Crispy Rice Salmon Burger

A nice homemade salmon burger may bring to mind a patty that you fry or grill. This idea is a bit different and lighter. It uses already cooked salmon to create a spread, similar to what you would do with canned tuna, and a homemade rice bun.

Whether you want the flavors of sushi on your menu or are just looking for something new and different, you'll love how tasty this sandwich is once assembled. A little heat from wasabi and the mellow avocado on top creates the ideal balance of flavors with a mixture of textures that is appealing and satisfying. I guarantee there is no burger like this on your menu now!

If you plan to use smoked salmon for this, you might also like our cucumber smoked salmon rolls. This is another fast and easy idea that is similar to sushi but just different enough to satisfy.

rice salmon burger cut in half and stacked on wood board

What Should I Serve with My Salmon Burgers?

A traditional "burger" would often be served with fries or chips on the side. Since this is a lighter option with more Asian-inspired flavors, you will want to serve something appropriate on the side.

As shown in the images, this is great with some additional fresh raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber slices, or cherry tomatoes. I really like the salty and sweetness of this cucumber pomegranate salad on the side. It has texture and still is mellow so goes well with the flavors in the burger sauce.

For a non-traditional side, you could add some of this broccoli salad with apple chunks or even a side of this Persian Shirazi salad that is packed with cucumber and herbs.

salmon burger with avocado on white napkin on wire rack

Ingredients

For the rice bun

1 cup cooked white rice (250 g)
1 ½ tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil for frying

For the burger

3.5 ounces cooked salmon (100 g)
1 tablespoon lime juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ avocado
½ cup green onion

For sauce

1 tablespoon light soy sauce
¼ tablespoon lime juice
½ teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon wasabi

salmon burger cut in half on white marble plate with tomatoes

Handy Kitchen Tools

crispy rice bun on salmon burger on wood board next to parsley and tomatoes

How to Make Crispy Rice Buns

Begin by preparing your rice and salmon. I like using leftovers for this so you aren't taking any extra time in the kitchen.

Combine the rice with a heated mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt then stir until it's combined.

white bowl of rice being mixed with vinegar

Prepare a baking sheet or another flat pan with plastic wrap on the bottom then spoon your rice over it.

rice in baking sheet being covered by plastic wrap

Spread out as evenly as possible then cover with a second sheet of plastic wrap.

I used another baking dish the size of the sheet to sit on top of mine. You can also use a skillet, bricks, or even a book that is heavy enough to flatten the rice. Then refrigerate this for 1 hour.

cream baking dish sitting on baking sheet of white rice

Once the rice has been chilled, use a round cookie cutter or bowl to cut out 2 patties per burger.

This batch usually makes 2 burgers. Discard the remaining rice, or form into another patty and cook to have alone.

sheet of rice with single patty cut out of it

Using a deep skillet, heat your preferred frying oil until hot and bubbling.

Cook the rice patties for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until they are nice and golden and crisp then let them drain on a paper towel or napkin.

teal spatula moving browned rice patty out of skillet

How to Make Salmon Burgers

While the patties cool, mix your salmon, salt, and lemon juice together for the spread.

Then whisk together the sauce with soy sauce, lime juice, honey, and wasabi.

square white bowl of sauce with spoon inside

Spread a bit of sauce onto one of the rice patties.

Then top it with salmon spread.

Next, add sliced avocado and green onions.

You can sprinkle with additional salt and lime juice before topping with the second rice patty.

crispy rice salmon burger topped with parsley on black table

Frequently Asked Questions

Is This Salmon Burger Spicy?

While the salmon spread is not spicy, the sauce does have wasabi for extra heat. Since such a small amount is used, I would not consider it spicy, but some may.

You can add additional sauce or even leave the wasabi out if you prefer. If you prefer the salmon spread to have more flavor feel free to add diced chile, cayenne, red pepper flakes, or even a bit of sriracha when mixing it.

What Type of Rice Is Best for Making “Buns”?

When you are making the bun for this salmon burger, you want to use any type of sticky rice. Sticky rice is also called sweet rice or glutinous rice. Sticky rice is different than regular white rice because it has a gluelike texture when it is cooked. Sticky rice is also different than long-grain white rice.

What Toppings Go With Tuna Burgers?

You can use most of the same toppings on a tuna burger that you would use on a traditional burger. You can use lettuce, tomatoes and onions. You can also add avocado, scallions, or sprouts. Mayo is tasty on these salmon burgers and if you want some heat, you can make a sriracha mayonnaise to top it.

Can I Make This Salmon Burger Keto?

It is easy to make this salmon burger keto. You can use cauliflower rice instead of white rice for making these burgers. Make sure to get the water out of the cauliflower rice before frying it. You may also find you need to add an egg to bind the cauliflower rice together before frying.

Can This Be Made with Tuna Instead?

You can easily make this crispy rice salmon burger with tuna. You can use canned or fresh tuna for this. It is best if the fish is fully cooked before mixing together. However, if you have a good fish market and fresh sushi-grade fish available, you can make the spread raw.

two halves of a salmon burger stacked on top of each other on newspaper on table

More Easy Recipes

If you liked this fun dish, then we have more great ideas for you. Sometimes even the most basic ingredients can come together to form a truly new and unique dish. Below are a few more of our favorite fun and easy recipes. Make sure that you bookmark them, print out the recipes, or pin them to Pinterest.

📖 Recipe

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