Pickled cucumbers and cilantro leaves give these Salmon Burgers with Spicy Hoisin Mayo crunch and an herby freshness. They are absolutely the most flavorful fish burgers you could expect to enjoy. You are going to love these.
I’ve been dreaming about these burgers ever since the men in my household brought home 36 pounds of fresh caught Chinook Salmon. We have mostly enjoyed the salmon baked and grilled, but it was time to make something different.
Fresh salmon in the Pacific Northwest is pretty much a given. I have a freezer full of salmon, so much so I have to get creative with it. I love making Cheesy Hot Salmon Dip as an appetizer and smoking salmon has also become an obsession, just so I can put together this Smoked Salmon Brunch Taco Bar. Both the dip and taco bar are perfect for brunch.
Here are my boys after a day on the river with their freshly caught salmon. Two of these lovely fish came home to us, 18 pounds each. The largest fish caught was in the 25 pound range. They are deboned, filleted and vacuum packed right at the dock. It’s quite convenient.
The Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon offers some of the best salmon fishing in the world, not to mention some of the most beautiful scenery. Boats book up a year in advance, so if you are ever interested in heading out, plan ahead. These guys had a blast and look forward to their next fishing expedition.
Okay, back to the burgers. I wanted some textural crunch, so I pickled some cucumbers to be placed inside the buns. I didn’t make them too sweet because I was using hoisin in the mayo and didn’t want an overall sugary taste. I was looking for a tart crunch.
I used my cast iron skillet to fry the salmon patties. It’s much better at keeping temperature than my regular nonstick pan. They turned out beautiful.
These yummy burgers are ready for the buns.
Try these out for an amazing alternative to regular burgers.
And did you know I make wine? These salmon burgers pair perfectly with my Oregon Pinot Blanc.
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Salmon Burgers with Spicy Hoisin Mayo
Ingredients
Cucumber Pickling
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 25-30 thinly sliced English cucumber slices
Patties
- 3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 Tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger root
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1-1-1/4 pound skinless wild fresh or frozen salmon fillet, finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 sesame seed hamburger buns
- cilantro leaves
Hoisin Mayo
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha
Directions
- For the cucumbers, combine water, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add cucumbers. Let them stand for at least 30 minutes and drain before serving.
- For the mayo, in a small bowl combine mayo, hoisin, lemon juice and Sriracha. Set aside.
- For the patties, combine panko, green onions, cilantro, soy sauce, ginger, lime zest, salmon and egg in a large bowl. Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts, gently shaping each into a 1/2" thick patty. Press a thumb-sized indentation in the center of each patty. (If your patties are not staying together, most likely the fish is not chopped finely enough. Dump the whole mixture onto a cutting board and chop some more.)
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan and swirl to coat. Add patties, cooking for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until desired level of doneness. Remove to a plate.
- Squeeze lemon juice on each patty and place on a toasted bun. Top with hoisin mayo, pickled cucumbers and cilantro leaves.
One year ago from today I made this delicious Cucumber and Hummus Snack to get me through the afternoon. You should give it a try soon!