How to make Mediterranean tuna burgers (6 Steps)

This recipe calls for the best quality cut of tuna you can find: Bluefin or Bigeye first, Yellowfin or Albacore second. Fresh tuna's similarity to beef is really emphasized when you make "hamburgers" out of it. Like beef burgers, tuna burgers should be cooked rare to medium-rare. Unlike beef burgers, the relatively tasteless tuna burgers are better when infused with strong flavorings. This flavorful dish goes in a Mediterranean direction with the addition of aioli, a garlic mayonnaise. Makes four tuna burgers.

Things You'll Need

Spice grinder
Sharp French knife
Cutting board
Large skillet big enough to cook 4 burgers
Large mixing bowl
Wooden spoon
Small mixing bowl
Wide metal spatula
FOR THE AIOLI:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 cloves of garlic, finely minced

Salt and pepper to taste
Dash of lemon juice
FOR THE TUNA BURGERS:
2 lbs. tuna steaks or fillets, fresh (if available)
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
1 tsp. fennel seeds
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil for coating the skillet
4 sesame rolls or English muffins, toasted

Instructions

In a food processor, or by hand in a mixing bowl with a whisk, combine all of the ingredients for the aioli. Place in a covered dish in the refrigerator until needed.
Trim the tuna, removing and discarding all skin, gristle and any dark meat. Chop by hand until tuna is the texture of coarse hamburger meat. Chop it as evenly as possible. Place in the large bowl.
Grind the fennel seeds in the spice grinder. Add the ground fennel with the thyme, mustard, salt and pepper in the small bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Add the mustard mixture to the chopped tuna, and blend together well with the wooden spoon. Divide the tuna equally into four balls, and gently flatten them into 1-inch patties.
Heat the skillet over a moderately high heat. Coat the bottom of the skillet with a thin film of olive oil. When oil is hot, cook patties about two minutes per side, until nice and golden brown on the outside and rare to medium-rare on the inside.
Remove from the skillet and serve on the toasted sesame rolls or toasted English muffins. Slather the aioli on top of each burger. Serve immediately.

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