Croquetas de Atún are a delicious and easy-to-make dish. These Mexican tuna patties are a savory blend of canned tuna and crunchy vegetables that are gently pan-fried until golden on the outside and warm and flavorful on the inside. They are budget-friendly and a great option for a quick meal.
Drain the tuna very well to eliminate as much moisture as possible. Draining any excess moisture helps the patties hold their shape during cooking.
Place in a mixing bowl and use a fork or spoon to break up the tuna.
Finely dice the white onion, celery, and jalapeño.
Mix until combined.
Add the eggs and season with salt and pepper.
Mix everything together until the mixture becomes cohesive.
Heat about ¼ cup of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until hot but not smoking. While the oil heats up, begin forming the tuna patties.
Using a ¼ measuring cup, scoop out some of the mixture. Press any excess liquid out.
Transfer tuna to hands and form a patty. Continue until all patties are formed.
Using a spatula carefully lay the patties into the hot pan.
Fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes.
Using a spatula in one hand and another spatula or spoon in the other, carefully flip and continue to cook on the other side until golden brown, about 2-3 more minutes.
Transfer patties onto a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
If at any point you run out of oil in the pan, add more oil between batches. Let the oil heat up once again before continuing to fry.
Makes about 6 tuna patties.
Notes
If you are having trouble keeping the patties from falling apart, consider doing the following:
Be sure to drain the tuna well. This helps the patties hold their shape during cooking.
After combining the ingredients, refrigerate the mixture for 15-20 minutes before shaping the patties. Chilling can make it easier to handle and form the patties.
If you are still having trouble, consider adding ¼ cup of almond flour to the mixture or ¼ cup of breadcrumbs.