Tuna Burgers
Canned tuna patties bound with egg and oats, flavoured with celery, red onion, capers and Dijon and pan-fried until golden. Four servings in 23 minutes.
Don't Make These Mistakes
Press the drained tuna in a sieve with the back of a spoon; wet tuna makes soft patties.
If the patties are too soft to shape, stir in a tablespoon more oats.
Slide a thin spatula under each patty and turn it in one movement.
Making Tuna Burgers
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Drain the tuna well, pressing it in a sieve, and tip it into a bowl. Add the egg, oats, celery, onion, mustard, lemon juice, capers, parsley and pepper and mix gently until combined.
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Shape into 4 patties, about 2 cm thick, and chill for 10 minutes.
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Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 4 minutes on each side, until golden and heated through.
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Serve in the lettuce leaves.
Why the Method Works
Tuna burgers fall apart in the pan unless the mixture is dry and the patties are cold. Dry and cold is the rule. Drain the tuna well, press it in a sieve and add only as much binder as it needs, then chill the shaped patties for 10 minutes before they hit the pan. The chilling firms them so they hold together when you turn them.
Egg and oats bind the mixture, and celery, red onion, capers and Dijon mustard give it flavour and a little crunch, so the burgers taste of more than canned tuna. Mix it gently so the tuna keeps some texture. Cook the patties in a hot, lightly oiled non-stick pan, 4 minutes a side. Turn them only once.
Lettuce wraps keep it light. Serve the burgers in butter lettuce leaves, or on a whole-wheat bun if you like, with a little extra mustard. The mixture keeps in the fridge for a day before cooking, and cooked patties keep for 2 days.
After You've Cooked It
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a non-stick pan.
Serving Tuna Burgers
- A green salad
- Sliced tomatoes
- A spoonful of mustard
Common Questions About Tuna Burgers
How long does Tuna Burgers take to make?
About 23 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 8 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Tuna Burgers?
Press the drained tuna in a sieve with the back of a spoon; wet tuna makes soft patties. If the patties are too soft to shape, stir in a tablespoon more oats. Slide a thin spatula under each patty and turn it in one movement.
What should I serve with Tuna Burgers?
A green salad; Sliced tomatoes; A spoonful of mustard.
How should Tuna Burgers be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a non-stick pan.
Is Tuna Burgers suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is weight-loss friendly, high-protein, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Tuna Burgers?
About 219 kcal per serving, with 30 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate and 7 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
The Numbers per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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