How to Tuna fish! And other Sweet (potato) Things

Scratching around for something healthy to make for dinner the other night, I came across a lone tin of tuna in the cupboard. Hmm I thought... must be something interesting I can do with this. Tuna burgers I thought. And as my mind went into creative overdrive I thought I'd use up the last two sweet potatoes and that poor cucumber that was sickening in the fridge. Little did I know that after I created  this simple but veritable feast, and sharing the photo on Facebook, that my Facebook friends would be falling over themselves for the burger recipe! 

I have had so many requests for the recipe that I can do nothing but comply. I have to admit that this was a recipe I made up as I went along so you will have to bear with me on this. I served the burgers with sweet potato fries and cucumber raita.

Tuna Burgers

(made about 8 burgers)

1 tin tuna, drained

1 medium courgette, grated

1 onion, grated

1 half red pepper, seeded and chopped

1 tbsp minced garlic

1/4 cup fresh coriander

1 egg

1 tspn ground cumin

salt and pepper, to taste

2-3 tbspn matzo meal (or breadcrumbs  - Panko is superb if you have them!)

1. Grate the courgette and set aside.

2. Chuck the tuna, onion, red pepper, garlic and coriander into a food processor and whizz together. Add egg and whizz till combined. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the courgette, cumin, salt and pepper and just enough matzo meal (or breadcrumbs) to bind it all together.

3. Form into patties.

4. Heat about an inch of oil in a frying pan on a medium flame. If the burger is a bit sticky you can roll it in more matzo meal (or breadcrumbs).

5 fry on each side for about 4-5 minutes and drain on kitchen roll.

Sweet Potato Fries

2 medium sweet potatoes

olive oil

1/2 tspn cumin

1/2 tspn garlic powder

salt and pepper

1. Scrub the potatoes well and then peel.

2. Trim off the ends of the sweet potato and slice a bit off the bottom so it will lay flat. Cut into discs and then slice those into fries. If you get long pieces cut these in half.

3. Soak the fries in a bowl of cold water for an hour. The soak will remove the starch from the fries which will then help the fries to crisp. 

4. Rinse the fries under water then towel dry.

5. In a clean bowl, mix olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

6. Add the fries to this mixture and toss til coated.

7. Arrange fries on a baking sheet and bake on M7/220C/425F for about 25-30 mins. Shuffle fries half way thru to ensure even baking.

Cucumber raita

A couple of dollops of plain yoghurt 

grated cucumber

Grate the cucumber and combine with the yoghurt. I like to throw in some Chaat Masala for a bit of flavour.