Tsukeage (Satsuma Fried Fish Cakes)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 40 min
- Level
- Medium
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Ingredients
- 10
About this dish
Tsukeage is a Kagoshima fried fish cake made by grinding white fish paste with salt until sticky, then incorporating blanched and firmly squeezed cotton tofu, egg, potato starch, local sake, light soy sauce, sugar, and a little oil.
Read more
The seasoned paste is formed into flat rods, squares, or ovals and fried at about 160°C. In Kagoshima, the local name tsukeage is used more often than satsuma-age. It can be eaten warm as a side dish or accompaniment to drinks, cooled for a lunchbox, or added later to simmered dishes. Because the thick paste contains raw fish and egg, browning alone is not enough; the center must cook completely before serving.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Heat
Blanch the cotton tofu in boiling water for 1 minute, drain, and cool.
Wrap it in a clean cloth, squeeze out as much water as possible, and crumble finely.
- 2Season
Add salt to the chilled fish paste and grind in a mortar or food processor for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth and distinctly sticky.
Keep the paste from warming during mixing.
- 3Season
Grind in the crumbled tofu, then add the egg, potato starch, local sake, light soy sauce, sugar, and oil for the paste.
Mix until fully cohesive with no separated liquid.
- 4Step
Lightly moisten or oil your hands and spatula.
Divide the paste into 12 portions, shape into rods, squares, or ovals about 1.5 cm thick, and place on a damp tray.
- 5Finish
Heat the frying oil to 160°C and fry in batches for 5 to 7 minutes, turning once.
When evenly browned and the center of the thickest cake reaches at least 70°C, drain for 2 minutes and divide among four plates.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Chilled fish paste is ground with salt until strongly sticky.
- Finish cue
- Heat the frying oil to 160°C and fry in batches for 5 to 7 minutes, turning once.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official food safety guidance.
This recipe
40min, 10 ingredients
Category median
22min, 7 ingredients
Based on 261 recipes
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