These low calorie Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa are a delicious, healthy appetizer recipe that everyone will love. The fresh tomato salsa is so good, you’ll want to put it on everything!
If you love tuna as much as I do, try these Mexican Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocados next time!
Table of Contents
- These low calorie Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa are a delicious, healthy appetizer recipe that everyone will love. The fresh tomato salsa is so good, you’ll want to put it on everything!
- I Wish I Could Eat These Tuna Cakes Everyday
- You’ll Love This Delicious Low Calorie Appetizer Recipe
- Try These Fun Tuna Cake Variations
- Get the Recipe
I Wish I Could Eat These Tuna Cakes Everyday
Thanks to Tuna Casserole and Tuna Surprise in school cafeterias in the 90’s, nobody likes Tuna anymore. I get that those lunches were scary…but it wasn’t the Tuna’s fault! It was probably fear of the woman serving it…with her drawn on sharpie eyebrows and missing fingers –or was that just my creepy lunch lady?!
In spite of all those bad tuna memories, I LOVE tuna. I could eat it everyday, if I wasn’t terrified of getting Mercury poisoning. I love tuna salad, tuna melts and this weird tuna casserole thing with bread that I found in an old Betty Crocker cookbook.
When I was dreaming up my Tuna Cakes, I was trying to figure out a way to give them some extra umph while keeping them ass friendly. I knew I could keep the Tuna Cake itself healthy, but a sauce on top was tricky. A cream sauce would be delicious…but cream is totally evil. Eventually I thought of a Fresh Tomato Salsa with a few good squeezes of lime…
You’ll Love This Delicious Low Calorie Appetizer Recipe
And I am happy to say, the result was awesome! The combination is delicious…and the lime really helps balance out all the flavors. Plus, not gonna lie, I love that I get to have one giant Tuna Cake with a ton of delicious fresh salsa on top for only 182 calories! I know Superbowl is traditionally filled with tons of stick to your bones kind of foods…but for anyone hoping to still fit in their jeans on Monday morning, this is your answer!
Try These Fun Tuna Cake Variations
1. Make them into sliders! Turn these babies into the perfect appetizer by making them mini tuna cakes and wrapping them with a whole wheat bun.
2. Serve them in a pita and toss the fresh salsa right into the pita pocket. I bet they would be awesome with a drizzle of some homemade Tzatziki too!
3. Make them like mini crabcake appetizers, but serve them in mini bowls with the salsa piled on top.
4. Serve them as full out burgers. Best part about these, you can make them a day ahead and store them in the fridge. Or if you need even more time…you can make them and freeze them! Just thaw them out the day before the party in the fridge. Once people get hungry, a quick turn in the sauté pan will give you gorgeous healthy burgers before halftime is over!
Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa are a delicious, healthy appetizer recipe that everyone will love. The fresh tomato salsa is so good, you'll want to put it on everything!
Ingredients
- 3 5oz cans Albacore Tuna (in water), drained and fluffed
- 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1/3 cup crushed Wasa Light Rye crackers (appx 4 crackers)
- 2 tablespoons freshly minced parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Jalapeno Tabasco (the green one), or to taste
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 large egg, whisked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
For the Tuna Cakes:
In a large bowl, mix together tuna, onion, crushed Wasa crackers, parsley, garlic, lime juice, mustard, and jalapeno Tabasco. Then add a little salt and pepper, stirring, and taste testing. Once you have reached your desired seasonings, stir in the egg.
Pat tuna mixture into patties, using 1/2 cup packed tuna for each patty. Set on wax paper.
To Freeze: Flash freeze Tuna Cakes, for 30 minutes, on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Then wrap each cake individually with plastic wrap and place in a ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 1 month (which is as long as I have tried, but I think they would be fine for up to 3 months). To thaw, place Tuna Cakes in fridge a day before you plan to use them. Once thawed, follow the instructions below.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick sauté pan, over medium heat. Add two Tuna Cakes to the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove from pan and set on a paper towel covered plate to drain off any excess oil. Repeat entire process (including adding a second tablespoon of olive oil) to cook the remaining to Tuna Cakes.
For the Fresh Tomato Salsa:
Toss together tomatoes, yellow onion, green onions, parsley, lime juice, garlic salt and pepper. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 hours before eating. This allows the flavors to develop, but of course you can eat it immediately if in a rush!
Top Tuna Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa and serve immediately!
