Gambian Fish Cake

Name: Gambian Fish Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Gambian
Ingredients: 500g white fish fillet, cooked and flaked; 1 cup bread crumbs; 1 large onion, finely diced; 1 egg, beaten; 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, minced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 tsp salt; Vegetable oil for frying; Lime juice to taste

Fish Cake (FISH kayk)

Spiced Fish Fritters

⏱ Prep Time 30 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 276 kcal

Crispy fried patties of flaked fish mixed with onions, bread crumbs, scotch bonnet, and spices, served as a popular afternoon snack with pepper sauce.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 20.0g

Carbs 22.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ fish ⚠ gluten

Equipment Needed

mixing bowl frying pan fork for flaking

Presentation Guide

Vessel: plate lined with paper

Garnishes: lime wedges, pepper sauce

Accompaniments: salad, tapalapa bread

Ingredients

500g white fish fillet, cooked and flaked
1 cup bread crumbs
1 large onion, finely diced
1 egg, beaten
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
Vegetable oil for frying
Lime juice to taste

Instructions

1
Flake the cooked fish into a large bowl, removing any bones.
2
Add bread crumbs, diced onion, minced Scotch bonnet, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
3
Add beaten egg and lime juice. Combine until the mixture holds together when pressed.
4
Shape into flat round patties about one centimeter thick.
5
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry patties for three minutes per side until golden.
6
Drain on paper towels and serve hot with pepper sauce and lime wedges.

💡

Did You Know?

Gambian fish cakes are a legacy of British colonial influence on local cuisine, but Gambian cooks transformed the bland original with Scotch bonnet and local spices.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

mixing bowl
frying pan
fork for flaking

Garnishing

lime wedges, pepper sauce

Accompaniments

salad, tapalapa bread

The Story Behind Gambian Fish Cake

Gambian fish cakes represent the creative fusion of British colonial cooking techniques with local Gambian ingredients and flavors. While the British brought the concept of fish cakes to The Gambia during the colonial period, local cooks immediately adapted the recipe by adding Scotch bonnet peppers, local spices, and fresh Atlantic fish. The result is a snack that bears little resemblance to its mild British ancestor, showcasing the Gambian talent for absorbing foreign influences and making them unmistakably local.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed afternoon snack 📜 Origins: Colonial-era adaptation

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