Ingredients
For the Slaw:
- 1/2 head napa cabbage, shredded
- 1/2 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, minced
- 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon ShaSha Sauce (below)
For the Burgers:
- 1/2 pound ground sirloin
- 1/2 pound ground brisket
- 1/2 pound ground boneless short rib (or use 1 1/2 pounds ground beef total, 75% to 80% lean)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 pound pastrami, thinly sliced
- 4 slices Swiss cheese, medium thick
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 brioche or egg buns, split
Directions
Prepare the slaw: In a medium bowl, mix together the cabbage, garlic, onion, jalapeno, vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, Worcestershire sauce and ShaSha Sauce. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Make the burgers: Build a charcoal fire or heat a gas grill. On a work surface, combine the meats and form the burgers into 4 equal-size patties. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
Grill the burgers over high heat until medium rare, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Place 4 heaping piles of pastrami in the pan. After 2 minutes, top each pile with a slice of Swiss cheese. Remove them when the cheese is melted; set aside.
Pour the butter into the pan. Place the buns in the pan, cut-side down, and toast, about 2 minutes.
Place a heaping tablespoonful of the slaw on the bottom half of each bun. Top with a burger and a mound of pastrami and cheese. Cover each with the top half of the bun and serve immediately.
ShaSha Sauce:
- 12 hot banana peppers from a jar, tops removed, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- 1 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
In a food processor, puree the peppers, garlic, mustard and vinegar.
Pour the puree into a nonreactive saucepan, then add the sugar and bring it to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for 30 minutes.
In a small bowl or juice glass, mix the flour and 1/2 cup water to make a smooth paste. Whisk it into the pepper mixture and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until it becomes very thick. Let the sauce cool, then pour it into a covered nonreactive container (such as a glass jar). The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.
Photograph by Andrew Mccaul

Photo: Fat Doug Burger Recipe

















Review This Recipe
You must be logged in to review this recipe.
or Sign Up to Review
Newest Ratings and Reviews
Read all 2 reviews
By murray.family
on July 01, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
So so so sooooooooooooooooo good. This burger is incredible. My husband wanted me to make it again two nights after having it for the first time and now it has become a staple on the menu when we are entertaining. I agree with TheMomChef below, don't waste your time on the ShaSha sauce, it takes forever to make and then you only use one Tbsp. I just throw the peppers from the sauce into the food processor and add that to the slaw! AWESOME!
By TheMomChef
Winston Salem, NC
on January 22, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
If you've even looked at this recipe, you have a small idea that it might be pretty darn good. Here's confirmation. This is excellent. Don't leave this page without printing, copying or bookmarking. The slaw is fantastic and works so well with the burger, pastrami and Swiss. In all honesty, the ShaSha Sauce, I could take or leave, especially since it's just one tablespoon in the slaw (I tasted it before and after adding it and couldn't tell a difference. This burger is outstanding and will be made by us again and again.
Read all 2 reviews