Notes
Make your Fresh Tomato Salsa a couple hours ahead of the Tuna Cakes to allow time for the flavors to develop.
TNCB
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 281Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 761mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 29g
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Being around you makes everything better.
Thank you for sharing
This was really not good, not sure exactly what went wrong. The cakes fell apart in the pan and it became more of a tuna bowl with pico de Gallo, which was the dishes saving grace considering the tuna cakes had no flavour.
Thank you for sharing this
I was trying to find comments on the recipe… after the first quarter I gave up, so much unrelated, boring stuff.
Tuan cake? never had tried this. Tuna cake with tomato salsa. I loved tomato salsa. Your recipe seems to be very interesting. I can’t wait to make this recipe. Thanks, for sharing such a delicious recipe.
Looks delicious. I love tuna just like my pets do. Little for them, a lot for me :)
They look, and should taste, good!
Blog is very good, I like it! Thank you for you sharing!Your blog is really helps for my search and i really like it.
Jessica, I’ve made this recipe many times, and it is one of my favorite go-to lunches. I made a few very minor tweaks (as I often do), and wrote about it on my blog: http://karylskulinarykrusade.com/recipe-tuna-cakes-with-fresh-tomato-salsa/
Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!
This blog is providing beautiful news about about the Liberian Educational Sector. It is nice to know about it this is useful information. And such blogs makes us familiar with the whole world.
These are awesome! Just made the dish a few moments ago. OMG! Yummmy!
Thank you Jessica, I thought that was so delicious. i have sent this post to my wife so she can try it out soon.
Awesome information. I am really surprised with this topic. Keep up the good work and post more here to read.
I would have definitely renamed myself Clarissa! I absolutely loved the show Clarissa Explains it All and for some reason thought her fashion sense was the best in the world
Thank you for sharing this…..
The post is written in very a good manner and it entails many useful information for me. I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept.
Blog is very good, I like it! Thank you for you sharing!Your blog is really helps for my search and i really like it.
Great! Thanks for your documents, its been very helpful. Thanks again for sharing your information.
That looks oh so good. Fresh and healthy too. I’ll just have to get the ingredients from the market so I can try it out this weekend.
I love tuna too! I almost always go for a tuna melt if it’s on the menu. I got burnt out on those tuna packs after eating them for months for lunch every day.
I know I’m too late for the giveaway (bummer) but I just wanted to let you know I made these tuna cakes for me and the hubby the other night and oh.my.goodness! They were awesome! And definitely a** friendly :) I didn’t have any Wasa crackers so I used crushed pita chips instead and they turned out great. I think I’ll try the Wasa next time though, just to compare. Thanks for the great recipe. The salsa was really great too and we ended up eating the rest of it with the leftover pita chips. Yummmmm
I always loved the name Kate, still one of my favorites!
I always LOVED my name, hehe! But if I chose a new one it’d probably be something like Karen o.o
Sarah Elizabeth. I lived in the south and thought it sounded better!
Jessica,
A) You’re hilarious, “ass-friendly” made me laugh out loud and I got some crazy looks in the office.
B) Everything on your blog looks delicious and I will be coming back. I got here because I love tuna as well.
C) I’d consider it a favor if you’d give Wild Planet Tuna a try. We have more Omega 3 than the national brands and low mercury because our tuna is troll-caught from the North Pacific. Hope you say hi sometime http://wildplanetfoods.com
Thanks!
And, LOVE WASA on FB and elsewhere…
I wanted to be Stephanie. Actually, at about age 13, my mom told me I could legally change the actual spelling of my name from Ashley to Ashleigh. I’m so glad I didn’t!
Not entering…but love this tuna cake! You’re so right about the lunch ladies of yesterday. It took me a loooong time to be able to eat tuna again. Great choice for Wasa!
My 13 y.o. self would be named Mary, after the main character in my favorite book. Oh to have time to read for pleasure again….those were the days. :)
I just liked Wasa on FB…going to check out their page now :)
i don’t think it even occurred to me that it was possible to change ones name at 13. i should would now though……
I wanted to be Kelly… from Saved by the Bell (not the other 90’s Kelly from Beverly Hills 90210 – ha!).
Kelly… your Boy Meets World was my Beverly Hills, 90210 :)
And, I like Wasa on FB. Thanks for the giveaway!
Ahh, Neve Campbell’s character in Scream…Sidney. Loved it! In fact, it was the chosen name for my internet alter-ego. Ahh, the fun I had on AOL in those days!
