Here’s a fancy fish burger that teams cool home-made pickled cucumber with fresh crispy fish and a tangy tartare. Locally-caught whiting is ideal for this recipe, so hit up your fisher-friends for a fresh catch!
INGREDIENTS
Fish burger
- 1 piece of firm white fish per burger – barramundi or whiting works well
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs or panko crumbs (adjust amount as needed)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup plain flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
- 4 tbsp plain flour
- ½ tsp of salt and pepper
- Lettuce – cos or iceberg
- Burger buns or sourdough bread
Cucumber pickle
- 2 cucumbers (continental or English), sliced longways
- ¼ cup of white vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
Tartare sauce
- ¼ cup of mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp finely chopped red onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
Cucumber pickle
- Thinly slice the cucumber lengthways into long strips.
- In a small bowl, add sugar and vinegar and combine. Add the cucumber strips, cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes.
Tartare
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Set aside in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble your burgers.
Fish burger
- In a small bowl, crack the egg and lightly whisk.
- In a shallow plate (a dinner plate will do the job) sprinkle the breadcrumbs.
- In another shallow plate, sprinkle the flour and mix in the salt and pepper.
- Dip your fish in the flour. Shake off excess.
- Dip your fish in the egg.
- Press the fish fillet into the breadcrumbs so it’s evenly coated on both sides.
- Now shallow fry your fish. In a skillet, add about an inch of oil over a medium/high heat and let it get hot. You’ll know when it’s ready to cook in when you dip the edge of the fish in and it sizzles!
- Add your fish to the pan, cooking on each side until the crumb is brown and crunchy, and the fish is cooked through. Let your fish rest on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
- Drain the liquid from your cucumbers.
- Now it’s time to assemble your burger. Spread the tartare sauce, add your fish fillet, and top with pickled cucumbers and lettuce.
Extra tips
- You can lightly toast your bread/burger buns by brushing them with a mixture of butter and crushed garlic, then toasting under a hot grill. Wraps such as pita or tortilla are also a good alternative.
- Mini versions made with small whiting fillets on bake-at-home dinner rolls make delicious cocktail party canapes.
- You can also bake the fish (or air fry) rather than pan frying it. Depending on the thickness of your fish, bake for approximately 20-25 minutes at 180°c, or until cooked through.
