Hawaiian Burgers

A Hawaiian Asian fusion of flavorful pork, fresh grilled pineapple and a sweet and spicy mayo!

Asian flavors play a large role in Hawaiian cuisine

Add in pork and fresh pineapple and we immediately think of the islands which is what inspired this particular dish

We were in the mood for grilled burgers but weren’t “feeling” the traditional version so enter in our Hawaiian Burgers!

Let’s start with the meat

We are using 2 pounds of ground pork

Now let’s talk about some Asian flavors

We will need 1 cup of panko (Japanese bread crumbs), 2 eggs whisked,  1/4 cup of Teriyaki sauce, 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, 2 grated garlic cloves, 2 scallions diced, 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt and ground black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

Add these ingredients to the pork

Using your hands, gently fold all of the ingredients together

You can add more panko as needed to bind the mixture

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking oil

Using a 1/2 cup measure start dropping the meat out onto the parchment

Repeat until you have used all of the meat

Roll the meat into a ball between your palms then flatten into a patty

Using your thumb make a small indent in each patty

Why do you make a indent in the patty?

This will keep the meat from “doming” into a ball while cooking on the grill

Drizzle each burger with a little more Teriyaki

Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before grilling

While the burgers are getting a well deserved rest in the fridge, let’s work on a sauce

We will need 1 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of Go Ju Jang (Korean Chili paste), 1 teaspoon of rice wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey

Add these ingredients into a bowl along with a teaspoon of garlic powder

Whisk until well combined and refrigerate

So we have the burgers (check), we have the sauce (check)

Now we need a great topping to go with it

Heat your grill to around 400 F direct heat

I set the burners to medium, low, medium

Next up we have 8 slices of fresh pineapple with the core removed

We will need 1/4 cup of teriyaki sauce, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger

Whisk the ingredients together

Brush this over the pineapple

Lay the pineapple down on the grill and cook 5-6 minutes

Flip and cook another 5-6 minutes

You want nice marks on the pineapple and you want it a little cooked but not so much that it falls apart

Remove and set aside

Next lay the burgers on the grill

Cook around 4-5 minutes then turn (not flip)

Cook another 2-3 minutes

Flip and cook another 4-5 minutes

Then turn (not flip) and cook another 2-3 minutes or until cooked through

Even though we are working with Asian inspired flavors a burger just isn’t a burger without cheese

We decided to use muenster which is mild and will work great with our flavors

Lay a slice of cheese over each burger

Cook for 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts

Remove and set aside

Allow the burgers to rest to reabsorb their juices

While they rest, let’s toast the rolls a bit

Lay them open side down on the grill and toast for 2 minutes just to get a little brown on them (optional)

Time for some assembly

Let’s start with our sauce and a roll

Add sauce to both sides of the roll

Lay a burger down on a roll

Top with a slice of grilled pineapple

I don’t know about you but I’m drooling!

Pair this with a refreshing Pineapple Madras cocktail and make your trip to the Islands complete!!!

Enjoy!!!

Tools used to make this recipe

Architec Carving Board, Gripperwood

Mini Prep Glass Bowl

Pyrex Mixing Bowl

Wilton Recipe Right Non-stick Cookie Sheet Set, 2-Piece

OXO Good Grips Flat Wire Whisk

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