I like wasa on FB
I think I’d still be Marnely….can’t think of another name for myself!
ahhh I love this comment idea! I remember wishing my name was Tiffany. Most likely after Tiffany Amber Thiessen who played Kelly on Saved By the Bell! GREAT recipe – def trying this within the week. Annnnd serving some Wasa crackers along side!
I actually loved my name…so congrats to my parents!
I made these last night and they were wonderful! :)
I dont know at 13 I would have liked anything! Lots of things ryme with Sherry!! lol lilsis_75@hotmail.com
I liked Wasa on Facebook
At age 13, I just wanted something normal. Vanessa was one..or Jessica. I was just tired of the many ways my name would be mispronounced, so I wanted something common and unmistakable! Now, 11 year later, I like my name. :)
coolasacucumber
I liked wasa on facebook! hope I win :)
I would have renamed myself anything easier. When I was a kid I hated being so different. So something like Amanda or Melissa would have been nice. Now I love my name because it’s different :)
Punky Brewster – who didn’t want to be like punky brewster back in the day?!?! Love the tuna cake recipe, made them tonight, yum!
I would have been Blossom. Absolutely hands down. WOAH.
I don’t really know why I stopped eating tuna…cause I DO like it. These would make for hte best lunches!
Tuna cakes are phenomenal – – the addition of the fresh salsa… im sold :)
I liked Wasa North America on Facebook
I “like” Wasa on Facebook.
At 13, I wanted to name myself “Sunset,” after discovering that I knew too many “Jennifers.”
I ‘Like’ Wasa on Facebook.
hmmm . . . .
supercalifragilousticexpealidocious was definitely my dream name when I was 13.
the longest names are always the coolest. can’t you tell? :)
i actually always liked my name even though when i lived in australia nobody could pronounce it (dana is said like dayna, not donna!)
Ginger, no no Sporty… how bout Posh?? … I was obsessed with the Spice girls, I would have taken any of their names :)
I think Mrs. Jonathan Taylor Thomas!
Gigi
Im now following Wasa on Facebook!
without a doubt, Kelly. Yes, I was/am a huge fan of Saved By The Bell! lol
I’m a fan on fb
I’ve always like the name Blare
Oddly enough, I just tasted Wasa crackers for the first time this week! Yummy! Okay, I hate to admit to being so unimaginative, but the most absolutely beautiful name I could think of when I was that age was Vanessa. That’s it. Why couldn’t I have picked something more exotic? Why?
I’ve always liked the name Caitlyn.
I “like” Wasa on Facebook. And like their giveaway on Facebook, too!
Allison – there was a cool girl from school who had that name :)
Love the fact that these can be frozen! I was called a shortened version of my middle name, but I wanted to be called by my first name, Anna. So when I left home I started introducing myself as Anna. My mother refuses to call me that which is kind of silly since she named me that…
PS, I liked Wasa on FB
I liked Wasa North America on facebook
I think I wanted to be a “Cindy”
Chanda Nicole – I thought that was so beautiful. Yikes!
For some reason, I always thought the name Penelope was neato keen :)
i like WASA on fbook! :)
hahah i’d definitely go by Phoebe but topanga is surely a great one! looooove those tuna cakes!!!
My best friend and I used to go around in the summer telling boys our fake names…mine was McKenzie. Weird.
I totally would have re-named myself Joey (from Dawson’s Creek). I LOOOOOOOVED that show!!!!
Hahaha – Topanga is a great choice! I would’ve picked Jennifer – I remember always liking that name :)
I liked Wasa on Facebook.
I like Wasa on Facebook (Catie Russo)
Haha Topanga! I loved that show (and her) when I was younger. For me, I probably would have picked Courtney – I LOVED Kurt Cobain, and he loved Courtney Love!
i don’t want the swag, i just feel the need to share that if you saw the state of the roma tomatoes in the grocery stores here (toronto), you would cry. they’re no where near what you have in the photos above, so i hope you appreciate it!!! i soooo miss fresh summer tomatoes :(
Liked Wasa on FB as well!
So you had a crush on Cory, eh? Classic show. If I had my way, my name definitely would’ve been changed to Kayla — no idea why, but I was obsessed with it. As for WASA, I LOVE it! Those crispbreads kept me going through grad school. I’d love to relive those awesome snacks!
