Sesame Tuna Burgers With Fried Shoestring Zucchini Recipes

TUNA BURGERS

Steps:

• Cut fish into 1" cubes. Place in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to freezer. Chill protein until very cold (it should feel firm but still give when pressed with your finger), about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place all grinding parts (the stand mixer's grinding attachment, including the dies, or the bowl and blade of the food processor) in the freezer until very cold, at least 15 minutes. Assemble grinder attachment with chilled coarse die. Set a bowl in a large bowl of ice; arrange beneath the attachment to catch ground tuna and keep it cold.
• Combine tuna, scallions, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl. Grind mixture in batches, with mixer on medium speed, and plunge gently to press through grinder. Add mayonnaise, grapeseed or canola oil, and toasted sesame oil to ground tuna mixture. Mix gently just to combine.
• Form into four 1/2"-thick patties. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Grill or pan-fry burgers over medium heat until just cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side.

TUNA BURGERS WITH SESAME AIOLI

Steps:

• Light the grill: Place a chimney starter on the grate of a charcoal grill. Add newspaper in the bottom, then fill with charcoal. Light the newspaper, which will light the charcoal. When the charcoal is mature with ashed-over gray embers (about 30-45 minutes later), remove the grill top and place the charcoal underneath.While you're waiting for the charcoal to heat up, prepare the aioli (Step 2).
• Sesame aioli: In a mixing bowl, whisk vinegar, egg yolk, yuzu kosho, and miso to a thick paste. Add the honey, then slowly whisk in the sesame oil and the grapeseed oil, a little at a time, alternating between the oils to balance the aioli. Finish by whisking in the zest from 1 lime and the crème fraîche. Set aside. (Sesame aioli will keep in the refrigerator 2-3 days.)
• Tuna burgers: Cut the tuna into thin planks, then into strips and chunks. Finish by roughly chopping to a fine dice. (Alternatively, tuna can go in a meat grinder.) Use a Microplane to grate the ginger (with skin), garlic, lime (zest only), and chile (stopping before you get to the seeds); add them to the chopped tuna. Add the cilantro, followed by half of the aioli, and gently mix to combine. Mix until mixture is tight and sticky, about 3-4 minutes. Chill for 35-40 minutes.
• Cook the burgers: Roll the chilled tuna into balls, then gently flatten to just under an inch thick, but don't pack them too tightly. Set patties aside as they're formed. When all the patties are ready to go, season with salt and pepper; grill over medium heat until just cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side.
• Assemble the burgers: Place each burger onto a bun; top with sesame aioli and a slice of tomato just before serving.

AIR-FRYER TUNA BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 350°. In a small bowl, combine first 6 ingredients; fold in tuna. Shape into 4 patties. , In batches, place patties in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until lightly browned, 5-6 minutes per side. Serve on buns. If desired, top with lettuce and tomato.

THAI TUNA BURGERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, thoroughly mix minced tuna, bread crumbs, green onion, carrot, ginger, cilantro, sesame oil, ketchup, soy sauce, cumin, salt, pepper, and egg. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven broiler.
• Form tuna mixture into 6 patties, and place in a broiler pan on top oven rack. Cook, uncovered, 4 minutes per side, or until easily flaked with a fork. Serve on hamburger buns with lettuce and tomato.

SESAME TUNA BURGERS WITH FRIED SHOESTRING ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Toast sesame seeds:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Toast sesame seeds in a shallow baking pan in oven, stirring occasionally, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool completely. Transfer 2 tablespoons seeds to a small bowl and 1/4 cup to grinder. Transfer remaining 3/4 cup to a wide shallow bowl.
• Prepare shoestring zucchini for frying:
• Halve 3 zucchini crosswise, then cut lengthwise into 3/4-inch shoestrings using slicer. Toss with 1 teaspoon salt in a large sieve set over a bowl and drain 30 minutes.
• Squeeze handfuls of zucchini to remove moisture, then roll up in a triple layer of paper towels and squeeze to remove remaining moisture.
• Form burgers:
• Finely chop tuna with a large wet knife (about 3/4-inch pieces). Stir together soy sauce, 2 tablespoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl, then stir in tuna. Divide tuna mixture into 4 portions. Pack 1 portion in a 1/2-cup measure, then invert onto seeds in shallow bowl. Gently press tuna to form a patty 3 1/2 inches in diameter, then coat completely with seeds and transfer to a wax-paper-lined plate. Form, coat, and transfer 3 more burgers in same manner. Chill, covered with plastic wrap, until ready to cook. Discard any sesame seeds remaining in shallow bowl.
• Make sesame mixture:
• Grind seeds that are already in grinder, pulsing until ground to a flour, then add to remaining seeds (2 tablespoons) in small bowl.
• Prepare zucchini:
• Remove julienne attachment from slicer, then cut remaining zucchini lengthwise into 3/4-inch-thick ribbons using slicer. Gently toss with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and set aside (zucchini will wilt and become tender).
• Heat 1 inch oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until thermometer registers 330°F.
• Toss all of shoestring zucchini with half of sesame mixture in another large bowl, then fry in 4 batches, turning occasionally with a slotted spoon, until zucchini are golden, about 2 minutes per batch. (Return oil to 330°F between batches.) Transfer zucchini as fried to paper towels to drain. Toss each batch of zucchini immediately with some of remaining sesame mixture.
• Cook burgers and assemble dish:
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook burgers, turning over once, about 2 minutes total for medium-rare tuna (seeds should be golden brown).
• Drain zucchini ribbons and divide among 4 plates, then top with burgers and fried shoestring zucchini. Serve burgers with additional soy sauce on the side.