Waialua’s “Local” Boy Burger

Pairs well with:

Sauvignon Blanc

With hints of passion fruit, melon, and citrus, this wine beckons you to kick back and find a perfect porch swing.

In Hawaii, we celebrate the many different cultures that came to the islands in the 20th century by mixing flavors and fresh produce swapped by friends and neighbors.This great American Burger is truly “Local” as it was created by “Locals” are they are known in Hawaii. These “Locals” are themselves “poi” or of mixed ethnicities including Japanese, Chinese and Hawaiian.

Ingredients:

½ pound ground pork
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
2 ½ pounds ground beef
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 teaspoon ground pepper
6 hamburger buns (sweet bread if available)
1 “Local” avocado (need 3 if California) sliced in ¼” slices
1 package brown gravy mix
½ cup water
¼ cup ketchup
1/8 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup sesame oil

Instructions:

Mix pork with liquid smoke and set aside. Mix beef, garlic and pepper well. Add pork mixture and mix well until ingredients are well distributed. Divide mixture into 6 half-pound patties and prepare the grill with non stick spray and medium high heat. While the grill is warming, lightly toast the buns, then top with avocado slices.

Mix brown gravy with water and stir with whisk until boiling. Turn off heat and add ketchup, soy sauce and sesame oil. Stir well and set aside.

Cook burgers on grill for 5-10 minutes on each side until cooked through. Place cooked burger on bottom bun, top with 1 tablespoon of sauce mixture and top with top bun and avocado.