Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Salmon is always a popular seafood option, but sometimes baked salmon fillets feel boring and uninspired. Spice things up, literally, with chipotle salmon burgers. Juicy, southwest style salmon burgers get a smokey spice from chipotles in adobo, and cooled off by a vibrant cilantro lime aioli. Talk about a flavor explosion in your mouth!
Benefits of Salmon
I fell (more) in love with salmon during my brief stint trying the keto diet. While this recipe is not keto, the health benefits of salmon do not only apply to someone on a low-carb diet. I try to cook a meal with salmon at least once a week or so, not only because it is so tasty, but because it makes me feel good! (And helps counteract all the pizza we eat!).
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which means it is great for high blood pressure and counteracting high cholesterol. The good fats packed in salmon are also great for weight loss and burning fat. Salmon is also protein rich, with less saturated fat than other sources of protein like red meat. Don’t forget the beauty benefits! Fatty acids found in salmon are also great for your skin, helping retain moisture so you can glow! So when it’s time to whip up burgers for lunch, definitely consider using salmon instead of that usual ground beef.
Chipotle Salmon Burgers
While salmon burgers are growing in popularity at burger joints lately, I’m sure to some it seems a little daunting to make from scratch. In fact, though, they are actually quite simple to make. Start with 1lb of salmon (for 4 burgers). Remove the skin and any pin bones, and cut into large chunks. Drop it in a food processor with 1/2 cup of cilantro, 1/4 cup of red onion, 2 garlic cloves, and 1/2 a can of chipotles in adobo and pulse. The goal is to get all of the ingredients to break down into small pieces, just short of a paste.
Add in 2 eggs, 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Mix to combine and form the mix into 4 equal sized patties. Fry over medium high heat in a pan with olive oil, about 5 minutes per side, or until a golden brown crust has formed. If you are worried about the inside cooking through, you can cover with a lid after the first flip, or place the patties in a 350° oven for an additional 5 minutes after frying.
Cilantro Lime Aioli
While the patties cook, it’s time to make the aioli. And by aioli, I just mean a doctored up mayo. The chipotles add a good bit of spice to the patties, so a cooling element is need to brighten the burgers up.
Super simple! Take one cup of mayo, and mix in 1/4 of lime juice and 3 tbsp of finely chopped cilantro. That’s it! The fatty mayo and bright lime juice will help cut through the richness and spice of the burgers. Place your patties on a toasted bun, top with the mayo, and any other topping your heart desires and serve! Other topping ideas include:
- Lettuce
- Red Onions
- Jalapenos
- Pickled Onions
- Tomatoes
- Cotija Cheese
- Crispy Fried Onions/Jalapenos
Need Other Burger Ideas?
Chipotle Salmon Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon fillets skin removed
- ½ cup cilantro
- ¼ cup red onion roughly chopped
- 3 oz chipotles in adobo about half a can
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil for frying
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 3 tbsp cilantro chopped
- 4 hamburger buns toasted
For Garnish
- romaine or bibb lettuce
- red onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cut salmon into large chunks. Add to a food processor with cilantro, onion, chipotles, and garlic. Pulse until the everything has broken down into small pieces. Not quite a paste, but smaller pieces than a dice.
- Add eggs, bread crumbs and salt and pepper to the salmon, mix to incorporate.
- Form the salmon mixture into 4 equal sized patties and fry over medium high heat in a pan with olive oil, about 5 minutes per side, or until a golden brown crust has formed. If you are worried about the inside cooking through, you can cover with a lid after the first flip, or place the patties in a 350° oven for an additional 5 minutes after frying.
- Meanwhile, mix together mayo, cilantro and lime juice, and toast hamburger buns.
- To assemble, top the bottom bun with a pattie, cilantro mayo, lettuce, onions (and other toppings of choice), and the top bun. Serve immediately