Cheers,
*Heather*
i always liked my name cuase it doesnt’ ryhme with anything bad. but i liked and still do the name Samantha
i like wasa on facebook
I am now following Wasa on Facebook.
I would have probablly had everyone call me Samantha or Cyntha.
Samantha! I was obsessed with American Girls :)
At the age of 13, I would have loved to be named Alyssa. I used to watch a lot of “Who’s the Boss”. =D
Ooh, I love Wasa crackers! At 13, I would have gladly answered to Veronica or Andrea.
I wanted to be called Samantha. So then people could give me a nickname and call me Sam. There aren’t many nicknames coming out of Jill!
Following along with Wasa and your facebook page, yayyy!
I have always loved the name Katelynn. It is just a pretty name, no rhyme or reason behind it.
Jasmine! I had a thing about Aladdin. I guess there’s no need to say I was kinda weird :)
i also fall in the ‘love tuna’ camp, so i will definitely be giving these a try soon!
as for names, I definitely would have gone for Stacy–my favorite in the babysitter’s club ;)
I would have named myself BREE. I have no idea why.
my parents told me that they almost named me Rebecca – and since I was obsessed with Full House and thought Becky was so pretty… i secretly wish they had named me that! haha
PS- These Tuna cakes look flipping awesome!!!!!!!!!
I looooove WASA!! :)
13-year old Christina would have renamed herself Journeigh. Like Journey, but spelled wrong. Wow that is so embarrassing.
I already like WASA on FB.
Though I love my real name now, I did not like it so much when I was younger so I probably would have called myself Marissa..lol
My middle name is Elizabeth, and I like it better when I was younger. But only if I was Elizabeth, no nicknames allowed.
side note, by BF and I are in the process of watching all the seasons of Boy Meets World in order, currently on 4 or 7. Great show!
Vanessa. Always wanted to be a Vanessa. It just sounds sassy!
Darlene………..after my ballet teacher’s gorgeous daughter.
Mimi…which is what everyone calls me now!
Madison
I totally would have gone with Rae or Rea.
I am loving that fresh salsa!
Just liked Wasa on Facebook!
Tiffany, lol :)
I don’t know why, but i wanted to be “Alyssa”
I SO wanted to be named suzanne. No idea why.
I am now also a liker on FB.
I just wanted to take an “i” out of my name, I know that sounds silly but at the time I hated having two “i”s in my name.
Felicity just doens’t look right with one “i” now though!
I’ve always liked my name since nobody else at my school had it.
I’ve always liked Winnie from The Wonder Years!
Ryan- I thought girls with boys name was really cute!
I wanted to be Elizabeth!
I like you on Facebook!
I would have definitely renamed myself Clarissa! I absolutely loved the show Clarissa Explains it All and for some reason thought her fashion sense was the best in the world. Looking back…not so much. :-P
i used to want my name to be nicole so badly
I probably would have called myself Dr. Doolittle or something else animal-loving related.
Yay! I love Wasa! When I was younger, for some reason, everything was named Kendall. I don’t even know where I got that name from. My look-alike American Girl was Kendall, any barbies, etc.
I like Wasa on facebook :)
Victoria!
katherinedibello (at) gmail (dot) com
Katherine….not sure why. Just happened to like that name.
Oh these look amazing. Can’t wait to try them. I’ve never tried Wasa before. I know, travesty right?
At 13 I would’ve renamed myself Morgan Ariana. It was the name I swore I’d name my first born before I realized I’d end up having a daughter just like me and my nerves couldn’t take it. Still liked the name though but would insist on not shortening it by calling me morg!
I remember wanting to be named ‘Megan’. No idea why, though!
I have ‘Liked’ Wasa North America on Facebook! :-D
Love wasa and loved the name Bridget when I was 13.
I did not like my name when I was younger and would have named myself Bethany!
And I like wasa north America on Facebook
I always wanted to be named Caroline, like it was a fancier version of my name or something!
I probably would have called myself Punky Brewster or something similar; whatever show I was obsessed with at the time. Maybe Marcia Brady :)
I like Wasa on FB
Hmm…I have always liked my name. I think by 13 I had grown out of this stage but before that I enjoyed having pretend names, usually when playing with friends. Vanessa was one I was a fan of…
Love wasa! (But you can buy double packs for so much less in Norway. I miss those prices…)
i would not have changed my name, i have always been fond of it.
I would have named myself Jessica because of the Sweet Valley High game.