Polynesian Shrimp Burgers with Creamy Cucumber Sauce

Pairs well with:

Pinot Grigio

You won’t need a bouquet of flowers when you share our Pinot Grigio. This crisp wine with floral aromas is a wonderful way to make an entrance.

Ingredients

1 red pepper
2 tablespoons roasted red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup cucumber, peeled, and grated
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon green onion, finely chopped
2 quarts cold water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 pound shrimp, uncooked, peeled and deveined, tails removed
1/3 cup crushed pineapple, in pineapple juice, undrained
3 tablespoons roasted red pepper, finely chopped
3 tablespoons canned French fried onions, finely crushed
5 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
no-stick cooking spray for coating burgers
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil for brushing grill rack
6 sweet Hawaiian type buns, split
6 Bibb lettuce leaves
12 peeled cucumber slices

 

Instructions

Polynesian Shrimp Burgers with Creamy Cucumber Sauce

Roasted Red Pepper
1 red pepper

Creamy Cucumber Sauce
2 tablespoons roasted red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup cucumber, peeled, and grated
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon green onion, finely chopped

Patties
2 quarts cold water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 pound shrimp, uncooked, peeled and deveined, tails removed
1/3 cup crushed pineapple, in pineapple juice, undrained
3 tablespoons roasted red pepper, finely chopped
3 tablespoons canned French fried onions, finely crushed
5 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

no-stick cooking spray for coating burgers
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil for brushing grill rack
6 sweet Hawaiian type buns, split
6 Bibb lettuce leaves
12 peeled cucumber slices

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

To roast the red bell pepper, place pepper on the grill rack till the skin blackens and it is soft. When the pepper is cooked remove from the grill and place in a paper bag for 10 minutes. Peel the blacken skin off the pepper. Cut the pepper down the middle, lengthwise. Remove seeds. Remove stem. Finely chop and set aside.

To make the creamy cucumber sauce, in medium size bowl combine 2 tablespoons chopped roasted red pepper, mayonnaise, shredded cucumber, lemon juice, and chopped green onion, mix well.

To make the patties, combine water and lemon juice in large bowl, add shrimp. Let soak 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from lemon water and drain on paper towels. Pat shrimp dry with another paper towel. Discard lemon water. Place shrimp in food processor bowl, with metal blade, pulse 10 to 15 times, until shrimp is finely chopped, scraping the side of the processor bowl as needed. Add crushed pineapple, 3 tablespoons roasted red pepper, French fried onions, Monterey Jack cheese, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic salt, ground ginger, and ground pepper, pulse an additional 8 to 10 times until well combined. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties. Spray both sides of patties with no-stick cooking spray.

Brush grill rack with olive oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook 5 to 7 minutes per side, until burgers are well done and thickest part registers 160 degrees. Place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly during the last 2 minutes of grilling.

To assemble the burgers, spread an equal amount of the Creamy Cucumber Sauce over the cut side of the rolls. On each roll bottom place a lettuce leaf, then a patty, top with 2 cucumber slices, add the roll tops and serve.

Makes 6 burgers