Whatta Wasabi Burger

Pairs well with:

White Zinfandel

With strawberry and melon essences, this American original is perfectly at home with however you like to unwind.

Ingredients

Burger Patties
2 lbs ground chuck
2 tbsp brown sugar
1+1/2 tbsp wasabi powder
1 tbsp Chinese 5 spice powder
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsp ground dried ancho pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
Gingered cucumbers
1 large cucumber seeded
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp pickled ginger minced finely
Wasabi ketchup
1 cup ketchup
2 tbsp wasabi paste
1 tbsp mae ploy – thai sweet chili sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp salt
½ tsp white pepper
6 golden egg bread sandwich buns
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp wasabi paste
Vegetable oil for brushing on the grill

 

Instructions

Prepare a medium -hot fire in a charcoal grill with cover or preheat a gas grill to medium -high. To make burger patties combine ground chuck, brown sugar, wasabi powder, five spice, salt pepper, ancho pepper, coiander and cardamom and mix well. Dive mixture into 6 equal portions and form into patties. To make gingered cucmbers, grate seeded cucumber on box grater. Combine rice vinegar, oil, brown sugar & minced ginger. Pour over cucumbers & mix well, an set aside. To make wasabi ketchup, combine ketchup, wasabi paste, chili sauce, soy sauce, salt & pepper. Reserve 1/3 cup for brushing on burgers. Combine softened butter with wasabi paste & brush on buns. Set aside When grill is ready brush the rack with oil. Place patties on grill and cook 4 minutes on first side. Turn and brush with reserved wasabi ketchup. cook 4 minutes longer, placing buns buttered side down along outside/cooler section of grill during last few minutes of cooking. Remove buns and burgers from grill. To assemble place burger on bottom of buns, top with gererous scoop of gingered cucumbers and serve with remaing wasabi ketchup. Makes 6 burgers.