Burger of the Week: Chile-Beef Burgers

Now here's a unique twist for a burger– why not take a classic Korean side-dish and make it the perfect patty topping? Asian fusion never tasted so good! In this east meets west merging, there's a little bit of spice and a whole lot of flavour!

CHILE-BEEF BURGERS with Quick Kimchi

SERVES: 4

PREP TIME: 40 minutes

STANDING TIME: 2 hours

GRILLING TIME: 9-11 minutes

INGREDIENTS

KIMCHI
1  small head napa or savoy cabbage, about 12 ounces, quartered and cored
6  scallions, ends trimmed and finely chopped
1  tablespoon kosher salt
1  small red bell pepper, finely chopped
1  tablespoon rice vinegar
2  teaspoons Asian fish sauce or soy sauce
1½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes or hot pepper sauce
1½ teaspoons peeled, minced fresh ginger
3  garlic cloves, minced or pushed through a press

PATTIES
1½ pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
1  small shallot, minced
1  Thai or serrano chile pepper, stemmed, seeded, deveined, and minced (about 2 teaspoons)
2  garlic cloves, minced or pushed through a press
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4  onion buns, split

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut the cabbage crosswise into thin strips, and then separate the strips by hand. In a colander toss the cabbage with the scallions and salt. Let stand until the cabbage wilts, about 2 hours, tossing occasionally. Squeeze as much liquid as you can out of the cabbage. In a large bowl mix the remaining kimchi ingredients. Add the cabbage and scallions and toss to combine.

2. Mix the patty ingredients, including ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, and then gently form four patties of equal size, each about 1 inch thick. With your thumb or the back of a spoon, make a shallow indentation about 1 inch wide in the center of the patties to prevent them from forming a dome as they cook. Refrigerate the patties until ready to grill.

3. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat (400° to 500°F).

4. Lightly season the patties on both sides with salt and pepper, and then grill over direct medium-high heat, with the lid closed, until cooked to medium doneness (160°F), 9 to 11 minutes, turning once. During the last 30 seconds to 1 minute of grilling time, toast the buns, cut side down, over direct heat.

5. Build each burger on a bun with a patty and a spoonful or two of kimchi. Serve warm.

©2014 Weber-Stephen Products LLC. Recipe from Weber’s Big Book of Burgers™ by Jamie Purviance. Used with permission.