How to Cook Asian Salmon Burger Recipe - Soy-Glazed Salmon Burger

In this award winning recipe the salmon burgers are made with a ginger-lime aioli and brushed with a flavorful soy glaze during grilling.

Ingredients:

• Ginger-Lime Aioli:
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Soy Glaze:
• 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 glass chilled Sauvignon Blanc
• Patties:
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 teaspoon Asian hot chile sauce
• 1 1/4 pounds skinless salmon fillets, chopped finely
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
• 2/3 cup fresh bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Other:
• Vegetable oil, for forming the patties and brushing on the grill rack
• 4 sesame buns, split
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and julienned

Preparation:

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To make the aioli, combine the first six ingredients - the mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, minced ginger, freshly squeezed lime juice, and salt - in a bowl and mix well. Reserve 2 tablespoons for the patties and cover and refrigerate the remainder until serving.

To make the glaze, combine the soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar in a small, heavy fire-proof saucepan. Mix the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon Sauvignon Blanc in a small bowl until smooth and add to the soy mixture. Place on the grill rack and stir the mixture until it boils and thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, sip the glass of Sauvignon Blanc, saving the remainder for grilling. Set the glaze aside.

To make the patties, combine the 2 tablespoons aioli with the egg, sour cream, lime juice, and chile sauce (ie. the aioli plus ingredients 12 through 15) in a large bowl and whisk to blend well. Add the salmon, onion, mint, bread crumbs, and salt. Handling the salmon as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Coat your hands with vegetable oil and divide the mixture into 4 equal portions, and form the portions into patties to fit the buns.

When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Recommence sipping the glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Turn the patties and brush the cooked side with soy glaze. Cook, turning and brushing frequently with the glaze, just until opaque throughout, 4 to 5 minutes longer. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, top each bun bottom with an equal portion of the cucumber strips, a patty, and an equal portion of the aioli. Add the bun tops and serve.

This Salmon burger recipe makes 4 burgers

2001 Grand Prize Kristine Snyder, Kihei, Hawaii
Reprinted with permission from Sutter Home Winery