Barbecued Cajun Pork Burgers

 

                The Cajun seasoning really livens up the flavor of these pork burgers. You should keep this seasoning in a cool, dark place. 

Serves 4-6

• 8 oz/225 gr sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• Salt and pepper
• 1 lb/450 gr fresh ground pork
• 1 Granny Smith or other eating apple, peeled, cored, and grated
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 1 lb/450 gr onions
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons corn oil
• 8 lean Canadian bacon slices

1. Cook the sweet potato in a pan of slightly salted boiling water for 15-20 minutes, or until soft when pierced with a fork, drain well, then mash and set aside.
2. Place the ground pork in a bowl, add the mashed potato, grated apple, and Cajun seasoning.
3. Grated 1 of the onions and add to the pork mixture with salt and pepper to taste and the chopped cilantro, mix together, then shape into 4-6 equal-size burgers, cover and let chill for 1 hour.
4. Preheat the barbecue.
5. Slice the remaining onions, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet, add the onions and cook over low heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring until soft.
6. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
7. Wrap each burger in 2 slices of bacon.
8. Cook the burgers over hot coals, brusing with the remaining oil for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked.
9. Alternatively, cook the burgers in a skillet.
10. Serve each burger with sautéed onions on top of some Hoppin' John rice "rice cooked with scallions, thyme, hot pepper sauce, black-eye peas, and ham".

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Chicken and Bacon Burgers

 

                    Mixing some bacon into the ground chicken suffuses the burgers with extra flavor and ensures that they stay wonderfully succulent. Just go easy on the salt when you are seasoning the mixture.

Serves 4

• 12 oz/350 gr Canadian bacon slices, rind removed
• 1½ cups fresh ground chicken
• 6 shallots, chopped
• 2-4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon corn oil

1. Preheat the broiler to high.
2. Cook 8 oz/225 gr of the bacon under the hot broiler for 5-8 minutes, or until crisp, remove and let cool.
3. Place the broiled bacon in a food processor and add the ground chicken, shallots, and garlic.
4. Using the pulse button, chop finely, add the tomato paste, parsley, and salt and pepper and process for 1-2 minutes, or until blended.
5. Scrape onto a board and shape into 4 equal-size burgers, coat in the flour and let chill for 1 hour.
6. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
7. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked through.
8. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler again and cook the remaining bacon for 5-8 minutes, or until crisp.
9. Arrange some salad greens on the bases of 4 toasted whole-wheat bap bases, top with the burgers and the bacon, and spoon over a little cranberry sauce.
10. Add the lid and serve with freshly cooked french fries.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Maple-Glazed Turkey Burgers

 

                    To give the meal an authentic taste of the American deep south, serve the burgers with corn fritters and sautéed banana. When cooking bananas toss in lemon juice to help preserve their color.

Serves 4

• 2 ears fresh corn with leaves intact
• 1 lb/450 gr fresh ground turkey
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded, peeled, and finely chopped
• 6 scallions, finely chopped
• 1 cup fresh white bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon corn oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Heat a grill pan until hot, then add the ears fresh corn and cook over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes, or until the leaves are charred.
2. Remove from the grill pan, let cool, then strip off the leaves and silky threads, using a sharp knife, cut away the kernels and place in a bowl.
3. Add the ground turkey, red bell pepper, scallions, bread crumbs, basil, salt, and pepper to the corn kernels in the bowl.
4. Mix together, then shape into 4 equal-size burgers, cover and chill for 1 hour.
5. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
6. When hot, add the burgers, then pour 1 teaspoon maple syrup over each burger and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes on each side, or until the burgers are cooked through, pour over the remaining maple syrup.
7. Lightly toast 4 cheese-topped baps and cover the bases with sprigs of arugula and watercress.
8. Top with sliced tomato, the burgers, and corn relish, accompany with corn fritters and sautéed banana.
9. Serve.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Duck Burgers with Sweet Apple and Plum Relish

 

                    These delicious burgers are the perfect choice for an informal supper or lunch party. If you don't have a grinder, place the skinned duck breasts in a food processor and the the pulse button to chop.

