These piquant pork burgers get layers of complex flavor from a spread of mayonnaise and potent black bean sauce—a Chinese specialty made from fermented black soybeans. For a seasonal complement (and another delicious boost of umami), we’re tossing crisp green beans with sesame oil and furikake, a Japanese blend of seasonings that includes seaweed flakes and sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 10 oz Ground Pork
- 2 Potato Buns
- 6 oz Green Beans
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 Cilantro
- 2 tbsp Black Bean Sauce
- 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 2 tsp Sesame Oil
- 1 1-Inch Piece Ginger
- 1 tsp Furikake
Instructions
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients & marinate the cucumber:
Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Snap off and discard the stem ends of the green beans. Peel and mince the ginger. Halve the buns. Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Thinly slice the cucumber; place in a bowl with the vinegar and toss to coat. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, for at least 10 minutes.
Blanch the green beans:
While the cucumber marinates, fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Add the green beans to the pot of boiling water and cook 4 to 6 minutes, or until bright green and slightly softened. Drain the cooked green beans thoroughly and transfer to the bowl of ice water; let stand until completely cool. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to a large bowl.
Form & cook the patties:
While the green beans cook, in a medium bowl, combine the ground pork, ginger and half the black bean sauce; season with salt and pepper. Gently mix until just combined. Using your hands, form the mixture into two ½-inch-thick patties; transfer to a plate. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the patties and cook, loosely covering the pan with aluminum foil, 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside in a warm place. Wipe out the pan.
Make the black bean mayo & dress the green beans:
While the patties cook, in a bowl, combine the mayonnaise and remaining black bean sauce; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. To the bowl of blanched green beans, add the sesame oil and furikake. Toss to thoroughly coat; season with salt and pepper to taste.
Toast the buns:
In the pan used to cook the patties, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the buns, cut sides down, and toast 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a clean, dry work surface.
Assemble the burgers & plate your dish:
Season the marinated cucumber with salt and pepper to taste. Spread a layer of the black bean mayo onto the bottoms of the toasted buns. Top with the cooked patties, some of the marinated cucumber (you will have extra cucumber) and the cilantro. Complete the burgers with the bun tops. Divide the burgers and dressed green beans between 2 plates. Serve with the remaining marinated cucumber on the side, if you’d like. Enjoy!