Fire Day Friday: Southwestern Pork Burger

I had a pound of ground pork and needed a quick dinner idea.  I wanted to make egg rolls but found out I didn’t have wrappers.  A quick shift and I decided on burgers.  They’re easy and everyone loves burgers, right? 
I thought about about just making a seasoned patty with a slice of pepper jack cheese.  But instead, I wanted to give it a spicy, crispy topping and a mayo with a little more heat. 

Southwestern Pork Burger
Source:  NibbleMeThis

Burgers
1 pound ground pork
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon Southwestern seasoning (or chili powder if you don’t have any)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 ounce roasted red pepper, diced
1/4 cup cilantro

Jalapeno Topping
1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced lengthwise into thin strips
2 Tbsp flour
1 Egg beaten
1/4 cup bread crumbs

Chipotle Mayo
1/2 cup Dukes mayonnaise
1 chipotle, seeded and finely minced

Whisk the chipotle and mayo together and refrigerate for at least one hour. 

Mix the burger ingredients together in a large bowl.  Divide into three equal portions (5.3 ounces each if your are anal retentive…not that I am….okay I do weigh out my burger portions on a scale but I’m not THAT exact.).  Form each into a patty, poke a hole in the middle of each with your finger, and then refrigerate for 30 minutes.  I find that helps the patties hold together once they hit the grill.
Dip the jalapeno sticks in flour, egg, and then the bread crumbs.  
Start your grill and preheat it to 450f.  Grill the burgers 4-5 minutes per side or until they are an internal temperature of 160f.
 
Pull and allow them to rest for 10 minutes.  While that is going, fry the jalapeno spears for 1-2 minutes  in 350f oil until browned and crisped.
Oh yeah, I like to toast my buns too.  (And I’m not talking about tanning nude by the pool!) 
Top the burger with some of the deep fried peppers and slather a bit of the chipotle mayo.
 
The burger, mayo and peppers went great together.  Truth be told, I could eat eat the jalapeno strips like french fries!
Lyndsey

Beautiful…a piece of art!
I use pork all the time this burger looks great. I love the jalapeno flavors going on here.

P.S. You don’t have to tan nude to get toasted buns….just slip on that T-back ;D

Jenn

Great…now I’ll be dreaming about this burger all day! You know me, I’m lovin’ the jalapeno topping and the chipotle mayo. I mean, if you are gonna make a good burger, might as well make some kick ass toppings to go with it!! You are a genius!!