Move Over Mac!

photo by L. Gatto-White

There’s a classy new burger in town that doesn’t ‘clown around’ when it comes to great taste: The Super Salmon Burger! This delicious delicacy is composed of moist, freshly chopped grilled salmon, slathered with spicy wasabi mayo, garnished with tangy lime-pickled onion and luscious slices of grilled avocado topped by crunchy salmon-skin crackling. All this delectable glory is conveyed to your palate nestled in a light and chewy, golden sesame-seed bun. Top that RonaldJ

Super Salmon Burger

Serves 4

Ingredients for burgers: 

• 1 – 1 ¼ lb. boneless salmon fillet with skin
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1/3  cup fresh breadcrumbs (finely crumbled pieces of fresh good quality bread)
• 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 3 sprigs cilantro leaves finely chopped
• ½ tsp. each: sea salt and freshly ground pepper 

Method: 

• For ease of handling, place salmon fillet in the freezer for 15 minutes
• Remove fillet from freezer and inspect to remove any residual bones
• Place salmon skin-side down on a cutting board and with a wide, sharp knife separate fillet from skin (reserve skin)
• Chop salmon coarsely and place in a medium mixing bowl
• Season salmon with salt, pepper, Tabasco  and lemon juice, turn over lightly to coat
• Add 1 tbsp. of the beaten egg, mix gently to combine (either discard remaining egg or reserve in fridge for later use) 
• Combine fresh breadcrumbs and cilantro with salmon mixture, then shape into four equal burgers and chill to firm-up in the fridge for 20 minutes 

Crackling: Roll-up reserved salmon skin into a thin log, with a very sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut log into four approximately equal pieces. Unroll strips, season with salt and pepper then flatten-out (scale-side-up) onto a fry pan or grill pan, cook over

medium- low heat until fat is rendered, turning once to brown on both sides, drain on paper towels. Break each strip in large pieces to garnish burgers.   

To grill burgers:

• Place burgers over medium-high heat, 3-4 minutes on each side, turning once to brown. DO NOT press-down on burgers with spatula. 

Condiments

Lime-pickled onions: Juice of one lime, 8 round, thin slices of red onion, 1 tsp. pickling spice. Place all ingredients in a non-metal bowl, cover and marinate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Wasabi mayo: mix three tbsp. mayonnaise with 1 tbsp. wasabi paste.

Avocado slices: Slice a firm avocado in eight ¼” slices, in a non-metallic bowl 

 marinate the slices in the juice of ½ lime, ¼ tsp. sea salt, ¼ tsp. pepper and ¼  tsp. olive oil. Grill avocado slices on high for 2 minutes, allowing 1 minute per side.

Best Burger Buns

Makes 6 buns

Once you make these easy, light and slightly chewy buns, you’ll never go back to the thick and starchy supermarket variety. These buns also hold together better as well.

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour, regular or organic
• 1 ½ tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. yeast
• ½ cup lukewarm milk
• ¾ cup lukewarm water
• 1 tbsp. sesame seeds (optional)

Method:

• Lightly grease a baking sheet
• Whisk together flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl  and make a well in the centre
• Dissolve yeast in lukewarm milk and pour into the well, sprinkle some of the flour over the yeast mixture to cover
• Leave uncovered in a warm place for 20 mins. 
• Add the warm water to the flour mixture, stirring well to combine
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead lightly for 8-10 minutes until the dough is soft and elastic
• Place a drop of oil into the mixing bowl, add the dough, turning over to cover lightly in oil
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap, leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk
• Turn risen dough out onto floured board and shape into a 12” loaf, do not taper the ends
• Cut loaf into six  2” thick pieces, shape pieces into six buns approximately 4” across
• Place buns on greased baking sheet, spaced well apart, dust tops lightly with flour and cover well with a tea towel, leave to rise in warm place for 30 mins.
• Preheat oven to 450 ,  remove tea towels   (optional - brush or mist buns lightly with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds) and bake risen buns on upper rack for approximately 15 mins. until lightly browned  and firm. Cool on a wire rack before serving.