Tongan Fish Cakes

Fish cakes are the resourceful heart of Tongan home cooking: leftover cooked fish is flaked, mixed with mashed potato, onion, and a little flour, and fried until golden. Nothing goes to waste, and the result is far more than the sum of its parts. Every family has its own version, and arguments about the right amount of onion are part of the fun.

What makes it great: a crisp golden crust over a tender, mildly fishy interior, with soft potato and sweet onion in every bite. They make perfect party food, lunchbox filling, or a quick lunch with a coconut-lime dip on the side.

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