Carolina Burger Recipes

CAROLINA BARBECUE BURGERS

Steps:

• To prepare barbecue sauce, combine brown sugar, beer, mustard and vinegar in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 to 17 minutes until thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup, stirring occasionally.
• Lightly shape Ground Beef into four 1/2-inch thick patties. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 7 to 9 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160 degrees F, turning occasionally. About 2 minutes before burgers are done, place bun, cut sides down, on grid. Grill until lightly toasted.
• Spoon 1 tablespoon sauce on bottom of each bun; top with burger. Evenly top burgers with cabbage. Evenly spoon remaining sauce over cabbage. Close sandwiches.

CAROLINA BURGER CHILI

Steps:

• Combine the ground beef, chili powder, garlic, hot sauce, seasoning salt, beef base, cumin, pepper, onion and 1 cup water in a heavy-bottomed 4-quart stockpot and mix well. Cook the chili over medium-high heat until the ground beef is cooked, about 30 minutes. Whisk in the tomato paste, making sure to blend it into the chili well. Simmer until thickened and the tomato flavor is incorporated, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and serve over burgers!

CAROLINA BURGER

Steps:

• To make the mustard barbecue sauce, blend the vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, and oil in a blender until emulsified. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the black pepper. The barbecue sauce can be made 1 day ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• To make the dressing for the slaw, blend the green onions, vinegar, 1/4 cup cold water, chiles, mayonnaise, and oil in a blender until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Put the cabbage and red onion in a bowl, add the dressing, and stir until combined. Fold in the cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving. The slaw can be made 2 hours in advance and refrigerated.
• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper. Cook the burgers, using the oil (see page 16), and basting the burgers with some of the barbecue sauce during the last minute of cooking.
• Place the burgers on the bun bottoms and top each one with more barbecue sauce and some of the slaw. Cover with the bun tops and serve immediately.

SOUTH CAROLINA SHRIMP BURGERS

Steps:

• For the tartar sauce: In a bowl, combine 3/4 cup mayonnaise, pickles plus brine, shallot, capers and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
• For the burgers: Pulse breadcrumbs in food processor until finely ground, about 15 pulses; transfer to shallow dish.
• Place a third of shrimp (1 cup), 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/8 teaspoon salt and cayenne in now-empty processor and pulse until shrimp are finely chopped, about 8 pulses. Add remaining shrimp (2 cups) to shrimp mixture in processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 4 pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Transfer shrimp mixture to bowl and stir in green onions.
• Divide shrimp mixture into 4 (3/4-inch-thick) patties (about 1/2 cup each). Working with 1 patty at a time, dredge both sides of patties in breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to adhere; transfer to plate.
• Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Place patties in skillet and cook until golden brown on first side, 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip and continue to cook until shrimp registers 140 to 145 degrees and second side is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes longer. Transfer burgers to paper towel-lined plate and let drain, about 30 seconds per side. Spread tartar sauce on bun bottoms, then place burgers and lettuce on top. Cover with bun tops.

CAROLINA PULLED PORK INSPIRED HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• In a small sauce pan, fry half of the bacon pieces and the chopped onion in 1 tablespoon melted butter until the onions are golden, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add honey, mustard, vinegar, hot sauce and Worcestershire and simmer until the sauce thickens and slightly reduces, about 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• While the sauce is cooking, fry the remaining bacon pieces until crisp then drain on paper towels. In a small mixing bowl, combine both paprikas, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder and celery seeds with 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
• Lightly knead the ground pork with the bacon and liquid smoke (if you are using/ I didn't use) in a bowl. Loosely make 4 patties about 3/4" thick and place on a plate covered with saran wrap. Sprinkle the spice mixture on the top, bottom and sides of burger, patting it into the meat till it sticks. Brush the spice covered burgers and both sides of the bread with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter.
• Light your grill and brush the grate with oil once it is heated. Grill the burgers for 12 minutes, turning once, until just cooked through. Remove the burgers from direct heat and grill the bread on both sides until toasted and the grill marks appear.
• Set each burger on a toast slice and top with the shredded cabbage and a generous helping of the honey-mustard sauce. Cover with the remaining toasted bread and serve immediately, passing the extra sauce separately.