Salmon burgers are a delicious and healthy meal option that is growing in popularity. With the right preparation and eating technique, you can maximize the enjoyment of your salmon burger experience. In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process to eat a salmon burger like a pro.
Purchase High-Quality Salmon
The foundation of a great salmon burger is, of course, high-quality salmon. When buying salmon, look for fillets or steaks that are bright pink or orange-red in color. This indicates that the salmon contains high levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The flesh should look moist and firm, not dry or mushy. Sustainably-caught wild salmon is generally higher quality than farmed. Salmon burgers are also more flavorful when made with wild salmon varieties like sockeye and king.
Select Complementary Ingredients
In addition to salmon, most salmon burger recipes also incorporate complementary ingredients like breadcrumbs or crackers, eggs or mayonnaise, onions or shallots, lemon, dill, capers, and Worcestershire sauce. Choose ingredients that add extra flavor and moisture while still allowing the salmon to shine. Avoid overhandling or overmixing the burger meat, which can make the texture dense and rubbery.
Cook Thoroughly But Gently
Salmon burgers require a delicate cooking approach to prevent them from drying out or falling apart. Grill, pan fry, or bake them gently over medium-low heat until the center reaches 145°F and the burgers feel firm but still moist. Cooking time will vary based on thickness and cooking method. A one-inch thick patty may take around 4-6 minutes per side if pan-fried. Baste the tops regularly with oil or butter while cooking.
Serve on a Toasted Bun
A quality bun is key for both flavor and texture. Brioche, potato, or whole wheat buns stand up well to the delicate salmon patty. Lightly toasting the bun enhances its texture and flavor. Spread or brush a small amount of condiment like mustard, ketchup, or mayo on the bun to add moisture without overpowering the salmon.
Add Toppings Wisely
Less is often more when it comes to salmon burger toppings. Tartar sauce lemon wedges, sliced avocado arugula, capers, and quick-pickled onions complement the burger without covering up its flavor. Limit wet ingredients like tomato slices that can make the bun soggy.
Use Proper Eating Technique
Biting into a salmon burger incorrectly could cause it to fall apart so use proper technique
- Hold the burger with two hands and take care not to squeeze too hard.
- Take moderate sized bites focusing on the center and working outwards.
- Bite straight down through all layers rather than sliding the burger out of your mouth.
- Close lips gently around the bite to prevent ingredients from falling out.
- Chew thoroughly with mouth closed before swallowing.
Pair with Sides
Good side dishes for salmon burgers include rice, quinoa or couscous to soak up any juices, crunchy slaws or green salads, roasted potatoes or sweet potato fries, and lightly steamed or grilled veggies like asparagus and broccolini.
Enjoy with a Drink
Salmon burgers pair nicely with lighter drinks. For non-alcoholic options, try sparkling water with lemon, unsweetened iced tea, or cold brew coffee. If you want an alcoholic beverage, go for a wheat beer, dry hard cider, or subtle white wine like Pinot Grigio. Avoid heavy drinks that will overpower the salmon’s flavor.
With high-quality ingredients and proper preparation, cooking, plating, and eating technique, you’re sure to have a five-star gourmet experience with your salmon burger. Using this advice will help you eat a salmon burger like a master chef!
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Blitzing fresh wild salmon in a food processor and turning it into a patty seems like a waste to me. Frozen salmon fillets, or even good-quality canned salmon, would be a more appropriate choice.
@ Nancy Cox You probably used hot water to wash out the Cuisinart bowl. When washing out a piece of equipment used with a protein (especially fish / seafood in my experience), use a lot of liquid soap in COLD water for the first wash. I wipe that out with a paper towel, then rinse well and wash again…this time using HOT water with a little soap. Perfectly clean bowls, beaters, processor blades, meat grinder blades, etc., every time, with no odor.
To me, the only reason to grind up a piece of fresh salmon to make burgers out of it, is to add interesting flavors. I usually go in a SE Asian direction, grinding the fish with fresh ginger, lemon grass, scallions, lime zest, and cilantro and seasoning with salt and white pepper. I use panko and egg white as a binder, and cook on a charcoal grill. And serve on a bun with grilled sweet onion and wasabi-ginger-lime mayonnaise.
I added an egg to bind it together since processor wasnt enough and also added chopped parsley and some dill for more flavor. It was not the best.
I made these for dinner and they were delicious. It will be repeated.
Passed on the food processor, chopped and forked manually. Added small dice of half a scallion (using half the amount of wild caught), Chopped fresh dill into mince (~1/8 cup), tablespoon of capers, tsp. of dijon, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup panko crumbs. Mixed by hand to combine. After hand forming into balls, pressed them and allowed to firm up in fridge for about 8 hours. Used cast iron and butter. Served with lemon slices. A treat to eat!Private comments are only visible to you.
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The Best Tasting Salmon Burger Ever! #food #foodie #shorts
FAQ
How do you eat salmon burgers?
(See: these Spicy Salmon Burgers too). Plop these on a bun to make it a true burger (maybe even topped with the slaw!? or just some yogurt, avocado, mayo, lettuce, tomato, whatever). Serve it as a main protein alongside some potatoes or rice, veggies, or a simple salad.
What goes well on a salmon burger?
Salmon burgers pair well with a variety of toppings and sauces. Consider a creamy, tangy sauce like tartar sauce or aioli, or a vibrant green sauce like chimichurri. For a lighter option, lemon-dill yogurt sauce or Greek yogurt with fresh herbs works well.
How to jazz up frozen salmon burgers?
- Tartar sauce: Make a DIY version with creamy mayo and tangy relish.
- Remoulade: Essentially, a decked-out tartar sauce. …
- Aioli: Fancy mayo, which includes wasabi aioli, lemon aioli, sesame soy aioli, and herb aioli.
Do you put cheese in salmon burgers?
Cook your salmon burgers on the stovetop!
Get that skillet nice and warm, add a little oil and pop that patty into the pan! After you flip the burger, add the cheese and cook until it’s just done.