Tuna teriyaki burgers

Gosh, I can't believe how long ago I made this burger... it's a real wonder I could still find the recipe in my bursting book of recipe notes! You'll have to excuse the photo, too, I blame it on being a rather impromptu dinner, otherwise I'd have to blame it on my lacking skills in the photography AND food styling departments ;-)

I'll have to say that the original idea for this burger is not mine, it's Tom Aikens'... for me this burger exemplifies the impressions I got from my visit to Tom's Kitchen - the menu seemed to consist of staple foods, but with a twist. Every casual restaurant has its burger (and most are horrible, ground meat scraps, cooked to shoe-sole consistency) - tuna burger is something you'd be hard-pressed to find in this country... sadly, although we're surrounded by the sea, great quality fish is not easy to come by, tuna being one of the worst offenders, I have to say, as most people simply don't know how to make it... ask the average person and they'll start explaining how to expertly open a can! And if they can't make it, they won't buy it, of course!

So if you can get your hands on good tuna, please do... you might prefer to eat your tuna au naturel, in a carpaccio, or quickly sear it to have with a refreshing summer salad - I won't be mad at you! But if you have some time on hand and want to try something different with tuna that will knock your socks off, do try this recipe: they're super tasty, low in calories and incredibly good for you! (You never thought you'd hear that in one sentence now, did you?)

Tuna teriyaki burgers
(serves 2-4)

400 g tuna steaks (skinless)
2 spring onions incl. greens (finely chopped)
1 tsp wasabi paste
2 cm ginger root (peeled and grated)
1 small bunch coriander leaves
40 ml teriyaki sauce
1 heaped tbsp honey
1 tsp oil
4 small ciabatta rolls (halved, then toasted or grilled)
sweet chilli sauce (to taste)
1 small cucumber
1 punnet mustard cress
To serve: fries, chipotle mayonnaise, pickled ginger...

Finely chop the tuna steak/s with a VERY sharp knife. Work in the spring onions, wasabi, ginger and coriander. Form 2 or 4 patties according to need (remembering that you will have to adjust the cooking time to fit the size of your burger).

Grill the ciabatta rolls in preparation, keep warm.
Cut the cucumber into long ribbons using a vegetable peeler.
Combine the honey and teriyaki sauce as a marinade.

Heat the oil in a frying pan. When sizzling hot, add the tuna patties and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side, they should still be pink in the middle. As they cook, brush with the teriyaki-honey marinade.

Assemble the ciabatta rolls, cucumber and tuna patties on plates, top with some chilli sauce and cress to your liking.

Comments

[Kit]

It sounds totally delicious - maybe it's time for me to buy wasabi paste and teriyaki sauce at last!

[johanna]

absolutely, kit! if i can say one thing: do NOT buy the powder that you mix into your own paste... it tastes like ground cardboard (not that ive ever ground cardboard, im just imagining!)
instead of the teriyaki, i am sure any good soy sauce would do if you cant locate it!
xx

[Peter]

I love how the teriyaki have the burgers a real beef look. The sauce will also definitely make the tuna moist.

[Jen]

These look amazing. I agree most people don't know how to cook tuna. I love mine seared.

[bellini valli]

Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. It semes like a combination of flavours we just NEED to try.

[Pille]

That sounds rather decadent, Johanna. Mmm, if I would come in June, would you make it again? :P

[johanna]

Absolutely Pille... You name the date - second half please!

[Natalie Hughes]

I made this last night - SO yummy! I just wished that I'd used a tad more wasabi and ginger to make it even spicier. Will post pics on my blog later! Nx

[Natalie Hughes]

P.s. My fishmonger didn't have any tuna because of planes not being able to fly, so I used canned tuna (in spring water) - not ideal but worked OK!

[Alexia]

i must make this one also. this really looks so yummy..

[Sarah, Maison Cupcake]

These look outstanding, I would love to try these. Lovely to meet you on Saturday!

[Natalie Hughes]

I posted the finished product on my blog: http://www.cannedfashion.com/2010/05/dancing-down-corridor.html My photography is dire but it was so yummy - I love your recipes.

[tasteofbeirut]

I love wasabi so i am wanting to give these a try! They look so good! I just don't want them raw.

[johanna]

Hi there,

you could substitute fresh horseradish, or just use a chilli paste of your taste... itll be slightly different, but still offer a pleasant kick!
johanna