Sesame Tuna Burgers With Fried Shoestring Zucchini Recipes

TUNA STEAK BURGERS

Steps:

• For the chipotle mayo: Whisk together the mayonnaise, adobo, parsley, capers, shallots, vinegar, ginger and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the tuna: Preheat a large grill pan on high heat until very hot.
• Drizzle both sides of each tuna steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sear the steaks on each side for about 2 minutes for medium.
• Meanwhile, toast the rolls, spread with a little butter and rub with the garlic.
• Spread both sides of each roll with the chipotle mayo. Then layer on lettuce leaves, a tuna steak and some pickled red onions, jalapenos and Fried Shallots.
• In a medium, heavy-bottomed pot, add the shallots and enough oil to cover by at least 2 inches. Place the pot over medium-low heat and bring to a low simmer, stirring frequently so the shallot rings separate. Cook at a low simmer until most of the bubbles subside and the shallots are browned and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or sieve to remove the shallots, place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season with salt. Let dry at least 1 hour. If the shallots are not completely crispy, dry in the oven at 200 degrees F for another 5 to 10 minutes.

SESAME-CRUSTED TUNA TATAKI

Steps:

• For the fried shallots: Heat 1/2 inch oil in a small skillet over medium; attach a deep-fat thermometer to skillet. When oil shimmers and reaches 320 degrees, carefully add half of shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until shallots are just golden and bubbles stop forming rapidly around them, 2 to 3 minutes. (They will darken and crisp as they cool; do not let darken in oil, or they will taste bitter.) Transfer to paper towels, season with salt, and let stand until cool and crisp. Repeat with remaining shallots.
• For the fried shallots: Heat 1/2 inch oil in a small skillet over medium; attach a deep-fat thermometer to skillet. When oil shimmers and reaches 320 degrees, carefully add half of shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until shallots are just golden and bubbles stop forming rapidly around them, 2 to 3 minutes. (They will darken and crisp as they cool; do not let darken in oil, or they will taste bitter.) Transfer to paper towels, season with salt, and let stand until cool and crisp. Repeat with remaining shallots.
• For the tuna: Pat fish dry. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and sesame seeds. Sprinkle mixture evenly over fish, patting with fingers to adhere; let stand 5 minutes.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high until very hot and wisps of smoke are visible, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tuna and cook, undisturbed, until bottom is golden brown and releases easily from skillet and fish is opaque about 1/4 inch up sides, about 1 minute. Flip fish and cook on second side about 1 minute more. Transfer to a cutting board; let stand a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, oil, and ginger for vinaigrette. Slice fish into scant 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Arrange on a platter for sharing or on 4 individual salad plates. To serve, drizzle vinaigrette evenly over fish and sprinkle with shiso, shallots, bonito, and flaky salt.

VEGGIE TUNA BURGERS

Steps:

• In a greased cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute onion and garlic for 1 minute. Add the zucchini, yellow squash and carrots; saute until tender. Drain and cool to room temperature., In a large bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, tuna, salt and pepper. Add vegetable mixture. Shape into six 3-1/2-in. patties., In same skillet, cook patties in butter until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes on each side. Serve on buns with cheese, lettuce and tomato.

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.

GRILLED TUNA BURGERS WITH SPICY MAYO

Steps:

• Add the sesame oil, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and egg to a large mixing bowl. Mix well, then fold in the tuna, red bell pepper and scallions. Mix well to coat everything evenly. Sprinkle with salt and fold in the panko breadcrumbs to lightly bind everything. Carefully form the mixture into 4 even-size patties and set on a platter. Refrigerate so the patties firm up and hold their shape when cooked, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Coat the pan with a little vegetable oil and cook the tuna patties 3 minutes per side (when done, the patties will be browned on the outside and medium-rare in the center).
• Grill the hamburger buns over high heat until well charred and crispy.
• Serve the tuna burgers slathered with the Spicy Sriracha Mayo, lettuce leaves and tomato slices on the toasted, seeded hamburger buns, paired with the dry Riesling.
• Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, Sriracha, sesame oil, lemon juice, honey and scallions in a large mixing bowl. Stir well to combine, season with salt and pepper and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

ZUCCHINI BURGERS

Steps:

• In a sieve or colander, drain zucchini, squeezing to remove excess liquid. Pat dry. In a small bowl, combine the zucchini, onion, bread crumbs, eggs, salt and cayenne. Gently stir in chopped egg whites., Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Drop batter by scant 2/3 cupfuls into oil; press lightly to flatten. Fry in batches until golden brown on both sides, using remaining oil as needed., Serve on buns with lettuce, tomato and onion.

SHOESTRING ZUCCHINI FRIES

Steps:

• Halve zucchini crosswise, then cut each half lengthwise into 1/8-inch-wide slices and cut slices lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick strips. Toss with salt in a large medium-mesh 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.
• Cook garlic in oil in a 7- to 8-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Discard garlic.
• While garlic is cooking, toss zucchini with flour in a small bowl, then add to oil and fry, turning occasionally with a slotted spoon, until zucchini is golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer zucchini to paper towels to drain. Serve immediately.