Fish & Seafood
Pan Fried Salmon Burgers with Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Aioli

Description
These moist and spicy burgers are from Zov Karamardian, the chef and owner of Zov's Bistro in Tustin, California.
Ingredients
- Avocado Aioli
- 3 Hass avocados
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons chopped basil
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 seeded serrano chile or unseeded jalapeño, minced
- 1 small shallot, minced
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salmon Burgers and Cabbage Slaw
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless center-cut salmon fillet, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons sambal oelek (see Note) or hot sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium shallot, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, divided
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon chopped mint, divided
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Japanese panko or plain dry bread crumbs, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 small green cabbage, shredded
- 1 small cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and julienned
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 6 onion rolls, split and toasted
Directions
- Make the aioli
- In a medium bowl, coarsely mash the avocados with a fork. Fold in the sour cream, basil, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, chile, and shallot. Season with salt and pepper.
- Make the burgers and slaw
- In a food processor, pulse the chopped salmon about 10 times, or until minced. Scrape the salmon into a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the fish sauce, sambal oelek, garlic, shallot, ginger, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, 1 tablespoon of the mint, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Add the mixture to the salmon along with 1 cup of the panko. Fold the salmon mixture together with a rubber spatula. With lightly oiled hands, pat the mixture into 6 burgers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the lemon and lime juice with the vinegar. Add the sugar; stir until dissolved. Add the cabbage, cucumber, onion, red pepper, and the remaining 1/2 cup each of cilantro and mint and toss well.
- In a shallow bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup of panko with the sesame seeds. Pat the mixture onto the salmon burgers.
- In each of 2 large nonstick skillets, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering. Add 3 salmon burgers to each skillet and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until well browned but barely cooked in the center, about 7 minutes.
- Spread the Avocado Aioli on the rolls. Add the salmon burgers, top with the slaw, close the sandwiches and serve.