Tod Mun Pla - Thai Fish Cakes

Australians have a love affair with Thai food. Thai restaurants are everywhere and range from tiny eateries to fine-dining establishments. I even go as far as saying that some of the food rivals the offerings of Thailand’s best kitchens.

Thai food in Australia, like Indian food in England, has been unconditionally embraced. Twenty years ago, in Australia, the most common Asian appetizer would have been the spring roll. While I have no scientific data to prove it, my strong hunch is that Australians eat twice as many tod mun pla (Thai fish cakes) than spring rolls.

In spite of my strong Thai heritage I had never, until recently, attempted to make this popular entrée (appetizers in North America). It seemed like a hassle. I didn’t own a food processor and I didn’t feel like making fish paste with my tiny mortar and pestle. I recently bought a food processor and my excuse vanished. And I’m very glad it did.

You can use pretty much any fish. I used basa, a fresh water fish with firm, white flesh. The fish is first blended into a sticky paste with an egg, to bind the mixture, red curry paste, cornstarch or tapioca flour and fish sauce. The paste is then mixed with fragrant kaffir lime leaves and sweet snake beans. It's best to dampen your hands with a little water before rolling the fish cake balls as the mixture is really sticky.

A tip on the kaffir leaves -- I usually buy them with a specific recipe in mind and I only use several at a time. To keep them fresh, simply place them in a small ziplock plastic bag and keep them in the freezer until you need to use them. They don't need to be defrosted either. Just pop them straight into whatever dish you're cooking.

Tod Mun Pla - Thai Fish Cakes

450 grams firm white fish like basa
1 1/2 Tbsp of Thai red curry paste
1 1/2 Tbsp of Thai fish sauce
1 egg
4 Tbsp of cornstarch or Tapioca flour
5 kaffir leaves, thinly sliced   
4 snake beans, thinly sliced
3 cups of vegetable oil for frying

Dipping Sauce

6 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp white vinegar
4 Tbsp sugar
1 purple shallot, finely sliced
1 Tbsp of finely sliced cucumber
1 small red bird chili, de-seeded and finely chopped
1/2 Tbsp of finely chopped coriander (cilantro)
1 Tbsp peanuts

Special equipment: food processor, slotted spoon, paper towels

Method:

1. Prepare the dipping sauce first. Heat a small saucepan over a medium heat. Dry roast the peanuts until they lightly brown then immediatley remove from the heat and allow them to cool. Roughly chop the peanuts and set aside.  
2. Place the water, vinegar and sugar in small saucepan over low heat. Stir mixture until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool.
3. In a small serving bowl combine the cucumber, shallots, chili and corinader. Add vinegar mixture and then top with roasted peanuts. Set aside.
4. Now for the fish cakes. Place fish, red curry paste, fish sauce, egg and cornstarch in a food processor. Blend until smooth and combined. Transfer paste into a large mixing bowl and add kaffir leaves and sliced snake beans. Stir through with a wooden spoon until combined.
5. Shape about 2 tablespoons of fish paste mixture into a flat disc (this may be hard as it's quite sticky). Alternatively, just do your best to roll the mixture into a small ball.
6. Heat the oil over a medium-high heat. Add fish cakes in batches and fry until golden brown and puffed up. 
7. Remove fish cakes from oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat process with remaining fish cakes.
8. Serve fish cakes with dipping sauce.

Comments

[Manggy]

Ooh, I LOVE basa! They would make excellent tod mun pla! I hear Australians are also very fond of Vietnamese food-- I wonder how long before Filipino food creeps in? Ha ha ha :)

[Simon Food Favourites]

they look yummy. i like how they are rustic looking.

[MyFoodRocks]

Looks great! Amazing photograph, wish I was out back on my porch with that dish sitting in front of me

[GrilledShane]

What a great photo and a great, different recipe. Thanks for bringing to my attention a new recipe. Looks awesome!

[Sue]

Hi there
Once again great photo, making tummy rumble, this is a very different dish, sound delicious, will have to give it a try.

[Sophie]

Oooooh,...Syrie: the

[Sophie]

Ooooooh,...Syrie: the Thai fish cakes look superb & very tasty! I adore your lovely dipping sauce: yummie!

[mycookinghut]

Looks good! I love thai fish cakes!!

[pigpigscorner]

they look and sound so good! I love Thai food, so spicy and flavourful!

[Kevin]

These fish cakes with red curry paste sound really tasty! The dipping sauce would be perfect for them as well.

[Cynthia]

I love fish cakes but have never tried making the Thai version. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

[Karin]

This sounds delicious. I love Thai fish cakes. This is one more reason I need a food processor.

[Julia]

Aren't you so glad you bought a food processor? I absolutely adore mine. It was such a great purchase. Worth every penny...and they aren't that terribly expensive in the first place.

These look divine, by the way :-)

[Gerry]

My favorite!! I would demolish all of these before you had time to say "why don't you try some of this lovely dipping sauce?"

[Kim da Cook]

Wow this looks so good, its lunch time now and my mouth is just watering, you really do love Thai cooking.

[Syrie]

Hi Mark, yes the Vietnamese is very popular and really fantastic here -- I haven't seen much Filipino but next time I see a restaurant I'm going to try it!

Thanks Simon! yes mine weren't as flat as they should be but I preferred them more puffed up as they were softer to bite into.

Aww thanks My Food Rocks! I hope you try them out!

Thanks Grilled Shane -- it's a great combination of flavors and pretty easy to make.

thanks for visiting Sue!

Thanks Sophie -- I love the sauce as it's so refreshing and sweet yet sour.

Me too Cookinghut! Thanks for visiting!

Thanks PigPig!

Ooh Cynthia I'd love to try your version!

get onto it Karin! Thanks for stopping by.

Hi Julia -- I know. Can't believe it took me so damn long!

Cheers Gerry! Glad i had them all to myself!

Yes love it Kim -- They just know how to mix flavors so well!

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[cuisinart food processors]

these Thai fish cakes look tasty, I will try to make it at home, thank you for sharing the recipe

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[John]

Check out the thai food at My Thai Beach Restaurant in Capitola http://www.mythaibeach-restaurant-santacruz.com/ . They have some great dishes and recipes to check out.

[Term Papers]

Yes i also love to eat my favorite foods.And It's easy and relatively quick. Once again great photo, making tummy rumble, this is a very different dish, sound delicious, will have to give it a try. i could literally have this recipe on the table in about 30 minutes. And again, you're looking at another budget recipe, especially if most of this is already in your pantry, and i will check out some of the other curry recipes in the main dish section.

[Capitola Thai Restaurant]

Hate it when that happens !