Pork And Shrimp Chipotle-Orange Sauce Burger

This burger is inspired by an interesting flavor combination common in Chinese cuisine. The mixture of shrimp and pork has a unique texture, in which the pork provides the base (also the extra fat) that allows the shrimp to shine. The dried chipotle soaked in some of the shrimp juice gives the burger extra umami and smoky flavor. This, combined with the sweetness of the orange, and spiciness of Sriracha sauce, adds up to one hell of a great hamburger that you will surely cook again and again

Serves: 6 Regular-Sized Burgers

INGREDIENTS:

Burger:

• 2 pounds pork shoulder, ground
• 8/10 pounds dried shrimp
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 6 potato buns
• 6 slices pepper jack cheese
• 6 slices Swiss cheese
• 6 iceberg lettuce leaves, shredded
• 9 strips bacon, halved crosswise
• black pepper for seasoning

Caramelized Onions:

• 5 medium onions, chopped lengthwise
• 5 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 teaspoons light brown sugar

Sauce:

• 6 dried chipotle peppers, stems off and deseeded
• 6 ¼ teaspoons cinnamon
• 6 ¼ teaspoons paprika
• 4 oranges, peeled and cut into eighths
• juice of two oranges
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 10 ounces of liquid from reconstituted shrimp
• ½ cup water
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons Sriracha

INSTRUCTIONS:

Burger:

1. Combine the ground meats and make six equal sized patties; try to be gentle, avoid packing the patties too tightly – then set aside
2. In a cast iron skillet, fry the bacon over low-medium heat until crispy – then set aside
3. Generously season the patties and fry them on a griddle over high heat on one side, for about 4 minutes
4. Flip, add the cheese on top, and continue frying until the patties are done, about 4 more minutes (burgers are last step)
5. While the patties are cooking, toast the halved buns

Caramelized Onions:

6. While the bacon is cooking, melt the butter in another skillet over low-medium heat and add the chopped onion
7. Add salt and sugar, stirring frequently (every 3 to 5 minutes) until they are soft, sweet and light brown, then place the onions in a bowl

Sauce:

8. Toast the dried peppers in a saucepan over medium heat until fragrant, and add enough liquid from the reconstituted shrimp to cover the pepper, then increase the heat until the liquid reaches a boil and reduce to low-medium
9. Add a tablespoon of the liquid from the saucepan into a bowl with orange juice, orange pieces and garlic, then drain the rest of the liquid from the saucepan and cut the chipotle into smaller pieces and add them into the bowl
10. Add the contents of the bowl into the saucepan and cook them over low-medium until they start to boil then add the sugar, a pinch of salt, cinnamon and paprika to the saucepan
11. Reduce the heat to low and mix the cornstarch with the water, then add the mix to the saucepan, stirring constantly, until everything is incorporated and the sauce thickens – set aside

Assemble:

12. Make each hamburger with the bottom half, lettuce, hamburger, onions, bacon, orange sauce, lettuce and top half. Then, pour some wine and enjoy!