The “Chosun One” Korean Burger
Ingredients
Bulgogi Mayonnaise:
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
2 teaspoons Korean red pepper paste (Taeyang)
2 teaspoons white sesame seeds, toasted and ground
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Patties:
1 1/3 pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
4 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
1 tablespoon Sutter Home White Zinfandel
1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon honey
4 1/3 inch thick sweet onion slices
4 sesame seeded Kaiser rolls, split
4 fresh, crisp, cold Iceberg lettuce leaves
Instructions
To make the Bulgogi Mayonnaise, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl except the mayonnaise until well blended. Then blend in the mayonnaise until a consistent color. Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble the burgers. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high. To make the patties, combine the beef, soy sauce, sesame oil, crushed garlic, white Zinfandel, black pepper and honey in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions, and form the portions into patties to fit the rolls. When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference, about 2 minutes on each side for medium. At the same time, place the onions on the grill rack and cook until golden brown and crisp-tender, 2 minutes per side. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the rolls, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly. To assemble the burgers, on each bread bottom, place 1 lettuce leaf, a patty, an onion slice, another patty and an equal amount of bulgogi mayonnaise. Add the bread tops and serve. Makes 4 burgers