖Variations of Tuna Croquette
Tuna Croquette is an amazing, wonderful and delicious appetizer but you can easily make a range of flavours by adding in other ingredients.
Here are a few ideas for a Tuna Croquette variation:
- Add Spices: For extra flavour, you can add different spices like ginger and chilli flakes to make it spicy.
- Mixed Canned Fish: Swap out some of the tuna for other types of fish like salmon, sardine or mackerel.
- Different Canned Fish: Swap out all tuna for other types of fish like salmon, sardine or mackerel.
- Add Herbs: Add chopped chives, dill, coriander or thyme into the tuna mixture for a more exciting twist.
- Add Some Nuts: Add some roughly chopped walnuts or peanuts to provide extra crunch.
Get creative and make a Tuna Croquette variation by adding and experimenting with different fish fillings and herbs. Get it your own twist!
👩🏻🍳How to Make Tuna Croquettes
This step by step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
How to Make the Croquettes:
1: Heat extra virgin olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat.
2: Cut an onion finely chopped, add to the frying pan, season with salt, and cook stirring often for about 3 minutes until softened.
3: Chop garlic into small pieces, add to the frying pan, stir, and cook for 3 minutes until the onion is translucent.
4: Remove from the heat and place the onion and garlic in a mixing bowl.
5: Add canned tuna to the mixing bowl, season with black pepper, paprika, and oregano, and mix well to combine.
6: Add cream cheese and chopped parsley and mix well to combine.
7: Shape into 14-15 croquettes, then dust in a little cornstarch, and set aside on a plate.
8: Place the beaten eggs in a small bowl, and the breadcrumbs in another small bowl.
9: Dip each croquette in the egg, then coat in breadcrumbs and set aside on a plate.
10: Heat sunflower oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
11: Fry the croquettes, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
12: Allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving.
13: Place on a plate and serve with mayonnaise.
🔪Kitchen Tools Required
Check out all of my kitchen essentials in my Amazon Store!
Here is a list of kitchen utensils for making these Tuna Croquettes.
- Pan.
- Knife.
- Cutting board.
- Mixing bowl.
- Spatula.
- Spoon with hool.
❄️How to Store, Freeze, Defrost, Reheat and Serve
Tuna Croquettes are better to eat immediately after frying, but you can eat them cold as well.
Storing: If you want to store leftover tuna croquettes then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them. Croquettes can last for 2 to 4 days.
Freezing: If you want to freeze the croquettes, it is better to freeze them uncooked. After preparing the croquettes, place the uncooked croquettes on a tray and freeze them for four hours. Once frozen, you can place and store them for long-term storage like a freezer bag.
Defrosting: Leave the tuna croquettes at room temperature for a few hours, and when you are ready to eat, deep fry them in oil. As well you can fry them when the croquettes are frozen.
Reheating: Reheat the croquettes in the microwave for 1 minute.
Serving: Croquettes are a versatile dish that there are many ways to serve them.
Here are some suggestions:
- Hot and Crispy: Croquettes taste best after frying so they are hot and crispy. They can be served with mayonnaise or another dipping sauce or your choice.
- As a Side Dish or Main Dish: Pairing Tuna Croquettes with delicious sides can elevate them from a simple snack to a fantastic appetizer or a special weekend treat. Worthy options are tomato salad, rocket salad, coleslaw and fried potatoes.
- With Garlic Alioli: Garlic aioli makes a wonderful accompaniment for Tuna Croquettes, especially when you are looking for a flavorful addition to your starter that won't leave you feeling overly full.
- With Tomato Soup or Any Soup: While tomato soup or any soup offers warmth and richness, tuna croquettes provide a delightful variation from the usual sandwiches or bread for dunking.
💭Tips for Making Tuna Croquettes
Here are some tips to help you make the best Tuna Croquettes:
Choose Quality Tuna: Start with high-quality canned tuna. Prevent excess moisture in your croquettes by draining well the water or oil from the tuna.
Add Flavors: Elevate the taste by incorporating ingredients such as finely chopped onions, garlic, herbs and spices. Adding chopped parsley, dill and a hint of lemon juice can add a vibrant and fresh touch to the mixture.
Binding Agent: Helps hold the croquettes together but also adds texture and flavour. Common choices or ingredients are breadcrumbs, flour, cornflakes, cracker crumbs, potato flakes, cornstarch, panko and parmesan.
Use Fresh Egg for Binding: Help bind the mixture together, provide structure and maintain the shape of the croquettes.
Season Well: Remember to add salt and pepper to the mixture. Seasoning is essential to enhance the flavours within the croquettes.
