Mini Potato and Tuna Burger
I’m starting a series of recipes for food items that can be cooked and stored in volume for packing future speedy bento boxes! This first one is for Mini Potato Tuna Burgers as featured in this bento lunch.
These cute little burgers are easy to make and can be frozen in quantities and not just for bento use! They’re so yummy that you’ll find yourself munching on them right out of the pan. 
But these are not restricted for bento…cook them for any meal and the smaller size makes for healthy after-school snacks too!
Mini Potato Tuna Burgers
Ingredients:
1 can of water packed tuna ( I use albacore)
1/4 cup potato starch ( Japanese type is called katakuriko)
1/2 cup of mashed skinless cooked potato
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 tsp puréed or minced ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp or more of shoyu
salt and pepper to taste
Another 1 tsp sesame oil for cooking is optional
Preparation:
Drain liquids from the canned tuna and thoroughly mix all ingredients together making sure that the tuna chunks have been broken up and the mix is smooth. Form small even sized patties (about 2-3 inches in diameter) and set aside. I was able to form a dozen smaller patties with this single recipe.
Heat up a non-stick skillet on med-high . When the pan is hot you can either cook with or without more sesame oil depending on your own personal tastes. For this batch I skipped the additional sesame flavor.
Cook on one side until browned then flip over. I like to cover the pan to keep the heat in and speed up the cooking.
These mini burgers have a more of a dumpling texture and you could almost call them “lazy oyaki” or “easy oyaki“. ” Oyaki ” being the traditional Japanese dumpling- bun that stuffed with a filling of your choice then grilled. I skipped the stuffing part and just mixed the whole thing together.
Let them cool completely before packing in your bento box or freeze them in a single layer first then wrap them up for adding to your bento-stash.
If you’re like Saba Man and eat them as soon as they’re cooked…make a quick sauce of 2 parts shoyu and 1 part rice vinegar for dipping. You can also pack a small squeeze bottle of the same for your bento too!
Oh… the bento at the top of the article contains besides the mini burgers… saffron rice, watermelon radish sunomono, stir-fried broccoli,carrots and tomatoes.
Wow – they look so cute
. I also made something similar recently, and called it fish cakes. But it’s actually a great idea to use them as burgers 
Hi Cooking Rookie! Fish cakes is a marvelous name too, but on this blog the term “fish cake” may get confused with “kamaboko”. LOL
So pretty – looks delicious!
Thanks kristy! Saba Man loved these and requested another batch to munch today.
beautiful bento as usual – love the floral motif. and this recipe looks like a great way to use up leftover mashed taters with staple pantry items, freezable and oh-so-tasty!! thanks for sharing!
Hi gamene! Thanks! I’m forcing spring to make an appearance! Take that Mr. Winter!!!! You make a great point about the ingredients being a pantry staple! It’s a “go-to” recipe! Thanks again.
Yum yum! I so want to eat these Tuna burgers right now! Spectacular colour arrangement
)
Hi Bento Box! Thanks for your nice comments! I like pink and now Saba Man does… tee hee…
Yummo! Everything looks delish and the recipe sounds awesome.
Beautiful bento!
Hi Susan, thank you..”yummo” is high praise!
Another yummo from me! I adore potatoes and fish combined in any combo, so these crispy little burgers have my number!
Hi Jenn, Uh huh! Fish and taters… a wining combo for sure. This would be good with salmon too!
Wow, those look great! I’m definitely giving the recipe a try. Is it essential to remove the skin of the potato or is it more a matter of preference?
Hi Maria, Thank you. The skins can be left on but just make sure to cut it up. I like potato skins but not their texture for this particular recipe. Go for it!
Yes, a very pretty bento. I like the potato burger idea! And they freeze well too? Can’t beat that!
Hi Lyndsey, Thank you!
Thank’s for the recipe! Sounds delicious ^^
Your bento looks great, thanks of the watermelon radish flowers ^.^
Hi Lil’chan, Thank you and I hope you will try out the recipe for your own beautiful bentos!
hi i love your blog and the recipes too …my children love the idea to eat veggie food in that shape is fun thank for the ideas and recipes, im living in argentina and only find some food thank for all hug Mariana