Tuna patties are a classic Hawaiian local style dish made with eggs, tuna, and some aromatics. All you need is 15 minutes for a perfect quick, easy, and budget friendly meal to feed your family.
What are tuna patties?
Tuna patties or tuna tortas is a Portuguese dish made popular in Hawai’i during the plantation days. The classic Portuguese dish was made using leftover meat and was a way to stretch meals and decrease food waste.
Various ethnicities came to Hawai’i in the late 1800s and early 1900s to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations. At lunch everyone would gather together and share their favorite dishes.
As many other dishes in Hawai’i, this dish developed a local twist on it during the plantation days.
Hawai’i’s take on these fried patties are made with tuna, eggs, and various aromatics. You can make it thick like a burger or on the thinner side like an omelette.
Tuna patty ingredients
Are tuna patties keto?
Tuna is a great source of protein and an awesome keto option.
Are tuna patties gluten free?
This recipe is not gluten free, however omit the panko and you’ve got yourself a quick and easy gluten free dish.
Can this dish be made ahead of time?
The great thing about this dish is it can be made ahead of time. You can mix the tuna ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for a day or two. You can also precook it and store it for 2-3 days.
Can you freeze tuna patties?
The other great thing about this dish is that it is freezer friendly. Store the cooked patties in the freezer for 2-3 months.
How to reheat?
Defrost patties in the refrigerator overnight or defrost in the microwave. The reheat on the stove or wam up in the microwave.
What to serve with these fried tuna patties?
- Steamed, sticky white rice (a Hawai’i favorite)
- Hawaiian style macaroni salad
- Between two pieces of bread for a delicious sandwich
- Keep it low carb and enjoy as a lettuce wrap
Other great seafood dishes
How to make tuna patties?
- To a medium size bowl add tuna, eggs, shoyu, green onion, and garlic. Mix until well combined.
- Next add panko to the mixture and mix until well combined.
- Set a frying pan over medium high heat and add your cooking oil of choice.
- Once the pan has heated up add a scoop of the mixture creating a patty shape. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes on the other side.
- Serve warm and ENJOY!
Tuna Patty Recipe
Equipment
” class=”wprm-recipe-equipment-link”>Aloha Low Sodium Shoyu 24 Oz.
” class=”wprm-recipe-equipment-link”>Aloha Low Sodium Shoyu 24 Oz.Ingredients
Instructions
- To a medium size bowl add tuna, eggs, shoyu, green onion, and garlic. Mix until well combined.
- Next add panko to the mixture and mix until well combined.
- Set a frying pan over medium high heat and add your cooking oil of choice.
- Once the pan has heated up add a scoop of the mixture creating a patty shape. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes on the other side.
- Serve warm and ENJOY!
Nutrition
© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!
Tried this recipe? Tag me on social. I’d love to see and share it.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeping.it.relle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepingitrelle
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/keepingitrelle
Tried and love this recipe? Please give it a rating.
Pin for later.
This is MyHubbyz childhood all-time favorite that My mother-in-law made for them as keiki and also for Our keiki. Mahalo for sharing…
Yup – one of my favorite childhood dishes that my mom made. Mahalo for sharing your recipe – I can’t wait to whip it up.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.
I knew there was more to it than egg and green onion lol. Thank you for the recipe, I’ll be making the mew and better version lol.
Haha. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.
Adding the panko was a game changer. I make these all the time but never used panko
Have never made tuna patties until now, and I’m so glad that I did! This is a great, easy, flavorful recipe that comes together in no time. The ingredients are pantry staples in my house, and this dish will be my go-to when I need a quick meal for my family.
Yay! So awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Such a simple and quick recipe. So inexpensive and so very Ono.
Aloha Valerie. Isn’t it? One of my faves. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.
Aloha! My daughter lives on Molokai and I’m in the mainland. I’m always saying how much I miss the food back home. We share recipes, she gives me the hawaiian recipes and I trade with some soul food recipes from the N.East (Florida). But she told me to look you up online because you had some good recipes. So far I’ve found some ono ones, like the tuna patties. Lol! That’s my hannah buddah days dish. Mom made them all the time for breakfast,lunch, and dinner. And they are ono when cold too. Mahalo for sharing some good memories.
Aloha Linda. So happy to hear. Thanks for sharing.
I made it twice. The first time following your recipe step by step. The second time I substituted gluten free flour for the Panko and added chopped onions and celery. It was delicious both times! This dish reminds me of my grandmother who used to make it for my bento school lunch. Thanks Aunty Relle!
Aloha Colin. So great to hear. Happy you enjoyed it. Have a great day.
I made this for dinner tonight. It was so delicious. I wanted to eat all the patties by myself. Thanks
Aloha Carolyn. Aw so great to hear. Mahalo for sharing. Have a great day.
Great recipe and reminds me of home. I drizzled with Kewpie Mayo and sriracha. So dam good as breakfast, lunch, dinner or just for pupus. Love it.
Ooh sounds great. Thank you for stopping by and sharing.
Aloha Relle!
My Mom is Portuguese. Born on Maui and raised on Oahu. I was born on Oahu, the daughter of a Marine. This is a childhood and family favorite. We do not use Panko, but I really appreciated hearing the history of the dish. This is one dish that is incredibly satisfying when you are just hungry. Pure protein. Along with some white rice and shoyu! (I also like kimchi on the side!) ❤️ thank you for sharing.
Aloha. Great to hear. Mahalo for stopping by.
Relle,
I left a post earlier. Not sure why my post only has three stars. I did not write the recipe to my knowledge. Your recipe is perfect. Not sure how to change that. Sorry about that!
No worries. Looks like it was fixed.