Kimchi Salmon and Rainbow Pickles is made with succulent sweet salmon infused with spicy kimchi and gently pan seared and topped with an assortment of vibrant colorful delicious quick pickles.
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30 Minute Dinner
Kimchi salmon patties and quick pickles is so easy to make that I am almost embarrassed to have to call it an "actual recipe". This is a quick easy night menu and a super fun and delicious way to get dinner on your table in less than 30 minutes. Kimchi salmon and Rainbow Pickles is a delicious gluten-free, egg-free and low carb recipe.
Korean Food Week
This week was a "Korean Food Week" at the local "Park n Shop" here in Hong Kong. There were great deals on delicious kimchi, Gochujang paste (savory and pungent fermented Korean condiment made from red chili, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans and salt) and lots of laver (nori seaweed snacks). Who can say no to all of that deliciousness!
Kimchi
Now the big question was what was I going to make with all that XL industrial sized (lifetime supply) of kimchi.
I headed over to the seafood section and the salmon was so pink, bright and beautiful, I just knew I had to make something with it. I stopped over to grab some vegetables to go on the side and just saw a beautiful rainbow of color. There was no gold at the end of the rainbow...I checked. However, I did come up with a brilliant idea for a super healthy, simple and easy low carb meal.
Life Time Supply
Kimchi has been around for decades and it a vital part of a Korean Diet. It is fermented cabbage but can also be fermented diakon and other vegetables. There are so many different versions but usually it is slightly sour and spicy.
The traditional way to make kimchi is to make it as a family and then let it ferment in special containers under the ground. However, you can just buy kimchi in your local super market or Asian market in the refrigerated food section.
I bought an extra large lifetime supply of kimchi so of course we will make Gochujang Fried Rice with Leftover Ham, Creamy Kimchi Pasta or a blast from the past with our BiBimBap 비빔밥.
Natural Probiotic Food
Eating fermented foods, like kimchi, is good for your health as it has vitamins A, B, and C. However, the reason I love it is that it helps replace the healthy bacteria in your gut called lactobacilli. A daily dose of kimchi is like taking a probiotic as it helps with digestion but the main reason I love it as it tastes fantastic.
A brand of kimchi that is gluten free is King's Kimchi if you have a gluten intolerance/celiac disease. You will need to read the back of the container as some kimchi contains wheat to thicken, so please take note.
Turn Fish Haters into Fish Lovers
My hubby, bless his heart, is a salmon fish hater. Can you believe this? The nerve!!! Everyone else in our family adores salmon.
So you know what you do to disguise your salmon? We made it into a fancy lettuce wrapped Kimchi burger and camouflaged it with lots of delicious quick pickles and a gochujang mayo dip. I guess you could really do with any fish you like, so if you have salmon haters in your family, have no fear!!!
Recipe Substitutions
I wanted to keep the recipe as simple as possible and remove some of the items that cause our family dietary grief such as gluten and eggs. I made several batches experimenting with additions to the salmon patties in my food processor. The kimchi gives a delicious flavor to the salmon as it has everything in it you need; spice, savory, sour, garlic and seasonings.
The only issue remained the binding agent. As I cannot use eggs and bread crumbs due to dietary issues, I pulverized puffed rice crackers (sometimes you hear me referring to them as cardboard...LOL)
If you had gluten free bread crumbs at home by all means feel free to use that or even regular breadcrumbs/panko, if no gluten issues in your household. Just a little is all you need to get the salmon patties to form tender and delicious patties.
How to Serve?
In keeping with the idea to keep my dinner gluten free and low on carbs, I opted to nestle my kimchi salmon in a lettuce cup. However, these delicious kimchi patties and pickled veggies would just as delicious on a big kaiser roll, if you like.
Quick Pickles
Did you know that you can make quick pickles out of so many different types of vegetables? I did not have enough cucumber pickles to feed the whole family so I make a quick pickle with red cabbage, carrots, radish and a little cucumber and your could really use any vegetable you can slice thinly and have in your crisper. It is amazing what a few minutes and rice vinegar, salt, white pepper and sugar or sugar alternative can do for a vegetable.
Gochujang Mayo Sauce
My boys loved this quick and easy gochujang mayo dip for their kimchi salmon burgers. Even though I cannot eat eggs, I did not miss the gochujang sauce for one minute with all of those delicious pickled rainbow veggies nestled on top of my kimchi salmon burger.
This would be a super fun idea to serve at a party gathering. You could let everyone assemble their own Kimchi salmon with rainbow pickles on top of their own lettuce cup. This meal is super easy to prepare in advance so that you the host or the hostess can spend some quality time with your guests. A great welcome for a long overdue spring gathering.
