Salmon Burgers and Creamy Fennel Cabbage Slaw

This recipe and photos were provided by Sally Roeckell of Table and Dish and were originally published at 365Barrington.com.

If you have just had a house full of guests for Easter weekend and you want an easy to make dinner that doesn’t compromise taste or nutrition, this is it. Salmon burgers and a simple, fresh, creamy fennel cabbage slaw.

Salmon burgers can be made with fresh, raw salmon, fresh, cooked salmon, or canned salmon (but try not to choose door number three). My favorite way to make salmon burgers is using fresh, cooked salmon. Mainly because it’s a great way to use yesterday’s leftover salmon. I promise you, these are in a far better league than the frozen patties you can buy. You can make these and freeze them for another day and they will still better than frozen salmon patties. I’m all for convenience and I have bought those frozen salmon burgers before. That’s why I can tell you, without a doubt, that fresh, salmon burgers win every time.

If you are not using leftover salmon, simply poach your salmon fillet in a pocket of tin foil or parchment paper for about 10-15 minutes at 375°F and you have cooked salmon ready to use for your burgers. Let it cool a bit so you can handle it to form patties … and be sure to remove the skin.

Why not make this recipe with raw salmon? Well, with pre-cooked salmon, I don’t have to worry about making sure the big, juicy salmon burgers are cooked through the center.  I just have to fry it up until it’s the perfect shade of golden and serve it. It’s just a little easier than the guess-and-test method that would be necessary when making burgers from raw salmon. If you like it that way better, go for it. Why not canned? Well…because it’s canned.

These delicious “burgers” can be served on a bed of creamy slaw or tucked neatly into a whole grain bun. (Ok, any bun you like will work, but I’m trying to keep it somewhat healthy). We like it with a few slices of avocado, onion, lettuce or some of the creamy slaw. Or you can simply serve your salmon burger sans bread right on top of a pile of this fresh green slaw. The creamy crunchy slaw goes really well with the texture and flavor of the salmon. The slaw is made with yogurt, not mayonnaise, so it’s even lighter in taste and calories – bonus!

Salmon Burgers + Slaw

Ingredients

Salmon Burgers

• 16 ounces cooked salmon
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (a combination of parsley, chives and dill)
• juice of 1/2 lemon juice
• olive oil for pan-frying
• whole-grain rolls for serving as a sandwich

Cabbage Slaw

• 1 head green cabbage, finely shredded
• 1/2 head fennel, finely sliced
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp honey
• 2-3 tablespoons white distilled vinegar (more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• a drizzle of olive oil

Method

For the Salmon Burgers

1. Flake the salmon apart. Mix all burger ingredients together and form into 3 large or 4 medium patties.
2. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet (I use a cast-iron frying pan).
3. Fry the burgers for a few minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.
4. Place on a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt.

For the Slaw

1. Mix all slaw ingredients together. Taste and adjust.
2. Refrigerate until ready to use.

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