Tuna Patties

Growing up, there were two things my mom made for dinner that I loved the most: tuna and squash patties.

I didn’t even like squash, but when it was in “patty” form, I was in love with it.

Tuna patties dipped in ketchup were the ultimate dinner in my 7-year-old mind. I couldn’t get enough of the tender, flaky, and crispy patties.

It doesn’t sound particularly enticing now, does it? Anytime you use the word “patty” to introduce a food, it doesn’t really whet the whistle. It just sounds like something you flattened to make into a meal.

But tuna patties are so much more than that. They’re innovative, they’re a texture marvel, and above all, they’re delicious.

I’m not sure what my mom used in her tuna patty recipe (I guess I could always ask her, huh?) but this recipe is a pretty darn good one to use. It includes a wide array of flavors: lemon, dijon, hot sauce, and spices. It’s good enough on its own that you don’t even need to dip it into anything.

But if you do, I won’t judge you. That’s what 7-year-old me thought was the pinnacle of cuisine, anyway.

Enjoy!

Tuna Patties

Servings: 4
Time: 15 mins
Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

2 cans tuna, drained

2 tsp. dijon mustard

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lemon

A few squirts of hot sauce

salt & pepper

1 tsp. Cajun seasoning

1 tsp. parsley

1 egg

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together all of the ingredients, adding more breadcrumbs if needed to make the mixture more moldable.
Heat a tablespoon of oil or butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Form tuna mixture into 4 patties.
Cook patties, a few at a time, until golden on one side, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

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