Salmon Burgers Recipe

When you think of a burger, images of a beef patty may come to mind, and with good reason. While the U.S. doesn't technically have an official national dish, World Atlas notes that many people consider a classic hamburger to be the quintessential American dish. And, what is the key ingredient of a hamburger? A beef patty! That being said, there's no stopping what we'll cook up and throw in between two buns — from turkey burgers to lamb burgers, it's easy to get creative and veer away from the classics. Recipe developer Ting Dalton knows how to get creative in the kitchen, and she proves that fact with her salmon burgers recipe. "If you're looking for a healthy alternative to beef burgers, or want something a little lighter, these salmon burgers are not only really tasty, but super easy to make," Dalton says of her fish-based recipe.

Not only are these salmon burgers nutritious, but they offer some truly refreshing flavors. "I love these salmon burgers [because] they're really fresh and light to eat and a great way for my kids to enjoy fish," Dalton says, noting that they're also pretty easy to make. The next time you want to make burgers for dinner, consider giving this salmon-based recipe a try — it may just become a huge hit in your household!

For this recipe, you'll need skinless salmon, breadcrumbs, an egg white, chopped green onion, chopped fresh basil, the juice of one lemon, vegetable oil, brioche buns, and some salt and pepper, to taste. "You can use any type of breadcrumbs, just blitz up stale bread," Dalton notes.

Grab your food processor and add in the salmon chunks, breadcrumbs, egg white, lemon juice, green onion, and basil. Pulse these ingredients together until they're combined, but make sure you don't blitz them too much. "You don't want to blitz the salmon so it becomes puree-like, you just want to pulse until all the ingredients are combined," Dalton explains. Finally, add in your salt and pepper — Dalton recommends 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper — and give everything a quick and final blitz.

Using your hands, form the salmon mixture into patties, then place each one onto a parchment-lined plate. You should have enough salmon mixture to form four patties. Now, transfer the patties to the fridge and allow them to chill for at least 30 minutes. "You can make these ahead of time, they will firm up nicely in the fridge overnight," Dalton notes. So, you can get the prep out of the way the day before and simply take the patties out of the fridge when you're ready to cook!

Take the patties out of the fridge and get the oil heating on a nonstick skillet. Place the salmon patties into the skillet and allow them to cook for about 3 minutes on each side. You'll know that the patties are ready when they develop a golden-brown crust — you can also check for an internal temperature of 145 F to be sure.

Alternatively, you can cook these burgers on a grill instead of in a skillet. Dalton advises that you make sure the grill is well-oiled, otherwise the patties will stick and fall apart.

Grab the brioche buns and begin assembling the salmon burgers. Dalton recommends serving these salmon burgers with mayonnaise and lettuce, but you can add on any toppings you'd like. Much like a beef burger, we think these salmon burgers would pair well with a side of french fries, onion rings, or a side salad to keep things light. 

Dalton notes that you can make these salmon patties and freeze them for up to three months. When you're ready to cook, defrost the patties and cook them as normal, or heat them up in the oven. Whichever way you enjoy these burgers, you'll relish in the refreshing, juicy flavors of salmon, lemon, and basil!