Tollef's (Caveman) Salmon Burgers

Sometimes you just have to get your hands dirty. Enter these salmon burgers. All you need is a fillet of salmon, an egg, some panko, and salt and pepper to taste. I can’t take complete credit for someone else’s ideas — Luke had fished with me for 2 years and he made this one night for dinner. The chunks are the key, not boring blender patties where everything is uniform, but moist bites of wholesome salmon held together, so good they can be eaten as is, with a dip of tarter sauce, or on a your favorite foody vehicle into your mouth.

Step 1: Skin the salmon: You can watch me do it here.

Step 2: Mix the salmon with your hands, until it is broken apart in large chunks and smaller pieces have squished out between your fingers. Sort out any bones at this time if your fillet is not de-boned. The ones we sell should all be pin-bone free but the ones we work with straight from the net, of course, have their natural bones intact.

Step 3: Mix in egg and panko until it feels like it could hold together in burger form. You may need to add more panko or egg. We generally find 1 egg per full-size fillet and approx 1/2 cup panko works. Salt and pepper to taste. Why use our hands instead of modern day kitchen implements? Hmmmm…..

Step 4: Form into burgers, and pan fry in melted butter.

Step 5: Enjoy, preferably with friends at a beach potluck around a primitive flame.