I am obsessed with these juicy little ruby jewels...Oh how your glossy surface beckons and drives me to overindulge. Your scent, your succulence, it quenches my annual cravings like no store bought berry ever could.
Fresh herbs and summer produce direct the culinary course of my kitchen throughout the spring and summer.
I guess, like most chefs, creative endeavors are determined by what's blooming and growing in the garden, during the growing season.
But thanks to drying herbs and freezing favorite fruits and veggies you can maintain control of what you prepare all year long without being restricted by seasons.
As you can see from the title of this recipe, this sandwich is packed with warm weather flavors.
My orange citrus mint, pineapple sage, and purple basil needed to be trimmed so I thought, how can I use the most herbs in one meal? Being warm and sunny I felt like a novel burger creation with a bright cool topping would be a perfect ending to the day!
The pork mixture is simple with a little spicy Garam Masala, pineapple sage, orange mint, and slightly sweet citrusy Tequila Azul, which provides some moisture to the pork. They're a tender and flavorful picnic burger to add to your summer barbecues.
To make them even more perfect and refreshing I topped each one off with a cool and creamy slaw full of sweet strawberry slices, red onion, a white wine dressing and a beautiful sprinkling of purple basil leaves. Berries in a slaw may seem strange but it adds a sweet/tangy flavor, gorgeous color and another dimension of texture. I also love the fruit contrasting with the Garam Masala spice!
If you have a delectable bounty of local berries and you're looking for some new strawberry recipes give these pork burgers a try!
Ingredients For Slaw
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon rose geranium vinegar (I make this from my herb garden. You can use a white balsamic or raspberry vinegar)
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
pinch of salt
2 pinches of pepper (I used Hotshot, a combination of red and black but you can use just black pepper)
2 heaping tablespoons fresh basil
2 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
Directions For Slaw
Whisk together first 8 ingredients. Toss slaw in and coat well. Then gently mix in strawberries. Chill while you prepare pork burgers.
Ingredients For Pork Burgers
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons Tequila Azul (or 11/2 tablespoons of regular tequila and 1/2 teaspoon each of fresh lemon and lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Garam Masala
1/4 cup orange citrus mint, minced
1/4 cup pineapple sage, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 Portuguese roll
Directions For Pork Burgers
Combine pork and tequila in a mixing bowl. Massage with hands to add moisture into the meat. Then add the next 5 ingredients into the bowl. Continue massaging with hands until everything is fully incorporated.
Divide the meat to form 7 patties. You can make larger or smaller ones. Just adjust cooking time accordingly. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side. Serve on Portuguese roll, or bread of your choice, and top with the slaw!
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