Serves 4

• 2 Granny Smith or other eating apples
• 1 lb/450 gr fresh duck breast meat, fat removed and ground
• 1 tablespoon prepared Thai plum sauce
• 6 scallions, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1½ teaspoon dried crushed chilies
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

Sweet apple and plum relish

• ¾ cup prepared apple sauce
• 2 tablespoons prepared Thai plum sauce

1. Peel, core, and grated 1 of the apples and place in a large bowl with the ground duck, plum sauce, scallions, garlic, 1 teaspoon of the chillies, half the cranberries, and salt and pepper to taste.
2. Mix together, then shape into 4 equal-size burgers, cover and let chill for 1 hour.
3. Peel, core, and slice the remaining apple, melt the butter in a skillet.
4. Add the apple, sprinkle with the sugar, and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly softened and lightly caramelized, remove the skillet from the heat.
5. To make the relish, heat the apple sauce, remaining chilies, cranberries, and the plum sauce for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, keep warm until ready to serve with the burgers.
6. Preheat the broiler to medium-high.
7. Place the burgers on a foil-lined broiler rack and cook under the hot broiler for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked to personal preference.
8. Place some scallion and chili-flavored potato mash in the center of 4 warmed serving plates, top with the burgers, then the apple slices, and spoon over a little o the relish.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Turkey and Tarragon Burgers

 

                    What a healthy combination of ingredients there is in these burgers. Turkey and tarragon contribute fine, distinctive flavors, while the robust bulgur wheat is there for its nutty taste and coarse texture.

Serves 4

• One third cup bulgur wheat
• Salt and pepper
• 1 lb/450 gr fresh ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, peeled and finely chopped
• ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
• 1-2 tablespoons corn oil

1. Cook the bulgur wheat in a pan slightly salted boiling water for 10-15 minutes, or according to the package instructions.
2. Drain the bulgur wheat and place in a bowl with the ground turkey, orange rind, onion, yellow bell pepper, almonds, tarragon, and salt and pepper.
3. Mix together, then shape into 4 equal-size burgers, cover and let chill for 1 hour.
4. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
5. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked through and drain well on paper towels.
6. Place a few lettuce leaves on 4 plates.
7. Cut 2 large baked potatoes in half and place one half on each plate, top with the burgers.
8. Spoon over a little red tomato relish or onion marmelade and serve.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Burgers

 

                    You can alter the flavor and texture of these luscious burgers by replacing the pine nuts with slivered almonds or unsalted cashews. If using whole nuts, chop them first and, if liked, toast lightly.

Serves 4

• 1 lb/450 gr fresh ground chicken
• 1 onion, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ cup pine nuts, toasted
• 2 oz/55 gr Gruyère cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh snipped chives
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
• 8 lean Canadian bacon slices
• 1-2 tablespoons corn oil

1. Place the ground chicken, onion, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, chives, and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor.
2. Using the pulse button, blend the mixture together using short sharp bursts.
3. Scrape out onto a board and shape into 4 equal-size burgers, coat in the flour, then cover and let chill 1 hour.
4. Wrap each burger with 2 bacon slices, securing in place with a wooden toothpick.
5. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
6. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked through.
7. Arrange some shredded iceberg lettuce and thinly sliced red onion on the bases of 4 ciabatta rolls.
8. Top with a burger and a spoonful of mayonnaise, finish with a few snipped fresh chives.
9. Place on the lids and serve.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Mexican Turkey Burgers

 

                    There are many varieties of fresh chilies available. If you are in doubt as to the chili's heat, then start with the milder chilies, such as jalapeno, and gradually move onto the hotter ones.

Serves 4

• 1 lb/450 gr fresh ground turkey
• 7 oz/200 gr canned refried beans
• 2-4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1-2 fresh jalapeno chilies, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon corn oil

1. Place the ground turkey in a bowl and break up any large lumps.
2. Beat the refried beans until smooth, then add to the turkey in the bowl.
3. Add the garlic, chilies, tomato paste, cilantro, salt and pepper and mix together.
4. Shape into 4 equal-size burgers, then cover and let chill for 1 hour.
5. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
6. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked.
7. Place some shredded spinach on the base of 4 toasted cheese-topped baps, top with the burgers, then spoon over some salsa and guacamole.
8. Place the lid in position and serve with tortilla chips.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT