Korean BBQ Chicken Burgers with Grilled Pineapple and Gochujang BBQ Sauce

Korean BBQ marinades often include a fruit like an Asian pear, a Fuji apple, a kiwi, etc.
both as a source of natural sweetness and to help tenderize the meat and for these burgers I went with a pineapple theme so I included the chopped up pineapple bits in the patties. Up next for the burgers is even more pineapple in the form of grilled slices for a nice juicy, sweet and tangy contrast, salty bacon and feta, a crunchy romaine slaw and sweet and pungent grilled onions! The final piece of the burgers is a Korean themed BBQ sauce that uses gochjang (a Korean chili bean paste) for a sweet and spicy heat that finishes off the burgers nicely. These tasty burgers are an amazing combination of flavours and textures that work so well together and they are the perfect way to kick off grilling season and to keep it going throughout the summer!

Korean BBQ Chicken Burgers with Grilled Pineapple and Gochujang BBQ Sauce

Burgers flavoured Korean BBQ style with grilled pineapple, gochujang BBQ sauce, slaw, bacon and feta.

ingredients

FOR THE BBQ SAUCE:

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup gochjang (Korean chili paste)
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon garlic grated
• 1 tablespoon ginger grated
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil

FOR THE ROMAINE SLAW:

• 4 cups romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lime juice
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

FOR THE BURGERS:

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/3 cup pineapple, finely chopped and squeezed of excess liquid
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ginger, grated
• 2 green onions, finely sliced
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free for gluten-free)
• 4 slices bacon, cut in half
• 4 buns (gluten-free for gluten-free)
• 4 pineapple slices
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup feta, crumbled (optional)
• 1/2 cup cilantro

directions

FOR THE BBQ SAUCE:

1. Mix everything.

FOR THE ROMAINE SLAW:

2. Toss the lettuce in the mixture of the vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, gochugaru and sesame seeds.

FOR THE BURGERS:

3. Mix the chicken, pineapple, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and green onions, form the mixture into 4 patties and grill or pan-fry over medium-high heat (or broil) until cooked, about 3-5 minutes per side.
4. Cook the bacon until crispy and set aside on paper towels to drain.
5. Grill the buns, pineapple slices and onion slices.
6. Assemble the burgers with bacon, patties, BBQ sauce, pineapple, onion, romaine slaw, cilantro and feta and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts: Calories 535, Fat 17.8g (Saturated 5.4g, Trans 0),Cholesterol 116mg, Sodium 1104mg, Carbs 49.1g (Fiber 3.4g, Sugars 17.1g),Protein 42.9g

http://www.closetcooking.com/2015/05/korean-bbq-chicken-burgers-with-grilled.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20160828