Shape and Chill: After mixing all the ingredients, form the mixture into ball shapes and then set them on a tray or place. Allow them to chill in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes. This step helps the croquettes maintain their shape during frying.
Coating: Coating croquettes is an essential step to achieve a delicious and crispy exterior. Before frying, coat the croquettes in breadcrumbs for a crispy exterior. For extra crunch, consider utilizing either standard breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, or even crushed cornflakes. The choice of coating can influence the flavour and texture of the croquettes, so feel free to experiment and pick the one that best suits your liked.
Deep Fry: Heat oil in a pan to the right temperature (around 175 -190°C or 350-375°F) for deep frying before adding the croquettes.
Careful Frying: Gently place the croquettes in the hot oil and fry until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Don't overcrowd the pan, as this can decrease the oil temperature and make the croquettes greasy.
Drain Excess Oil: After frying, transfer the croquettes to a plate with paper towels to remove any excess oil.
Serve Hot: Tuna croquettes are best enjoyed hot and fresh. Serve them with your favourite dipping sauce, such as mayonnaise, garlic aioli, tartar sauce, yoghurt base dip or lemon wedges.
Make it Ahead of Time: Make the croquettes 1 or 2 days ahead of time and then store and keep them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Experiment: Feel free to get creative with different ingredients and spices to create variations of tuna croquettes. You can add diced vegetables, herbs or a touch of grated cheese to customize the flavour of your liking.
Following these tips, you can make delicious and amazing Tuna Croquettes. Your family and friends will love it! Enjoy!!
❓Frequently Asked Questions for Tuna Croquettes
Here are some commonly asked questions about making homemade Tuna Croquettes:
You can use canned tuna packed in oil or water. The types of tuna often used are solid white albacore and chunk light tuna. Just make sure to drain the tuna thoroughly before you start mixing.
Typical ingredients include canned tuna, breadcrumbs and eggs, which serve as a binder. Seasonings such as salt and pepper are also included, along with extra flavour enhancers like chopped onions, garlic and herbs.
Yes. Although canned tuna is typically used for tuna croquettes, fresh tuna is also an option, if that is your preference. Just ensure the fresh tuna is cooked and flaked before incorporating it with the rest of the ingredients.
In order to avoid the croquettes from disintegrating, it is crucial to ensure that the mixture is thoroughly combined and the ingredients are uniformly spread. Additionally, refrigerating the shaped croquettes for roughly 30 minutes prior to frying can help in maintaining their form.
Frequently used seasonings and flavourings like salt, pepper, parsley, dill and lemon juice or zest, with spices like paprika added on occasion. The flavour can be customized according to your personal taste.
Tuna Croquettes can be served as a main dish with side dishes like a salad, vegetables or fried potatoes. They can also serve as an excellent starter or snack with dipping sauces or included in a burger or sandwich.
Yes, you can make the mixture and shape the croquettes in advance, then store them in the refrigerator until it is time to fry the croquettes. This method is handy for serving them hot and fresh.
Absolutely! Feel free to play around with different ingredients and seasonings. Incorporating elements like chopped vegetables, herbs, o even cheese can create distinctive versions of tuna croquettes.
Yes, you can freeze tuna croquettes and then deep fry them. As well the croquettes can be cooked and cooled and then they can be frozen. When you are ready to enjoy them, just reheat them in the oven or air fryer.
🍲More Appetizer Recipes!
Here are more of my favourite appetizer recipes! Try these:
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🎥Video
This video will show you the details and step-by-step instructions for making these amazing Tuna Croquettes!
📖 Recipe
Tuna Croquettes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 garlic cloves
- 200 g canned tuna
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 200 g cream cheese
- 1 bunch parsley
- 30 g cornstarch
- 2 eggs
- 80 g breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat.
- Cut an onion finely chopped, add to the frying pan, season with salt, and cook stirring often for about 3 minutes until softened.
- Chop garlic into small pieces, add to the frying pan, stir, and cook for 3 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Remove from the heat and place the onion and garlic in a mixing bowl.
- Add canned tuna to the mixing bowl, season with black pepper, paprika, and oregano, and mix well to combine.
- Add cream cheese and chopped parsley and mix well to combine.
- Shape into 14-15 croquettes, then dust in a little cornstarch, and set aside on a plate.
- Place the beaten eggs in a small bowl, and the breadcrumbs in another small bowl.
- Dip each croquette in the egg, then coat in breadcrumbs and set aside on a plate.
- Heat sunflower oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Fry the croquettes, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving.
- Place on a plate and serve with mayonnaise.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
These croquettes looks super delicious!