Cod Fish Cakes

Flavor cooked cod fillets with Parmesan cheese and garlic to create our cod cakes. They’re a tasty way to use up leftover fish or mashed potatoes.

A platter of Cod Fish Cakes for a fish dinner recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Preparation time: 40 minutes. Here is a delicious way to use up leftover fish or mashed potatoes. I made my first cod cakes after catching my first lingcod (which isn't actually cod, by the way, but it still worked fine).

Cod Fish Cakes

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

What Is Cod?

Cod is a large fish usually found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It can weigh up to 200 pounds and live up to 20 years. The flesh of a cod is lean and full of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Could I Use Other Fish?

If you don't have cod, any white fish like sole or pollock will do. Commenters have had success with these fish:

  • White roughy
  • Haddock
  • Bluegill
  • Walleye

To make cakes out of canned fish, try our recipes for salmon patties, tuna patties, or crab cakes.

Adapt This Recipe for Leftover Fish or Potatoes

Leftover white fish works for this recipe. Flake a few cups of the cooked fish, removing any bones.

Leftover mashed potatoes will also work for this recipe, standing in for the cooked and mashed potatoes in the instructions.

Making Cod Cakes With Salt Cod 

Cooks in many parts of the world use salt cod to make cod cakes. It can work in this recipe if you pull a lot of the salt out by soaking it in water for a day or two to rehydrate and pull out much of the salt. Change the water three to four times a day during the process.

For more detailed instructions on soaking salt cod, see our Bacalao Guisado (Salt Cod Stew) recipe. Eliminate or reduce the salt in the recipe if you use salt cod.

Tips for Prepping Cod Cakes in Advance

Refrigerate prepared, tightly covered cod cakes for up to one day in advance.

Freeze the shaped, uncooked cakes by laying them on a parchment-lined tray. Freeze the cakes until they're firm, then wrap individual cakes well in plastic. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frying. Or fry them in their frozen state, cooking them at a low temperature for a longer time so the entire cake cooks evenly through.

Wondering What to Serve With Cod Cakes? Try These Recipes!

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Cod Fish Cakes

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters

  • 1 pound cod fillets

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten

  • Extra virgin olive oil, or canola oil

Method

  1. Prepare the potatoes:

    Boil and mash the potatoes; set them aside.

    Mashed cooked potatoes in a bowl to make Cod Fish Cakes

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

  2. Simmer and flake the fish:

    Simmer the cod fillets covered in water until it flakes easily, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and flake the cod with a fork. Be sure to remove all bones.

    Poached cod in a pot

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    A plate of mashed cooked cod for Cod Fish Cakes

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Flakes of cooked cod on a plate to make a Cod Fish Cakes recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

  3. Mix the fish, potatoes, and remaining ingredients together:

    Mix the flaked fish, the potatoes, and the rest of the ingredients together well by hand. If the mixture is too crumbly, add another egg. If too sticky, add some more breadcrumbs.

    Ingredients for Cod Fish Cakes mixed in a bowl with a hand ready to form the cakes

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

  4. Form the mixture into cakes and fry:

    Form the mixture into cakes and fry them over medium-high heat in a skillet coated with oil until nicely browned on one side, then flip them over and continue to cook until well browned on the other side.

    Uncooked Cod Fish Cakes on a sheet pan

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Cod Fish Cakes cooking in a pan

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Cod Fish Cakes on a plate with a fork

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
261 Calories
6g Fat
26g Carbs
24g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 261
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 105mg 35%
Sodium 610mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 9mg 46%
Calcium 85mg 7%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 584mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.