Celebrate Chicago Pork Burger

Pairs well with:

Merlot

Get cozy and get pouring. Our Merlot is the wine for long weekends and lengthy chats.

Ingredients:

Smoky Tomato Mayo:
1 large tomato
1 clove garlic, chopped
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lime juice

Brown Butter Sweet Potatoes:
Water, for boiling
1 large sweet potato, peeled and thinly sliced
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Greek Onions:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sweet onions, peeled and sliced
Pinch dried oregano leaves
3 tablespoons white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Patties:
1 1/3 pounds ground pork
2/3 pound kielbasa, ground in a food processor
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
6 ounces burrata cheese (or fresh mozzarella)
6 Kaiser rolls, split

Instructions:

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

In order to make Smoky Tomato Mayo, place tomato on grill and grill for 8-10 minutes, turning occassionally, or until the skin has become totally blackened. Let cool. Remove the blackened skin and discard; chop the remaining tomato; discard seeds. In the bowl of a food processor, combine tomato, garlic, smoked paprika, mayonnaise, and lime juice; puree. Refrigerate until serving.

In order to make Brown Butter Sweet Potatoes, fill a large fireproof saucepan halfway with water and place over high heat. Bring to a boil. Add sweet potato slices and cook for 5 minutes. Drain sweet potatoes. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large fireproof skillet over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes. Add sugar and sweet potatoes and cook for 3 minutes per side or until sufficiently caramelized. Set aside.

In order to make Greek Onions, heat oil in a large fireproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occassionally. Add oregano, white wine, and lemon juice and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.

In order to make the patties, combine the pork, kielbasa, water, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the buns.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4-5 minutes on each side for medium. During the last 3 minutes of grilling, place an equal amount of burrata cheese on each patty. Also, during the last few minutes of cooking, place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

In order to assemble the burgers, place a generous amount of Smoky Tomato Mayo on the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom, place a patty with cheese, some Brown Butter Sweet Potato slices, and an equal amount of Greek onions. Add the bun tops.

Makes 6 burgers.