Salmon Burgers

You’ve probably heard before that fish is a healthy protein you should be eating more of. Fish, salmon specifically, has lots of omega-3s, AKA healthy fats (plus B vitamins, selenium, and more) which are good for the brain; that fact alone makes me want to make more fish, especially for my two-year-old and her growing brain. There are a couple of issues with serving salmon to my family, though: I’m the only one in my family who truly enjoys salmon, but my husband tolerates salmon…if it’s super fresh and wild caught. That is a wonderfully delicious splurge every now and then, but we can’t afford to spend nearly $20 a pound every week on fish.

I realized to resolve the issues of feeding my family salmon, I simply needed to create a delicious salmon dish while remaining budget conscious. It sounds impossible, but it’s not! This recipe uses exponentially cheaper canned salmon, which is then mixed with spices, and pan fried to crispy perfection! Served with a lettuce “bun” and your favorite burger toppings, it is a quick, tasty, and cheap weeknight meal that will satisfy taste buds and tummies alike!

Serves 4-6.

Ingredients:

• 20 oz canned, in water, salmon (I used StarKist boneless, skinless), drained, rinsed, and dried
•  1/2 cup of oat flour (you could also use almond flour to keep it paleo)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise (homemade version here)
• 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried dill
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• Enough olive or avocado oil to pan sear
• Romaine or butter lettuce for “buns”
• Desired burger condiments, such as sugar free ketchup, mayo, ranch, and fresh chopped veggies

Directions:

• Heat a large, oiled skillet over medium heat
• Combine all ingredients (excluding lettuce and condiments) in a medium mixing bowl
• Form the salmon mixture into patties
• Cook, covered 3-4 minutes per side
• Serve on lettuce “buns” with desired condiments
• Leftovers will keep, covered, in fridge – reheat on the stove

A burger always needs his best pal fries, so be sure to make my Oven Baked Fries to go alongside your burgers! While this recipe is about savings, if you happened to splurge and make my Sheet Pan Salmon, you could also use leftover meat in this recipe! For other budget friendly meals, check out my Roasted Chicken with Carrots, Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados, and One Pan Chicken and Shrimp Fajitas. Feed your family well while staying on budget…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!