How much cooking time?

55 min — 30 min prep, 25 min cooking.

Lakshadweep Tuna Cutlet (Mappila Spiced Fish-Potato Patty)

Name: Lakshadweep Tuna Cutlet (Mappila Spiced Fish-Potato Patty)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Lakshadweep Indian
Ingredients: 80g Sunflower Oil; 300g Potato; 250g Tuna; 5g coriander; 2g red chilli; 5g salt; 100g onion; 6g green chillies; 1g turmeric root; 60g wheat bread crumbs; 2g coriander powder; 3g garam masala powder; 10g ginger garlic paste; 50g Eggs; 1g Curry Leaves

Authentic Lakshadweep / Mappila tuna cutlet — flaked tuna combined with mashed potato, finely chopped onion, green chilli, ginger-garlic, garam masala, and curry leaves; shaped into oval patties, coated with beaten egg and breadcrumbs, and shallow-fried until deep golden. The Mappila Muslim signature snack of Lakshadweep islands. Served as starter, tea-time snack, or with rice as main. Distinct from Sri Lankan fish cutlet (uses fenugreek-cumin) — Lakshadweep version leads with curry leaves + ginger-garlic.

Time 55 min · Serves 4 · 425 kcal · Lakshadweep

Ingredients

Frying

Sunflower Oil — 80 g (heated)

Main

Potato — 300 g (boiled and mashed)
Tuna — 250 g (flaked)
coriander — 5 g (finely chopped)
red chilli — 2 g (powder)
salt — 5 g (none)
onion — 100 g (finely chopped)
green chillies — 6 g (finely chopped)
turmeric root — 1 g (powder)
wheat bread crumbs — 60 g (dry)
coriander powder — 2 g (powder)
garam masala powder — 3 g (powder)
ginger garlic paste — 10 g (paste)
Eggs — 50 g (beaten)
Curry Leaves — 1 g (finely chopped)

Method

Boil potatoes with skin in salted water until fork-tender (15-18 min). Cool. Peel and roughly mash with a fork (don't make smooth — texture matters).
If using canned tuna, drain thoroughly and squeeze out water. If fresh tuna, steam 5 minutes and flake.
In a large bowl combine the flaked tuna, mashed potato, finely chopped onion, green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, garam masala, turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder, fresh coriander, and salt. Mix thoroughly with hands so everything binds.
Shape into 10-12 oval patties (about 2-inch long, 1/2-inch thick). Set on a tray.
Set up coating station: beaten egg in one shallow bowl, breadcrumbs in another. Dip each patty first in egg (coating fully), then roll in breadcrumbs to coat completely. Set aside.
Heat oil in a wide flat pan to medium (~170°C). Place patties carefully, leaving space between. Shallow-fry 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden-brown. Don't crowd the pan.
Drain on absorbent paper. Serve hot with mint-coriander chutney, lime wedges, or alongside masala chai.

Common questions

How many calories in one plate of Lakshadweep Tuna Cutlet (Mappila Spiced Fish-Potato Patty)?: 425 kcal per plate.
How much cooking time?: 55 min — 30 min prep, 25 min cooking.