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 roughyHaddockBluegillWalleye

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!

Three Bean Baked Beans Winter Root Vegetable Slaw Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes Golden Beats and Brussels Sprouts