Wasabi Salmon Burgers

I think we've gone over this before...I love salmon! I also love wasabi. And oh, do I love the combination of salmon and wasabi! So my jaw just about dropped onto the floor when I stumbled across this recipe for wasabi salmon burgers, which I'm happy to report turned out really great! The combination of Asian-inspired ingredients - soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger - really give the salmon an exquisite taste. If you are wasabi-phobic and fear that this might shoot fireworks through your nose, there is really no need to worry. The powder gives just a hint of the wasabi taste and it is not at all like the stuff you put on your sushi. And to top it off, the salmon patties are extremely low-calorie and healthy, too!

WASABI SALMON BURGERS

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons wasabi powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1 pound salmon fillet, skinned
• 2 scallions, finely chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Directions:

1. Whisk soy sauce, wasabi powder and honey in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
2. With a large chef's knife, chop salmon using quick, even, straight-up-and-down motions (do not rock the knife through the fish or it will turn mushy). Continue chopping, rotating the knife, until you have a mass of roughly 1/4-inch pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Add scallions, egg, ginger and oil; stir to combine. Form the mixture into 4 patties. The mixture will be moist and loose, but holds together nicely once the first side is cooked.
3. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the patties and cook for 4 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until firm and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Spoon the reserved wasabi glaze evenly over the burgers and cook for 15 seconds more. Serve immediately.

Yields: 4 servings

Links:
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/wasabi_salmon_burger.html