Perfect Pork Burger
- Level: Advanced
- Yield: Twenty-five 7-ounce burgers
- Total: 3 days 13 hr 10 min (includes fermentation time)
- Active: 1 hr
Ingredients
1/4 cup sesame oil
1 cup thinly sliced scallions, white part only
1/2 cup minced garlic
1/4 cup minced ginger
1/2 cup sambal chili paste
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
Salt and black pepper
10 pounds ground pork
Brioche buns, for serving
Bangin' Sauce, recipe follows
Kimchi, recipe follows
100 shishito peppers, blistered
25 over-easy eggs
Bangin' Sauce:
2 tablespoons gluten-free hoisin sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sweet chili sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup sriracha
Kimchi:
One 2-pound Napa cabbage, cut into 1-inch pieces
Kosher salt
1/2 cup sambal chili paste
1/4 cup peeled and minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup fish sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
4 medium scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet. Add the scallions, garlic and ginger and saute until translucent. Add the sambal and cook, mixing constantly, for 30 seconds. Deglaze the pan with the soy sauce. Add the cilantro, basil, 2 tablespoons salt and 3 tablespoons pepper; remove from the heat.
- Place the pork in a large bowl. Add the cooked mixture to the pork and mix well. Form into twenty-five 7-ounce patties. Place the patties on 2 baking sheets. Add 1 1/2 quarts of water to each baking sheet. Cover each baking sheet with a second baking sheet. Bake to medium rare, approximately 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cool, then store in a pan lined with paper towels.
- When ready to serve, oil a hot flattop grill and sear the patties until caramelized on both sides and a thermometer inserted in the center reads 160 degrees F, about 30 seconds per side.
- Toast the buns on the flat top. Spread 1 tablespoon of Bangin' Sauce on each side of the buns. Place 1/4 cup of Kimchi on the bottom buns. Add the grilled patties, then top each with 4 shishito peppers and an egg.
Bangin' Sauce:
- Combine the hoisin and sweet chili sauce in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; strain. Whisk in the lemon juice, lime juice and orange juice.
- Combine the hoisin-juice mixture with the mayonnaise and sriracha in a bowl.
Kimchi:
- Place the cabbage in a large bowl, sprinkle with 1/2 cup kosher salt and toss with your hands until the cabbage is coated. Add enough cold water to just cover (about 12 cups), making sure the cabbage is submerged (it's OK if a few leaves break the surface). Cover with plastic wrap or a baking sheet and let sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Drain the cabbage in a colander and rinse with cold water. Gently squeeze out the excess liquid and transfer to a medium bowl; set aside.
- Place the sambal chili paste, ginger, fish sauce, garlic, sugar and scallions in a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the cabbage and toss with your hands until the cabbage is thoroughly coated. Pack into a clean 2-quart container with a tight-fitting lid. Let sit in a cool, dark place for 24 hours. (The mixture may bubble.) Open the jar to let the gases escape, then reseal and refrigerate at least 48 hours. (Kimchi is best after fermenting for about 1 week). Refrigerate for up to 1 month.