Chipotle Salmon Burgers

Chipotle Salmon Burgers

Shape the patties up to eight hours in advance, and cook just before serving. Use a grill pan or nonstick skillet to cook them since they may not hold up on a standard grill. If you have a mini food processor, use it to prepare the mayonnaise mixture. You can use regular hamburger buns instead of English muffins.

Mayonnaise:
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mango
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh pineapple
1/8 teaspoon finely grated lime rind

Burgers:
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon finely chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (1 1/4-pound) salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 1-inch pieces
Cooking spray
4 English muffins (whole wheat for me)
4 butter lettuce leaves

1. To prepare mayonnaise, combine first 5 ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl; cover and chill.

2. To prepare burgers, place onions, 1/4 cup cilantro, chile, and juice in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Add salt and salmon; pulse 4 times or until salmon is coarsely ground and mixture is well blended.

3. Divide salmon mixture into 4 equal portions; shape each portion into a (1-inch-thick) patty. Cover and chill 30 minutes.

4. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add patties to pan; cook 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

5. Wipe skillet with paper towels; recoat with cooking spray. Place 2 muffins, cut sides down, in pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly toasted. Repeat procedure with cooking spray and remaining muffins.

6. Place 1 muffin bottom on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 lettuce leaf and 1 patty. Spread about 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture over each patty; place 1 muffin top on each serving.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 burger)

CALORIES 408 (33% from fat); FAT 15g (sat 2.6g,mono 4.5g,poly 6.6g); IRON 3.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 94mg; CALCIUM 124mg; CARBOHYDRATE 28.9g; SODIUM 595mg; PROTEIN 37.4g; FIBER 2.9g

Cooking Light, JUNE 2008
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