Char’s Sesame Crusted Tilapia Burgers with Avocado Ginger Mash & Pickled Onions

If you’re a fan of fish burgers these sesame crusted tilapia burgers will be your gang’s new go-to. They are loaded with flavour, texture and are super simple to recreate = weeknight supper done right! Bonus: these burgers are baked = no messy pan frying (or clean up) required.

Avocado Ginger Mash Tip: double recipe and save half to slather on sandwiches, bagels and/or as a veggie or nacho dip!

Char’s Pickled Onions

• 1 cup (250 mL) white (or cider) vinegar
• ⅓ cup (75 mL) granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1 large red onion, very thinly sliced

Directions

1. Stir together vinegar, sugar and salt in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat.
2. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved (should only take a few minutes). Remove from heat.
3. Place sliced onions in a shallow dish and pour vinegar mixture over onions.
4. Let stand for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight (stirring once or twice).
5. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Avocado Ginger Mash

• 2 ripe avocados, peeled and mashed
• ¼ cup (60 mL) roughly chopped fresh mint
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) minced fresh ginger
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) hot sauce
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Finely grated zest of one lime

1. Stir together all ingredients until well combined. Set aside.

Burgers

• 1 lbs (500 g) boneless skinless tilapia
• ½ cup (125 mL) coarse bread crumbs (fine bread crumbs will work too – I just prefer a bit larger crumb)
• ½ cup (125 m) finely chopped green onion
• 2 tsp (10 mL) sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp (2 mL) each of salt and onion powder
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) pepper
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) toasted sesame seeds
• 4 brioche buns, cut in half and lightly toasted.

1. Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C).
2. Cut tilapia in chunks. Place in a food processor fitted with a metal blade and pulse until roughly chopped (so it resembles flaked tuna).
3. Place in a large bowl and add remaining burger ingredients (except for sesame seeds). Using clean hands, mix ingredients until very well combined and form into 4 even size patties.
4. Place burgers on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pat sesame seeds evenly on both sides of each burger. Bake in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes (or until internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C)) flipping once, halfway, during baking.
5. Remove from the oven and let stand for about 5 minutes before assembling.
6. Place burgers on buns and slather evenly with avocado mash and top with pickled onions.
7. Makes 4 burgers.

Delicious & Doable Tip:

~ not a fan of tilapia? Use boneless skinless salmon instead.
~ add ¼ cup (60 mL) chopped fresh cilantro to avocado mash

Where to Find ‘Delicious & Doable’ Across Ontario

Find ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ on Amazon (click here) or at one of the below retailers across Ontario:

Type Books ~ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Lemonberry ~ 2 Orchard Heights Blvd #10, Aurora
Fanfare Books ~ 92 Ontario St, Stratford
Casual Gourmet ~ 1027 King Street West, Hamilton
The Post Office – 18 Front St. N, Thorold
Chef’s Paradise ~ 1314 Bank Street, Ottawa
Gift It Grey ~ 19492 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay
Creative Cook ~ 35 Manitoba St, Bracebridge
Muskoka Brewery ~ 1964 Muskoka Beach Rd, Bracebridge
Stephen’s Butcher Shop ~ 8 Harris St, Port Carling
Hilltop Interiors ~ 1150 ON-141, Rosseau
Cedar Canoe Books ~ 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Clark’s On Main ~ 1090 Main Street, Dorset
Bigley’s Cottage Kitchen ~ 39 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon
Farmer’s Daughter – 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Kitchen Bits ~ 1390 Kingsway, Greater Sudbury