Even though weve all been living through the sticker shock of rising grocery costs, its still very possible to eat well on a budget, especially when theres a can of tuna in the pantry. No, you dont have to eat tuna sandwiches every day (even though that might not be so bad). Instead, you can easily make a can of tuna into a batch of tuna patties. It only takes a few ingredients to transform standard-issue tuna into a gourmet appetizer or burger. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to get everything to stick together long enough to cook them. If you find that your tuna patties tend to fall apart, you dont need to start over or add more tuna: You just need to add an extra egg to the batch.
Tuna from a can or pouch is usually one of three kinds of fish: albacore, yellowfin, or skipjack, all of which are pretty soft and flaky when theyre packaged. Sometimes, even if you follow a recipe for tuna patties that includes eggs, theyll still fall apart. Adding an extra egg wont change the flavor of your tuna patties, itll simply give you more sticking power when it comes time to cook them.
Use Binding Agents: Incorporate ingredients that act as binding agents, such as eggs, mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, or mashed potatoes. These ingredients help hold the mixture together and prevent it from crumbling. Chill the Mixture: After shaping the fish cakes, refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
Eggs have binding power
Most of the time, when patties are made from animal protein, its typically some sort of uncooked meat. Burger patties, for example, or salmon cakes, are made with raw beef or fish. This is because when meat is uncooked, its easier for them to hold together since the raw proteins glom onto each other and keep the patty sticky. Then, when theyre cooked, the proteins harden and stick together. This isnt the case with tuna patties made with canned tuna because the meat is already cooked. If you were making patties from raw tuna, youd have a little more sticking power from the uncooked proteins, but since the fish is already cooked, they tend to fall apart when you get them on the stove. To fix the problem, you just need to add a little extra raw protein, and the easiest place to get a protein fix is from an egg.
Adding an egg to a batch of tuna patties is a little extra insurance that things will stay together, especially if you tend to measure your other ingredients by eyeballing them. All you have to do is mix the egg with your other ingredients, and when the patty starts to cook, instead of falling apart, it will firm up and come together as the proteins coagulate, according to The Accidental Scientist.
Canned Tuna Patties Recipe!
FAQ
Why are my tuna patties falling apart?
How do I keep my fish patties from falling apart?
Why do my fish cakes fall apart when cooking?
Why are my salmon patties not sticking together?
How do you keep tuna patties from falling apart?
To help keep your tuna patties from falling apart while cooking, be sure to squish them together well, especially at the edges. I start by rolling and pressing them into a ball and then slowly flattening them out. Also when cooking your patties be sure to let them fully brown on one side before flipping them. What should I serve with tuna patties?
How do you cook tuna patties in a frying pan?
In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, egg, bread crumbs, scallions, parsley and pepper until well blended. Shape the mixture into 4 equal patties. Spray a large nonstick skillet (affiliate link) with nonstick cooking spray and set over medium heat. Add the patties and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes each side.
How long do you cook tuna patties?
Cook the patties. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat on the stove. Once the oil is hot, add 4 tuna patties, cook for 4 minutes per side, or until lightly browned and crispy. Add more oil to the skillet, then add the remaining 4 patties and cook for 4 minutes per side.
How do you make healthy tuna patties?
These healthy tuna patties are quick and easy to make, affordable, and tasty. They can be modified and served in a variety of ways too. In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, egg, bread crumbs, scallions, parsley and pepper until well blended. Shape the mixture into 4 equal patties.