Tuna patties with cucumber slices.

Today I had some leftover rice and decided to make an old fashioned favorite, tuna patties. I love them because they are easy to improvise. Like meatloaf, they become whatever is in the fridge, and are deliciously different every time.

I used three cans of albacore drained of their liquid, about a cup of cooked rice and three small potatoes boiled and soft with the skins. Mashed together with two eggs,green onions and orange bell pepper diced finely, I added poultry seasoning and some fresh ground pepper. After chilling for about a half hour I rolled them into patties and coated them in some bread crumbs I made from a half a baguette covered in sesame seeds. They fried up beautifully in some olive oil and butter, but these can be baked also. I just love the crunch you get when you pan fry them.

I still had some pesto left over from last night so I used it to top one patty. The other mysterious sauce is yes, ketchup. Tuna patties can seem so unsophisticated with their ketchup topping, but paired with the pesto and topped with asiago cheese it tasted very gourmet. On the side I sliced some cucumber and drizzled with a honey mustard sauce.