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Where's the Beef? Alternative Burgers
Recipe
45 min

Salmon Burgers with Asparagus and Lemon-Herb Sauce

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Salmon Burgers with Asparagus and Lemon-Herb Sauce

A food processor makes quick work of chopping not just the fish but also our fresh bread crumbs for these salmon burgers.

Time

45 min

Yield

Serves 4

Why This Recipe Works

A food processor makes quick work of chopping not just the fish but also our fresh bread crumbs for these salmon burgers. We use just enough bread and mayonnaise (plus some choice flavorings) to bind the burgers together while letting the salmon still shine through. Broiling the salmon burgers on a sheet pan in the oven allows us to prepare a roasted vegetable side dish in the same pan.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise, divided
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
2 scallions, minced, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper
1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
1 pound skinless salmon fillets, cut into 1‐inch pieces
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons capers, rinsed and minced
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 hamburger buns
4 leaves Bibb or Boston lettuce

Instructions

Cook along with these step-by-step instructions

step 1 imagestep 2 imagestep 3 imagestep 4 image
  1. Combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon parsley, half of scallions, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
  2. Adjust oven rack 4 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Pulse bread in food processor to coarse crumbs, about 4 pulses; transfer to large bowl.
  3. Working in 2 batches, pulse salmon in food processor until coarsely ground, about 4 pulses, transfer to bowl with bread crumbs and toss to combine. Add mustard, remaining scallions, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, capers, remaining 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper to bowl; gently fold into salmon mixture until well combined.
  4. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Divide salmon mixture into 4 equal portions and gently pack into 1-inch-thick patties, about 3 ½ inches wide. Place patties on 1 side of prepared sheet. Toss asparagus with oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and spread in single layer on empty side of sheet.
  5. Broil until burgers are browned on top, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip burgers and asparagus and continue to broil until burgers register 125 degrees (for medium‐rare), and asparagus is lightly browned and tender, 3 to 6 minutes.
    Recipe Tip
    If using wild salmon, which contains less fat, cook the burgers to 120 degrees (for medium-rare). Age affects the flavor of asparagus enormously. For the sweetest taste, look for spears that are bright green and firm, with tightly closed tips.
  6. Transfer salmon burgers and asparagus to platter. Discard foil and arrange buns, cut side up, in single layer on now-empty sheet and broil until lightly browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Top bun bottoms with lettuce, burgers, lemon-herb sauce, and bun tops. Serve with asparagus.

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Salmon Burgers with Asparagus and Lemon-Herb Sauce

Recipe By

Published on August 27, 2026

Time

45 min

Yield

Serves 4

Salmon Burgers with Asparagus and Lemon-Herb Sauce

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise, divided3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided2 scallions, minced, divided1 tablespoon lemon juiceSalt and pepper1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces1 pound skinless salmon fillets, cut into 1‐inch pieces1 tablespoon Dijon mustard2 teaspoons capers, rinsed and minced1 pound asparagus, trimmed1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil4 hamburger buns4 leaves Bibb or Boston lettuce

Instructions

  1. Combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon parsley, half of scallions, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
  2. Adjust oven rack 4 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Pulse bread in food processor to coarse crumbs, about 4 pulses; transfer to large bowl.
  3. Working in 2 batches, pulse salmon in food processor until coarsely ground, about 4 pulses, transfer to bowl with bread crumbs and toss to combine. Add mustard, remaining scallions, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, capers, remaining 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper to bowl; gently fold into salmon mixture until well combined.
  4. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Divide salmon mixture into 4 equal portions and gently pack into 1-inch-thick patties, about 3 ½ inches wide. Place patties on 1 side of prepared sheet. Toss asparagus with oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and spread in single layer on empty side of sheet.
  5. Broil until burgers are browned on top, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip burgers and asparagus and continue to broil until burgers register 125 degrees (for medium‐rare), and asparagus is lightly browned and tender, 3 to 6 minutes.
    Recipe Tip
    If using wild salmon, which contains less fat, cook the burgers to 120 degrees (for medium-rare). Age affects the flavor of asparagus enormously. For the sweetest taste, look for spears that are bright green and firm, with tightly closed tips.
  6. Transfer salmon burgers and asparagus to platter. Discard foil and arrange buns, cut side up, in single layer on now-empty sheet and broil until lightly browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Top bun bottoms with lettuce, burgers, lemon-herb sauce, and bun tops. Serve with asparagus.
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