You're One Canned Fish Away From Making A Fish Burger

Burgers can make for a quick and filling meal, but only if you happen to have a package of ground meat all thawed and ready to go when the craving strikes. What if we were to tell you that you can make a great-tasting, budget-friendly burger from a shelf-stable ingredient? No, we're not talking about some weird dehydrated soy crumbles or anything like that. In fact, we're talking about something you may already have in the pantry: a can of fish.

In order to turn that fish into a burger, you're also going to need a few more staple items: breadcrumbs, eggs, mayonnaise, and seasonings. Drain the fish, mix it with the breadcrumbs, and add some chopped onions or herbs if you'd like. Use a raw egg and a few spoonfuls of mayonnaise as a binder, then form the mixture into burgers. Fry them for a few minutes on each side until they're crispy and golden in color. Voilà! You now have some delicious, homemade fish burgers — and they probably only took you 15 to 20 minutes to put together and cook.

Once you've made a fish burger from canned fish, you can plop it onto a bun and slather on some tartar sauce. For simple additions, consider some fresh lettuce and tomato, and don't forget a squeeze of lemon juice to complement the fish. You can also go bun-free and rest the burger on a bed of lettuce for a more elegant (and lower-carb) presentation.

What type of fish you should use for a homemade fish burger depends on what canned fish you have in your pantry, as this recipe is easily customized. Salmon patties can be quite tasty, while tuna patties are another great option. You could also opt to use canned crab and make your own SpongeBob-style Krabby Patty — but don't share your secret recipe with Plankton! Or, you could even try super-nutritious sardine burgers. Not a fan of fish burgers? For another alternative burger option, mix breadcrumbs, eggs, and mayonnaise with canned chicken to make a chicken burger. Top this burger with hot sauce and blue cheese, and you have a Buffalo chicken burger! With a little bit of imagination and a well-stocked pantry, you can make a decent, easy dinner even when you have "nothing" (except eggs and mayo) in the fridge.