Shrimp Burgers with Roasted Garlic-Orange Aioli

You know I didn't bake burger buns just because I was bored (actually, that does sound like something I would do). But not this time. This time it was for shrimp burgers! I like trying out new non-meat burgers and this one was really lovely. I appreciated the fact that all the other ingredients enhanced the shrimp's flavor, instead of overpowering it, allowing the shrimpiness to really shine through.

SHRIMP BURGERS WITH ROASTED GARLIC-ORANGE AIOLI

Yield: 4 patties

Roasted garlic-orange aioli:

1 head garlic

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 large egg yolks, room temperature

1/3 cup grapeseed oil

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

freshly ground black pepper

Shrimp burgers:

5 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup finely chopped fennel, from one small bulb (fronds reserved)

1/4 cup finely chopped shallots

1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

2 tablespoons finely chopped fennel fronds

1 tablespoon finely chopped chives

1 tablespoon zest from 1 orange

1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined, finely chopped by hand

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 to 2 tablespoons roasted garlic-orange aioli

toasted hamburger buns for serving (light brioche buns are nice)

Roasted garlic-orange aioli:

1.      Roast the garlic: Heat oven to 400º F. Peel away the outer skin of 1 garlic head, and cut off top ¼ to ½ inch of the head to expose the individual cloves. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the garlic head, wrap in foil, and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cloves are soft when pressed. Cool, then squeeze the cloves from their skin. Mash the cloves and set aside.

2.      In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil, then the grapeseed oil; begin with small drizzles, then whisk in a thin stream until the mayo is very thick. Whisk in a pinch of salt and then the orange juice, a little at a time (you may not need the full amount), orange zest and the roasted garlic paste. Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Shrimp burgers:

1.      In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the fennel and shallots and cook until they start to caramelize, about 8 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and cook about 3 minutes longer; you want the pepper to soften but retain its texture. Remove from the heat. Mix in the fennel fronds, chives, and orange zest.

2.      In a bowl, combine the shrimp with the sautéed vegetable-herb mixture and salt and pepper (to taste). Fold in aioli, a teaspoon at a time, to just bind the burgers. Form into four patties, and refrigerate until ready to cook.

3.      Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a pan (cast iron works well) over medium-high heat and fry the patties until golden, about 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

4.      Spread the aioli on both sides of the toasted buns; serve the shrimp burgers with your favorite condiments, such as a big leaf of butter crunch lettuce.

barely adapted from food52.com (added by EmilyC)

raw garlic

roasted garlic

whisking oil into the egg yolks for the aioli

fennel, red pepper, shallots and chives

shallots cooking

red pepper added

adding the fennel fronds, chives and orange zest

vegetables and herbs mixed

raw shrimp

chopped shrimp mixed with vegetables/herbs & aioli

raw shrimp burgers

cooking the shrimp burgers

putting aioli on a shrimp burger

My aioli was a little thin...I think trying to take photos
while I was whisking had something to do with it
(hopefully yours will be a little thicker). Making it the
day before also helps (it thickens slightly in the fridge).

shrimp burger with roasted garlic-orange aioli
on a light brioche bun

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