Eat Beauty: Good for the skin tuna cakes! fight ageing

You know those days when you have no idea what to make for lunch or dinner because you don’t have enough ingredients at home? Like the day before you end up going to the grocery store? Well, today was one of those days for me. I was planning on heading out to the market, but the weather had other plans. So, there I was staring at my pantry and wondering what I could do with a few cans of tuna and a head of lettuce in the fridge. That is healthy for my skin.

And then it dawned upon me – tuna cakes! Mini tuna cakes to be precise…since they are definitely cuter! 

Tuna cakes may not be as good as crab cakes, but like all other “cakes” they are easy to prepare and you can always experiment with different flavors  This week I took some inspiration from Cajun cooking and added corn and creole seasoning to the dish. If you haven’t had creole seasoning before, it’s just a blend of spices such as onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, paprika or cayenne, black pepper and ground celery seed. It’s a great way to add a flavor boost to any dish and can also be used in soups and stews. If you’re wondering where to find it, it’s usually available at most large grocery stores, but you can also order it online from Spice Sage. 

Now we all need some greens, so the tuna cakes are paired with a light lettuce and red onion salad with a lime juice dressing. To top it all off, there’s also with a creamy creole yogurt sauce. Doesn't that sound delicious? Here’s how to make it…..

Ingredients
serves 2


Tuna Cakes
~ 200 g canned tuna, drained
1/3 cup frozen corn, thawed
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1 tsp creole seasoning
pinch of chili powder
1/2 cup wholewheat breadcrumbs


Yogurt Sauce
1/3 cup probiotic yogurt
1/3 tsp creole seasoning


Salad
2 cups lettuce, roughly torn
1 small red onion, sliced thinly
1/4 lime, juiced
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil


salt and pepper to taste




Step 1: Mix the tuna, corn, egg, creole seasoning, garlic, breadcrumbs and salt and pepper. Form small patties by hand and set aside. 

Step 2: Heat a little oil in a frying pan on medium-low heat (enough to cover the pan). Add the tuna cakes to the pan once the oil is hot. Shallow fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain the tuna cakes on a paper towel once done. 

Step 3: Mix the yogurt, creole seasoning and salt to make the yogurt sauce. 

Step 4: Mix the olive oil, lime juice and salt/pepper in a medium sized bowl. Add the torn lettuce and onion slices. Toss well. 

Step 5: Plate the dish by laying the tuna cakes on the salad. Top with the yogurt sauce.

If you’re looking for a good lunch item to fight ageing (yup, you heard me right), this is the perfect recipe for you. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these ingredient credentials…

Tuna: Thanks to tuna’s rich content in omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, niacin and vitamin B6, tuna can help prevent inflammation and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. 

Garlic: Garlic contains compounds that keep inflammation at bay. One ounce of garlic contains about 15% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, which is responsible for stimulating collagen production and boosting the effectiveness of other antioxidants! 

Red Onion: Don’t discount onions as just a flavor enhancer in your recipes! Onions contain vitamin C, quercetin and isothiocyanates, which help calm inflammation. These antioxidants also protect against the degradation of collagen – the support structure in your skin. If you have acne, onions also contain chromium that will help your fight off those pesky zits! 

Probiotic yogurt: If you too, suffer from skin sensitivities, try adding probiotic-rich foods to your diet. New studies are demonstrating probiotics’ ability to strengthen the skin barrier, making it more resilient against potential irritants. 

Lime juice: Lime juice is loaded with Vitamin C which is responsible for collagen formation. Vitamin C, of course is also a stellar antioxidant that prevents free radical damage to the skin.