Tod Man Pla (Thai Fish Cakes)
Local name: ทอดมันปลา
In short: Springy fish cakes with red curry paste, lime leaf and sliced long beans, fried until golden and served with a sweet-sour cucumber relish. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 270 kcal
Tod man pla are springy, bouncy fish cakes seasoned with red curry paste, lime leaf and sliced long beans. Vendors fry them to order and serve them hot with a sweet, sour cucumber relish dotted with peanuts. The bounce comes from working the fish paste hard until it turns sticky, a step that takes only a few minutes in a food processor and is worth doing properly.
Instructions
- Make the relish first. Simmer the vinegar, sugar, water and salt for 3 minutes until the sugar dissolves. Cool completely, then stir in the cucumber, shallots, chili and peanuts.
- Pat the fish dry and cut it into chunks. Process it with the curry paste, egg, fish sauce, sugar and cornstarch for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down once, until a smooth, sticky paste forms.
- Transfer the paste to a bowl and knead in the beans and lime leaves for about 1 minute, until evenly mixed.
- Wet your hands and shape the paste into about 16 flat cakes, 6 cm (2 1/2 in) wide and 1 cm (1/2 in) thick.
- Heat 5 cm (2 in) of oil in a wok or deep pan to 170°C (340°F). Fry 4 or 5 cakes at a time for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until puffed, deep golden and cooked through (63°C/145°F).
- Drain the cakes on a rack or paper towels. Serve hot, with the relish in small bowls for dipping.
Tips
- Keep the fish and the processor bowl cold. Warm paste turns loose and the cakes fall apart in the oil, so chill the shaped cakes for 15 minutes if your kitchen is warm.
- Shrimp or a mix of fish and shrimp also works. Use a ready-made curry paste you like, and taste a tiny fried piece before shaping all the cakes.
Questions and answers
Can I bake or air-fry tod man pla?
You can air-fry them at 190°C (375°F) for 8 to 10 minutes, brushed with oil. They will be a little drier and less puffy than deep-fried cakes.
Can I make the cakes ahead?
Shape them up to a day ahead and refrigerate on a tray, or freeze them raw for up to 1 month. Fry from chilled, or add a minute from frozen.
Which fish works best?
Any firm, white, mild fish such as cod, snapper or catfish. Oily fish gives a stronger flavor and a softer texture.
How long does it take to make Tod Man Pla (Thai Fish Cakes)?
About 50 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tod Man Pla (Thai Fish Cakes)?
About 270 kcal per serving, with 22 g of protein, 14 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 270 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