More Delicious Korean Recipes
Low Carb Spicy Bulgogi Beef Stir Fry
Yang Bae Chu Ssam 양배추쌈 and Go Chu Jeon 고추전
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Kimchi Salmon and Rainbow Pickles
Ingredients
Quick Rainbow Pickles
- ¼ cup carrot small carrot sliced thinly Julienned - I used a mandolin
- ¼ cup cucumber -
sliced - ½ cup cabbage purple
- 10 radish
sliced thinly - 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
or sugar alternative - white pepper
to taste - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Kimchi Salmon Patties
- 6 oz salmon
(skin and bones removed) - ½ cup kimchi
- ½ cup rice crackers pulverized in food processor or gluten free bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Gochujang Mayo
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Korean red pepper paste
(gochujang) - 2-3 lettuce leaves
(iceburg lettuce) - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds toasted - garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Place your thinly sliced vegetables (carrots, cucumber, cabbage and radish or whatever veggies you wish) in a bowl .(If you are using purple cabbage, keep the purple cabbage away from the rest of your vegetables or all of your vegetables will turn a purple color) Sprinkle your veggies with the salt and use your fingers to rub the salt into the vegetables. This helps bring the water out of the vegetable. Place veggies in refrigerator for about 15 minutes. Stir together rice vinegar, sugar or sugar alternative, pepper and sesame oil to make a quick pickle vinaigrette and set aside.
- Put your boneless, skinless salmon fillets and kimchi into the food processor and process until smooth. Brush down the sides of the food processor with a spoon and add rice cracker crumbs (gluten-free breadcrumbs) just until well incorporated and your salmon mixture holds together well enough to make a patty. Make 2-3 patties out of your kimchi salmon mixture. First roll salmon mixture into a ball and then flatten the ball into a disk about ½ or so thick. (at this point, you could freeze them if you wish to make for later)
- Remove your salted veggies from the refrigerator and gently squeeze to remove as much water as possible. Toss your vegetables with your rice vinegar, sugar, white pepper and sesame oil mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside.
- Place a little olive oil in a pan and fry for about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown on both sides and flakes easily with a fork. Set aside and keep warm.
- In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and gochujang sauce together. set aside.
- Assemble: On a plate, place your lettuce leaves, place one deliciously cooked kimchi salmon patty into each lettuce cup, top with pickled veggies, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with gochujang mayo and enjoy!
Brooks says
Bobbi, this dish is seriously scrumptious! I knew when I saw them on Instagram I'd be needing a closer look. Out of the ballpark - way out!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
I used to be your hubby - BUT UM... NOW? I cannot go even like 4 hours without downing salmon! LOL!
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says
We were totally thinking along the same lines with the lettuce wraps, Bobbi! I LOVE some good kimchi, and pairing it with salmon sounds amazing!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Great minds think alike, right! It was loads of fun to make and to eat! Have a super week.
shashi at runninsrilankan says
I adore salmon - but these look so good, I wanna disguise my salmon in burgers like these and eat them with Gochujang Mayo!
shashi at runninsrilankan says
I adore salmon - but I still wanna disguise it in these gorgeous burgers and top them with those colorful rainbow pickles and Gochujang Mayo! GORGEOUS!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Shashi! This is such a fun dish to share with family and friends. My husband always tells me that we need to have more Korean dishes on Healthy World Cuisine and as my boys are the quality assurance crew their vote always wins.
Gerlinde says
What a great colorful recipe. I love the pickled veggies . Thank you
65 Days in Italy says
Wow this looks delicious! And gorgeous photography too!!
mjskit says
What is not to love about this recipe!?!?! Those quick pickles are my favorite, but I can see that I need to expand to use more types of vegetables. The salmon patties...YUM and the Gochujang Mayo - Tantalizing! You are right - YUM!!!!!
Karen says
Oh my goodness, what a colorful and delicious sounding meal.
Robyn says
Your pictures have me drooling for salmon at my desk at 7:30 am, Bobbi! How is it possible that your photos are more stunning each week? The colours and combination of flavours in this dish are amazing. I'm just dying for a bite! This recipe is gold, Bobbi!
David Crichton says
These patties/burgers sound delicious, Bam. Such an interesting mix of ingredients. I also love Asian mayonnaises, they're always so interesting.
Culinary Flavors says
We are all big salmon lovers in my home! This is just the right meal for us. Fish and salad, I can't think of a more healthy and delicious choice! Pinned!
Raymund says
Thats a great idea, using rice crackers instead of bread crumbs. Better try this one out, looks really delish
The Foodie Affair says
Oh, this is s beauty! You won't miss the carbs while eating this! We all love salmon in my family. Such a pretty dish! Pinning, etc.!
gourmetgetaway says
You named it so aptly, Bam - rainbow indeed! Julie is the pickle girl and she will love this for sure 🙂
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx