Shrimp Burger with Spiced Patties and Fresh Toppings Recipe
This Shrimp Burger recipe combines fresh, seasoned shrimp patties cooked to perfection in a skillet or on the grill, served on a bun with your choice of classic sauces. With bold spices like smoked paprika, cumin, and a hint of cayenne, these burgers offer a flavorful, light alternative to traditional beef burgers, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Shrimp Patties
- 1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 medium white onion, roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon fennel seed (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
To Serve
- Burger buns
- Lettuce leaves
- Tomato slices
- Onion slices
- Mustard sauce, tartar sauce, or remoulade
Instructions
- Prepare Shrimp: Remove all shells from the shrimp, rinse them thoroughly under cold water, and then pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Make Patty Mixture: In a food processor, pulse the onion and garlic several times until finely minced. Add the shrimp, fresh parsley, kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, fennel seed if using, cumin, and cayenne pepper if using. Pulse 15 to 20 times until the mixture is ground but not pureed, ensuring a good texture for the burgers.
- Form Patties: Shape the shrimp mixture into 4 even patties. Place them on a plate or in a sealed container and refrigerate for 15 minutes to allow the patties to firm up and bind better during cooking.
- Cook Patties: Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp patties 4 to 5 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned and reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Alternatively, brush the patties lightly with olive oil and grill them over direct medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side until fully cooked.
- Serve Burger: Assemble the shrimp burger on burger buns with lettuce, tomato, and onion slices. Add your choice of mustard sauce, tartar sauce, or remoulade for extra flavor and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Make sure not to over-process the shrimp mixture or the patties will turn out too dense and pasty.
- Refrigerating the patties before cooking helps them hold together better during cooking and prevents them from falling apart.
- Use fresh parsley for the best flavor, but dried can be substituted if necessary.
- The fennel seed and cayenne are optional but add a nice complexity and mild heat to the shrimp patties.
- Always cook seafood to an internal temperature of 145°F to ensure safety.
