Homemade Salmon Burgers

Yep, its burger season! With Memorial Day this weekend, grills all over the country are firing up. Does this mean you need to give up on your diet? What if you don't eat red meat?

My favorite alternative is Homemade Salmon Burgers. So much easier (and healthier) than you might think. Salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. And, it may be an option if you or your guests are vegetarian.

This is no fish tale! You may never go back to boring burgers again...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds fresh salmon filets (remove skin and any bones you can see), but into small, 1-2 inch pieces
4 green peppers, sliced
1/2 T. fresh dill, chopped
salt and pepper
rolls or buns for 4 people
any condiments you may enjoy: sliced avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, tartar sauce
1/2 fresh lemon (optional)

Directions:

In a food processor, pulse the salmon a few times until coarsely chopped. Add the green onions, dill, and about 1/4-1/2 t. each salt and pepper. Continue pulsing until combined.

Preheat your grill to medium-high. Use oil or cooking spray to lubricate before grilling.

Take the salmon mixture and form into 4 patties, about 3/4 inch thick. Grill on each side about 3-4 minutes. Toast the rolls or buns, if desired. Top with freshly squeezed lemon juice, sliced veggies (tomatoes, lettuce or avocado), and any sauces you enjoy.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Bass With Tomato and Leeks

Anytime I think about cooking a healthy dinner, my mind tells me that its too much work. Intuitively, I know that its not true. Especially with a meal like Bass with Tomato and Leeks, where you can have your meal on the table in less than 1/2 hour. Please excuse your inner critic from the dinner table!

Fish is healthy and eco-friendly. I especially love this recipe because I can get healthy fish oils as well as vegetables all in one.

Ingredients:

4 six-once filets of striped bass or tilapia
1 slice bread, torn into small pieces
1 t. chopped fresh rosemary
2 T. olive oil
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 leeks, washed and sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 c. cherry tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a food processor or blender, combine the bread, rosemary and 1 T. of oil.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Place filets on the sheet. Spread the mustard on each filet and then sprinkle with the prepared bread crumbs. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

While the fish is in the oven, heat 1 T. oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, garlic and 1/2 c. watetr. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Pour over the prepared fish filets.

Serve with fresh, light salad and rolls, if you wish.

Breaded Grilled Salmon

For many people, Friday means fish. Especially today, which is Good Friday for Christians. My kids love this recipe for Breaded Grilled Salmon, even though fresh fish is not normally at the top of the list of their favorite foods.

If you love other meats, you can easily transform this recipe for pork, chicken and even beef. Its faster than a marinade, but adds some great flavor.

I like to refer to it as "poor man's shake and bake."

Ingredients:

2 salmon filets (skin on is fine)
2 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. seasoning salt
1/4 c. olive oil

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and seasoning salt. Pour onto a large platter and spread evenly. In another large platter, place olive oil.

Take fish fillets and place into olive oil, on both sides, first, then dredge in bread crumbs mixture.

Broil or grill for 6-8 minutes on each side

Enjoy!!

Another alternative for other meats is to combine bread crumbs and Parmesan Cheese in a 2:1 ratio. We did this for pork chops earlier this week. Really tasty!

Happy Good Friday and enjoy your fish fillets!

Smoked Salmon Hash with Dill Sauce

Easter is on Sunday! What will you be serving at your house? I'm thinking Smoked Salmon Hash with Dill Sauce. Its the perfect brunch recipe. Of course, being from the Pacific Northwest, any dish with salmon is almost perfect. But even if you don't live near large bodies of water, you can find some pretty good smoked salmon at the store or online.

Ingredients:

2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 T. olive oil
1 red bell pepper, cored and cut into small bits
1/2 medium yellow onion, julienne cut
1/2 pound smoked wild-caught salmon, flaked and picked free of bones
6 T. fresh dill, minced (divided)
1/2 c. sour cream
1 t. fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, boil potatoes in 2-3 cups water for about 7 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together sour cream, lemon juice and 3 T of the dill. Season with salt and pepper.

Stir fry onion and pepper in the olive oil. Add potatoes and cook for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are golden and crispy. Add salmon and remaining dill to the mixture and cook for 2 more minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer mixture to plates and drizzle with sour cream sauce.

Now you can focus on more important things, like egg hunts and getting some great photos of your Easter Sunday!