Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Mun Pla)
Crispy outside. Bouncy inside. Absolutely addictive. Loaded with red curry paste, kaffir lime, and green beans — nothing like Western fish cakes.
Appetizers · Prep 20 min · Cook 15 min · Serves 4 · Medium · By Tina · Published
Ingredients
- 500 g white fish fillets
- 2 tbsp red curry paste
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 4 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
- 50 g green beans, thinly sliced
- 1 egg
🐟 Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Mun Pla)
These are nothing like Western fish cakes. They’re bouncy, fragrant, and completely addictive.
The first time I had real Thai fish cakes — at a tiny street stall in Chiang Mai — I couldn’t believe how different they were from anything I’d tried before. Springy, aromatic, packed with red curry paste and kaffir lime... I ordered three more plates.
🧭 About This Dish
Tod Mun Pla is one of Thailand’s most beloved appetizers. The secret to that signature bouncy texture is pounding the fish into a paste and working it until it becomes elastic. Combined with curry paste and shredded green beans, every bite is a flavour bomb.
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make the fish paste: Blend white fish fillets into a smooth paste in a food processor. Add red curry paste, fish sauce, sugar, and egg. Pulse until combined.
2. Add the texture: Fold in finely sliced green beans and torn kaffir lime leaves by hand. These give every bite that crunch and fragrance.
3. Shape the cakes: With wet hands, form small patties about 1cm thick. They’ll puff up slightly when frying.
4. Fry until golden: Shallow fry in oil at 170°C for 3–4 minutes per side until deeply golden and crispy.
5. Serve with sweet chili dipping sauce: The classic pairing — sweet, sour, and a little spicy.
💡 Tips from My Kitchen
The bouncier the better — really work that fish paste. The more you mix, the springier the texture.
Kaffir lime leaves are non-negotiable — they give that unmistakable Thai fragrance.
These are incredible as party food — make a double batch, they’ll disappear fast.
📌 Save & Share
Tag @sugarspicelab with your tod mun! ❤️
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