Low NOx burner

The inventive burner can receive air and fuel and discharge a fuel/air mixture for combustion at a periphery of the burner while limiting NOx emissions. The burner has a central axis and includes first and second plates constructed and arranged so as to form between them a central chamber and a plurality of burner ports extending outwardly of the chamber. The first and second plates have an outer periphery spaced outwardly from the central axis. The second plate indudes an opening for receiving the air and fuel into the chamber. The outer periphery of the second plate extends from the central axis by a greater distance than the outer periphery of the first plate. The second plate has an outer peripheral portion in which a plurality of openings may be formed. Also included is a method for operating the burner so as to limit NOx emissions.