Fresh salmon gets the full bright-herb treatment here — lime zest, grated ginger, cilantro, and green onion all folded into chunky, hand-shaped patties that sear up golden and satisfying in a hot skillet. The two-texture trick of pulse-chopping most of the fish and finely hand-cutting the rest is what keeps these patties cohesive without turning them into a dense, rubbery hockey puck. A quick creamy avocado sauce made with nothing but ripe avocado, lime juice, cilantro, and a splash of water comes together in minutes and drapes beautifully over the top. Butter lettuce wraps stand in for buns, keeping everything light and letting those bold, zesty flavors stay front and center. For anyone steering clear of caffeine, this recipe is a natural fit — every ingredient on the list is completely free of coffee, tea, chocolate, or any other hidden stimulant, so there's nothing to second-guess. It's the kind of weeknight dinner that feels a little fancy but comes together with straightforward technique and a single skillet.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →4 servings
Make the avocado sauce: combine the avocado, lime juice, cilantro, sea salt, and water in a small bowl and mash with a fork until smooth and spoonable, adding water 1 tbsp at a time until the sauce is thin enough to drizzle. Set aside.
Place about two-thirds of the salmon chunks in a food processor and pulse 6–8 times until coarsely chopped — the mixture should hold together when pressed but still have visible texture, not a smooth paste. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!
(16k)
