Ahi Tuna Burgers

I'm not a Tuna Melt person.  Somehow there's a bitterness there I don't like.  When thinking about lunch or dinner today, the ahi tuna steaks in the freezer came to mind, but no cheese please. . .  Then I remembered how good panko bread crumbs, with the right seasonings and a bit of parmesan cheese can be together. . .  Hmmm. . . tuna burgers?  Yup, I was off and running!  Well, not running, but walking to the kitchen to gather up ingredients to create my version of Ahi Tuna Burgers.

8oz. ahi tuna steaks

1 sm-med onion

¼ green pepper

2 stalks celery

1 egg

¼c half and half
1t lemon pepper

1t chili lime seasoning

1c panko breadcrumbs

3T grated parmesan cheese

Chop the tuna when it's thawed to the popsicle stage.  Put it into a medium size glass bowl, with folded paper towels underneath, to absorb the liquid.  Let stand until tuna is completely thawed, then remove paper towels.  Add finely chopped vegetables and the remaining ingredients.  Season only if using plain breadcrumbs.

Form patties and brown over medium heat in a little butter.  Cook about 5 minutes on each side.  You could also put this in a small buttered loaf pan and bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes, for an ahi tuna meatloaf.  This amount of ingredients creates 5 - 4oz.  servings - at about 140 calories each.  It was really good drizzled with a little of my sriracha mayonnaise. . .

Be Bold. . .Be Creative!  Happy Cooking! . . . Lin