Tuna Burger Recipe
Mix things up this month with a light and flavorful Ahi Tuna Burger Recipe topped with sweet Grilled Pineapple. Big island flavor stacked high on a bun!
Tuna Burger Recipe – Hawaiian Style!
Hawaii is my happy place. Particularly the island of Kauai.
Lt. Dan and I took what we thought would be our last big vacation, right before our first child was born. It’s funny to me now, that we thought we wouldn’t be able to travel again for years. We determined we had better go somewhere spectacular before it was too late.
Well, we were wrong about travel opportunities, but we were right about Hawaii being special.
Every time we visit, we spend a hefty portion of our time trying to figure out a way we could move there and make a living.
It’s the weather… The lush green mountains and tropical plants, the pristine beaches, the vibrant produce at every corner market, the hidden waterfalls, the fresh seafood, the slow-paced island lifestyle, the outdoor activities, and of course, the “aloha spirit.”
Living in Hawaii is a dream that may, or may not come true.
Yet every time I think of Hawaii my heart smiles. I remember all of the little things that make it magical and I want to relive those things again and again.
Ahi Tuna Burgers
So to finish off Burger Month, I offer you a burger with Aloha Spirit, Ahi Tuna Burgers with Grilled Pineapple.
The foundation of this tuna burger recipe is the poke-inspired ahi tuna patties. I diced Ahi tuna and mixed it as if I were making Hawaiian Poke. Then I added an egg and some bread crumbs so that the poke would hold together as patties.
This Ahi Tuna Burger Recipe is delicate. The patties aren’t grilling patties, but need to be cooked on a flat surface to hold their shape. It’s important not to overcook them, since poke is a raw dish. I like to cook them so that the outside of each patty is seared, but the inside is still a little pink.
To complete this Hawaii-inspired Ahi Tuna Burgers Recipe with Grilled Pineapple, I whipped up a quick hoisin mustard and topped them with grilled pineapple and fresh avocado slices.
My Tuna Burger Recipe offers a mouthful of paradise in each bite!
Ingredients For Tuna Burgers
For the Ahi Tuna Patties –
- Ahi tuna steaks diced
- Soy sauce
- Light mayonnaise (or full-fat mayo)
- Sriracha chili sauce
- Egg
- Chopped scallions, greens and whites
- Fresh ginger
- Sesame seeds
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Sesame oil for cooking
For the Hoisin Mustard –
- Dijon mustard
- Hoisin sauce
- Honey or sugar
For the Tuna Burgers –
- Hamburger buns
- Slices fresh pineapple, round
- Ripe avocado sliced
- Butter lettuce leaves
How to Make Tuna Burgers
- Mix all the ingredients for the ahi tuna patties in a large bowl. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and press into patties. Preheat the griddle pan (or a skillet) to medium heat. Once it’s very hot, brush the surface with sesame oil and place the patties on the hot surface. Sear the patties for 3 minutes per side, so the interior ahi chunks are still a little pink. Flip carefully. These patties are fragile.
- Then immediately grill or sear the pineapple slices for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Whisk together the ingredients for the hoisin mustard. Then spread the mustard on the buns and stack the burgers with lettuce, ahi tuna patties, grilled pineapple, and fresh avocado slices. Serve warm!
Ahi Tuna Burgers Recipe Variations
- Not a fan of tuna? Make these burgers with fresh salmon instead!
- Swap the toppings with slaw, shredded red cabbage, sliced tomato, pickled onions, and/or wasabi mayo!
- Go Gluten-Free! These burgers can be made GF. Be sure to swap the buns, breadcrumbs, and soy sauce with your favorite gluten-free options.
More Burger Recipes
- Frito Chili Cheeseburger
- Mediterranean Burger
- Szechuan Beef Burger
- Aloha BBQ Sliders ~ Tidy Mom
- Crab Cake Sliders ~ The Comfort of Cooking
- Poblano Avocado Turkey Burger ~ Ruffles & Truffles
Ahi Tuna Burger Recipe
Ingredients
For the Ahi Tuna Patties:
- 2 pounds ahi tuna steaks diced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup chopped scallions, greens and whites
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- Sesame oil for cooking
For the Hoisin Mustard:
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
For the Tuna Burgers:
- 6 hamburger buns
- 6 slices fresh pineapple, round
- 1 ripe avocado sliced
- 6 leaves butter lettuce
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the ahi tuna patties in a large bowl. Divide into 6 equal portions and press into patties. Preheat the griddle (or a skillet) to medium heat. Once it’s very hot, brush the surface with sesame oil and place the patties on the hot surface. Sear the patties for 3 minutes per side, so the interior ahi chunks are still a little pink. Flip carefully. These patties are fragile.
- Then immediately grill or sear the pineapple slices for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Whisk together the ingredients for the hoisin mustard. Then spread the mustard on the buns and stack the burgers with lettuce, ahi tuna patties, grilled pineapple, and fresh avocado slices. Serve warm!
These burgers are perfection! I’m not a big tuna fan, personally, but my husband would adore these!
What a cool twist on Hawaiian flavors! I’ve never been to Hawaii, but would absolutely love to go. You can see people’s eyes light up whenever they talk about vacationing there. It sounds lovely!
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I really need to make these burgers! They do look fragile though…probably best on the griddle and not on a grill?
I cannot tell you how wonderful this burger looks to me right now. Someday I will get my butt to Hawaii, on my Bucket List!
These burgers are Soooo Wonderful. I would like to move to Hawaii right now…
I love the addition of grilled pineapple here. Tasty flavors going on!
Girl, you know what gets me goin! Wow… just wow. I’m such a sucker for a tuna burger. The pineapple is such a great touch.
This looks fabulous! I love the Hawaiian flavors!
With the pineapple, perfection.
Beautiful! Love the grilled pineapple and avocado on top.
These look so wonderful! Love that you grilled the pineapple!!
Ahi tuna burgers topped with grilled pineapples?! Oh my!!
Sommer, I have got to try these!! They look amazing!!
Stunning!
omg love these!!
I want a bite! Wait, make that a whole burger :)
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