Thai-Style Tuna Burgers with Zesty Ginger-Lemon Aioli
Experience a fusion of flavors with these Thai-inspired tuna burgers, elevating your lunchtime or snacking with a creative twist on traditional patties. Inspired by the renowned Thai fried fish cake known as tod man pla, these burgers feature sushi-quality tuna, allowing you to enjoy them cooked to a perfect medium rare. The refreshing Thai cucumber salad acts as a delightful substitute for pickles, adding a crisp and tangy contrast to the rich tuna. Complementing this dish is a homemade Ginger-Lemon Aioli that's not only zesty but can also be prepared in advance, storing well in your refrigerator for up to three days. Paired with an aromatic golden lager or a soft, off-dry Riesling, these burgers create a satisfying meal that's both delicious and unique.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
26
Ingredients
Ingredients
Kirby cucumbers
2 (thinly sliced)
Red onion
1/4 medium (thinly sliced)
Rice vinegar
3 tablespoons (none)
Sugar
1 tablespoon (none)
Sugar
1 teaspoon (none)
Kosher salt
to taste (none)
Fresh ground pepper
to taste (none)
Fresh ginger
2 teaspoons (finely grated)
Garlic clove
1 (smashed)
Thai chiles or serrano chili
1 (seeded and minced)
Asian fish sauce
2 tablespoons (none)
Cilantro
2 tablespoons (finely chopped)
Basil
1 tablespoon (finely chopped)
Sushi-quality tuna
1.5 lbs (none)
Vegetable oil
1.5 tablespoons (none)
Sesame oil
1.5 teaspoons (none)
Hamburger buns
4 (none)
Dry roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons (finely chopped)
Mayonnaise
1 cup (none)
Soy sauce
2 tablespoons (none)
Cilantro
2 tablespoons (finely chopped)
Scallion tops
2 tablespoons (finely chopped)
Black sesame seeds or toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon (none)
Fresh lemon
1 (zest of)
Fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons (none)
Fresh ground pepper
to taste (none)
Instructions
1
In a medium bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers and red onion. Add rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to the bowl. Season with freshly ground pepper and toss well. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 1 hour to meld the flavors.
2
In a mortar and pestle or medium bowl, create a paste by mashing together the fresh ginger, smashed garlic clove, minced chili, and remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar. Once combined, stir in the fish sauce, chopped cilantro, and basil until evenly distributed.
3
On a clean cutting board, thinly slice the sushi-quality tuna. Stack the slices and cut them into thin matchsticks, then chop the matchsticks into small cubes, aiming for roughly 1/8 inch pieces. Add the chopped tuna to the ginger paste, gently mixing until everything is combined thoroughly.
4
With moistened hands, shape the tuna mixture into four patties, each approximately 1 inch thick. Place the patties on a large plate lined with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for 20 minutes to firm up.
5
Preheat your grill to medium heat. In a small bowl, mix together the vegetable oil and sesame oil. Lightly brush both the tuna patties and the inside of the hamburger buns with this oil mixture.
6
Once the grill is hot, grease the grill grate with a little oil. Grill the tuna burgers for about 6 minutes, turning once in between, until cooked to medium rare. Remove the burgers from the direct heat and place the burger buns cut-side down on the grill, toasting them for about 1 minute.
7
In a separate small bowl, prepare the Ginger-Lemon Aioli by combining mayonnaise, soy sauce, chopped cilantro, scallion tops, black sesame seeds, finely grated ginger, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. Stir until fully blended.
8
Drain the cucumber salad mixture well. Assemble your burger by spreading the Ginger-Lemon Aioli on the toasted sides of the buns. Place the grilled tuna burger on the bottom half, top with the cucumber salad and finely chopped peanuts, then cover with the other half of the bun. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Thai-Style Tuna Burgers?
They are a fusion of flavors that elevate lunchtime or snacking with a creative twist on traditional patties, featuring sushi-quality tuna.
What inspired the Thai-Style Tuna Burgers recipe?
These burgers are inspired by the renowned Thai fried fish cake known as tod man pla.
What quality of tuna is required for this recipe?
The recipe calls for sushi-quality tuna, which allows you to enjoy the burgers cooked to a perfect medium rare.
What serves as a substitute for pickles in this recipe?
A refreshing Thai cucumber salad acts as a crisp and tangy contrast and substitute for traditional pickles.
How long should the Thai cucumber salad sit before serving?
The cucumber and red onion mixture should sit at room temperature for about 1 hour to meld the flavors.
What ingredients are in the Ginger-Lemon Aioli?
The aioli consists of mayonnaise, soy sauce, chopped cilantro, scallion tops, black sesame seeds, finely grated ginger, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice.
Can the Ginger-Lemon Aioli be made ahead of time?
Yes, the aioli can be prepared in advance and stores well in the refrigerator for up to three days.
What drinks pair well with these tuna burgers?
They pair well with an aromatic golden lager or a soft, off-dry Riesling.
How should the tuna be prepared for the patties?
The tuna should be thinly sliced, cut into matchsticks, and then chopped into small cubes of roughly 1/8 inch.
What ingredients make up the ginger paste for the tuna?
The paste is made from fresh ginger, smashed garlic, minced chili, sugar, fish sauce, chopped cilantro, and basil.
How thick should the tuna patties be?
The tuna mixture should be shaped into four patties that are each approximately 1 inch thick.
Why should the tuna patties be refrigerated before grilling?
The patties should be refrigerated for 20 minutes to help them firm up before they are placed on the grill.
What temperature should the grill be set to?
The grill should be preheated to medium heat.
What oil mixture is used for brushing the burgers and buns?
A mixture of vegetable oil and sesame oil is used to brush the patties and the inside of the buns.
How long do you grill the tuna burgers?
Grill the tuna burgers for about 6 minutes in total, turning them once.
What is the recommended doneness for these burgers?
The burgers are best enjoyed when cooked to medium rare.
How long should you toast the hamburger buns?
The buns should be toasted cut-side down on the grill for about 1 minute.
What kind of cucumbers are used for the salad?
The recipe specifies using 2 Kirby cucumbers.
What type of chili can be used in the ginger paste?
You can use either Thai chiles or a serrano chili.
Are there peanuts in this recipe?
Yes, finely chopped dry roasted peanuts are used as a topping during assembly.
What kind of vinegar is used in the cucumber salad?
Rice vinegar is used to dress the cucumber salad.
What type of sesame seeds are used in the aioli?
You can use either black sesame seeds or toasted sesame seeds.
How many burgers does this recipe make?
The recipe is designed to make four tuna patties.
What herbs are used in the tuna burger mixture?
Both chopped cilantro and chopped basil are mixed into the tuna.
What is the total number of ingredients in this recipe?
There are 26 individual ingredients listed for this dish.
What part of the scallion is used in the aioli?
The recipe specifically calls for 2 tablespoons of finely chopped scallion tops.
Is the garlic minced or smashed for the paste?
The garlic clove is smashed before being mashed into a paste with other ingredients.
What is the purpose of using moistened hands when forming patties?
Moistened hands help in shaping the tuna mixture into patties without the fish sticking to your skin.
Should the cucumber salad be drained before assembly?
Yes, the cucumber salad mixture should be drained well before being placed on the burger.
How do you assemble the final tuna burger?
Spread aioli on the buns, place the grilled tuna on the bottom half, top with cucumber salad and peanuts, and cover with the top bun.