Chipotle Salmon Burger Is Vitamin-Packed, Won't Break the Bank
Every week, we’re celebrating cookbooks that serve up tasty recipes with your health in mind. Below, we’ve chosen an excerpt from celebrity chef Candice Kumai’s new tome Clean Green Eats (Harper Wave), which focuses on new ideas for plant-based dishes packed with nutrients, but still finds a place for sensible portions of “meat as a treat.” Try making the recipes at home and let us know what you think!
Photograph by Evi Abeler
Chipotle Salmon Burger
Serves 4; yields about 12 mini-burger patties
This delicious omega-3, brain-boosting salmon burger is the tastiest way to have it all. Made from simple canned salmon (nothing fancy!), this is a budget-friendly way to enjoy all of the nutritional benefits salmon has to offer. The Creamy Chive Sauce is like a more-delicious version of tartar sauce — and pairs perfectly with any type of fish.
2 tablespoons olive oil mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons reduced- sodium tamari soy sauce
½ red bell pepper, seeded, ribs removed, and finely chopped
½ small red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped (omit for kids)
½ cup panko bread crumbs
½ cup flaxseed meal
1 large egg, beaten
Three 5- to 6- ounce cans high- quality boneless and skinless wild salmon, drained
2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil
For Serving
1 package regular or gluten- free mini-slider buns, toasted
12 small kale leaves, tough ribs or stems removed, torn
½ red onion, thinly sliced
Creamy Chive Sauce
½ cup Greek yogurt
¼ cup fresh chives, finely sliced on the diagonal
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lime juice, and soy sauce. Add the bell pepper, onion, and chopped chipotle peppers, and stir until well combined. Fold in the panko, flaxseed, and beaten egg. Gently fold in the salmon.
Divide the mixture into six equal parts and, using clean hands, shape each into a ball. Pat each ball into 2½-inch-wide and ¾-inch- thick burger patties. Place the patties into an airtight container and cover.
Heat a medium grill pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook the patties, in batches, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently turn them over and brown the opposite sides for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the cooked patties to a paper towel–lined plate while you prepare the sauce.
In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, chives, and Worcestershire sauce.
To serve, place each burger on a toasted bun, smear on a dollop of the sauce, and layer on the kale and thinly sliced red onion.
Clean Green Tip: Instead of making burgers, you can shape the salmon mixture into mini–salmon cakes for bite- size party appetizers. Top with a little dollop of creamy chive sauce and watch your guests devour these bites!
