Recipe: Spanish Pork Burgers - Awesome !
Recipe: Spanish Pork Burgers
Memorial week end or any week end - A great tasting burger is always good to have. Here is one recipe I plan on having this weekend.
Ingredients
3/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper, divided
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt, divided
1 pound(s) lean ground pork
1 tablespoon(s) finely chopped Spanish green olives, such as Manzanilla
2 teaspoon(s) minced garlic
2 teaspoon(s) Pimentón de la Vera (see Shopping Tip) , or Hungarian paprika
1/4 cup(s) reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 teaspoon(s) freshly grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
Saffron (see Ingredient Note)
1/4 cup(s) shredded Manchego or Monterey Jack cheese
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns, toasted
2 whole jarred Piquillo peppers (see Shopping Tip) , or jarred pimientos, halved lengthwise
1.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Set aside half the onion for topping; finely chop the other half.
2.Preheat grill to medium.
3.Place the chopped onion in a large bowl; add pork, olives, garlic, paprika, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Gently combine, without overmixing, until evenly incorporated. Form into 4 equal patties, about 1/2 inch thick.
4.Combine mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, and saffron in a small bowl.
5.Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the burgers, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 degrees F, 10 to 12 minutes total. Top with cheese and cook until it is melted, about 1 minute more.
6.Assemble the burgers on toasted buns with the lemon-saffron mayonnaise, some of the reserved onions and a half a Piquillo (or pimiento) pepper.
Tips & Techniques
Shopping Tip: Spain is known for its superb paprika called Pimentón de la Vera, which has a smoky flavor, and for intensely flavored peppers called Piquillos. Look for these specialty ingredients in well-stocked supermarkets, gourmet-food shops or online at spanishtable.com or tienda.com.
Ingredient Note: Literally the stamen from Crocus sativus, saffron is the world's most expensive spice. Each crocus produces only 3 stamen, requiring over 75,000 flowers for each pound of saffron. Fortunately, a little goes a long way. It's used sparingly to add golden yellow color and flavor to a wide variety of Middle Eastern, African, and European-inspired foods. Find it in the specialty-herb section of large supermarkets, gourmet-food shops, and tienda.com. Wrapped in foil and placed in a container with a tight-fitting lid, it will keep in a cool, dry place for several years.
Tip: To oil the grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.) When grilling delicate foods like tofu and fish, it is helpful to spray the food with cooking spray.
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