Elevate Your Salmon Burgers with Creative Toppings

Salmon burgers are a delicious and healthy meal, but they can get boring if you rely on the same old toppings every time. By exploring creative new topping ideas, you can take your salmon burgers from basic to gourmet. In this article, we’ll look at over 15 tempting topping suggestions to inspire your next salmon burger night.

The Classics

The usual salmon burger toppings you’ll see are lettuce, tomato onion, pickles, and condiments like mustard mayo or tartar sauce. These classic choices complement the flavor of salmon perfectly. For a simple sandwich, lettuce and tomato with a schmear of mustard is all you need.

To jazz it up slightly, get creative with the lettuce and tomato Try peppery arugula or bitter radicchio instead of regular lettuce Mix heirloom tomatoes with the beefsteak variety. Quick pickles made from Persian cucumbers or julienned carrots lend zing. And don’t forget the onions! Red onion slivers, grilled onions, or tangy pickled onions all work nicely.

Going Green

Leafy greens beyond lettuce make excellent toppings that add color, crunch and nutrients Try baby kale or spinach leaves, shredded Brussels sprouts or napa cabbage, pea shoots or watercress Herbs also bring fresh flavor; basil, cilantro, dill, mint and parsley all pair well with salmon.

For extra nutrition and texture, get your greens on with a slaw topping. Creamy coleslaw is classic, but try switching up the base with broccoli slaw, kohlrabi slaw or shredded zucchini and carrots for more veggie power.

Creamy Avocado

Buttery avocado is a perfect partner for salmon’s richness. Sliced or mashed, it adds creaminess and healthy fats. To make your avocado spread taste even better, crumble some queso fresco or feta cheese into it.

Charred Veggies

Use a grill pan to add char to vegetables like mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and zucchini. The caramelized flavor and crispy edges take the burgers to the next level. Also, try different combinations of vegetables. For example, zucchini and red onion go well together.

Sautéed Mushrooms

Meaty mushrooms like cremini, shiitake or oyster lend an umami punch. Sauté them in olive oil or butter before piling them on your burger. Add a dash of fresh thyme or rosemary to complement the earthiness.

Grilled Fruit

Fruit is an unexpected but delicious burger topping. Grilled pineapple or peaches lend a charred sweetness that contrasts the savory salmon. Try mango, plum or figs too. For convenience, use storebought grilled fruit.

Guacamole

Creamy, fresh guacamole adds cool flavor and texture. Make your own or use storebought to save time. For variety, try swapping in mashed edamame instead of avocado.

Salsa

Any salsa adds festive flavor, whether mango, pineapple, corn or black bean salsa. For the simplest option, go with pico de gallo using chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juice.

Cheese, Please

Melty cheese amps up the richness. Cheddar, Swiss, pepper jack, provolone and feta all melt nicely. For an Italian flair, try fresh mozzarella or burrata.

Crunchy Cruciferous Veggies

Raw cruciferous veggies add filling crunch and nutrients. Try shredded cabbage, Brussels sprouts or kale, julienned jicama and thinly sliced radishes. Toss the veggies in a tart vinaigrette to liven them up.

Fermented Foods

A spoonful of sauerkraut, kimchi or pickle relish provides probiotic benefits along with tang and crunch.

Smoky Eggplant

For a meaty texture, try grilled Japanese eggplant. Brush thick rounds with olive oil and grill until supple and smoky. The rich flavor enhances the salmon perfectly.

Crispy Shiitake Bacon

Meatless shiitake “bacon” is easy to make by tossing sliced mushrooms with soy sauce, maple syrup and smoked paprika and baking until crispy. The umami flavor punches up your burger.

Caramelized Onions

Sweet, deeply caramelized onions are a classic burger topping for good reason. Their jammy flavor perfectly complements the salmon. Quick caramelized onions made in the microwave speed up the process.

Tangy Condiments

Flavorful condiments like remoulade sauce, chimichurri, harissa mayo, honey mustard or chipotle ranch dress up basic burgers beautifully.

Now Top It Off

With so many tempting topping options for salmon burgers, you could enjoy a different combination every night of the week! Playing around with creative toppings keeps salmon burgers interesting. Try grilled pineapple slices one night, smeared avocado the next, and smoky eggplant after that. The varieties are endless, so get creative with your salmon burger toppings and enjoy!