What To Serve With Fish Cakes: 11 Tasty Choices

If you love a quick, budget friendly, and nutritious meal, it’s likely that fish cakes will feature on your weekly meal plan. 

They’re super simple to make at home, and whether you prefer tuna, salmon, cod, or something different, it’s likely that you already have all the ingredients you need in your store cupboard. 

But what can you serve them alongside to ensure that it’s a balanced dinner that the whole family will enjoy? 

Well, you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve got you covered!

Here’s a selection of the best options for what to serve with fish cakes… 

1. Homemade chips

Fish and chips is a match made in heaven, and when it comes to side dishes for fish cakes, you really can’t go wrong with a portion of hot, crisp, homemade chips. 

I like to make mine in my Actifry, and there are tons of different options if you want to shake things up a little bit. Make thick wedges or shoestring fries, and try out various seasonings to add some extra flavour. Paprika is a good option, or you can make your own mix with cayenne pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt. 

Sweet potato chips are a good option too, and provide a decent serving of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Don’t forget to add vinegar! 

2. Tartar sauce

Tartar sauce is probably the most popular dipping option for fish cakes, and a dollop can really make your meal.

You can pick up plenty of decent options in the supermarket, but it’s worth considering making your own. It’s simple and straightforward, and you’ll get a depth of creamy flavour that you just can’t find in a pre-packed jar. 

You’ll need mayonnaise, capers, gherkins, lemon, shallot, parsley, and salt and pepper. Check out this quick tartar sauce recipe. 

3. Salad

When served with a side salad, fish cakes can be a deliciously light and nutritious lunch option. Of course, you can get as creative as you want here, or keep things super simple!

Chop up lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, radishes, red onion, and chuck in some tinned sweetcorn or your favourite beans.

A lemon dressing is the perfect pairing for your fish cakes, or you can just squeeze over a little fresh lemon juice. 

4. A baked potato 

The humble baked potato is a great option to serve with fish cakes when you’re in a hurry and just want something simple but satisfying. 

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees (fan). Prick your potato with a fork, and cook in the microwave for around 5 minutes, or until soft. Next, spritz your potato with low calorie cooking spray and season with plenty of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake in the oven for around 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. 

Serve with a knob of butter for extra satisfaction. 

5. Rice 

If you’re wondering what to serve with fish cakes, rice is a satisfying choice, and it’s also a healthy option.

When you choose brown rice, you’ll enjoy some extra benefits. According to WebMD, it has a low glycemic index, can help to keep your heart healthy, and contains dietary fibre, which helps you to feel fuller for longer. 

All supermarkets now sell microwaveable pouches in a range of flavours, and these can help you to keep mealtimes varied and exciting. A lemon flavoured rice would pair perfectly with fish cakes.

Alternatively, increase your veggie intake by making your own vegetable rice. Cook your rice, then fry gently with onions, peppers, peas, carrots, or whatever other ingredients you have that need to be used up. 

6. Bread and butter 

You probably enjoy a few slices of bread and butter with your favourite order from your local chip shop, so why not consider this as a side dish for fish cakes? 

I absolutely love a fish cake sandwich… Don’t knock it until you try it! 

7. Roasted vegetables 

A tray of roasted veggies is a wonderful side dish for almost every meal imaginable. It’ll help you to get your 5-a-day, and it’s quick and easy. 

You could choose onion, carrot, courgette, beetroot, sprouts… Anything goes!

Choose seasonal vegetables to get the best flavours and value for money. 

8. Minty peas

This side dish for fish cakes is full of flavour, but really easy.

Just cook your peas, and stir through a little butter and a bunch of chopped mint. 

9. A poached egg

A poached egg is a fantastic high protein option for what to serve with fishcakes.

They can be hard to get right, but cooking a great egg is a skill that’s definitely worth having!

The video below from Downshiftology provides an easy-to-follow guide to ensure that you know exactly what you’re doing, and get perfect poached eggs every time. 

 

10. Chickpea salad

At any given time, I’ve usually got a big bowl of homemade chickpea salad in the fridge. It’s ideal for snacking, and it’s a wonderful side dish for a huge variety of different meals. 

Chop up lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, red onion, and mix in sweetcorn and tinned chickpeas. Make a dressing using a dollop of natural yoghurt, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Sprinkle over your favourite fresh or dried herbs. 

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to this salad though, so don’t be afraid to get creative and use up any ingredients that you might have in your salad drawer. 

11. Minted baby potatoes 

Minted baby potatoes are a lovely fresh and light option to serve with fish cakes, and they taste even better in the summer months served alongside a crisp glass of dry white wine. 

Cook your potatoes, add a little butter, and sprinkle over your fresh herbs. Sometimes the simplest options really are the best! 

Try this tuna and sweetcorn fish cakes recipe 

There’s just 257 calories per serving of my tuna and sweetcorn fish cakes recipe, and I regularly serve them for lunch with a side salad and a wedge of fresh lemon. 

Thanks to the fact that they use tinned tuna, they’re low fuss and they’re also really cheap to make. You could substitute for tinned salmon if you prefer, or any other fish that you already have in the kitchen. I prefer to use panic breadcrumbs as they provide a lovely crunch and golden colour. 

If you try them, do let me know what you think!

I love seeing readers recreate my recipes, and I’m confident that this is one that you’ll really enjoy. 

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