Rum Guava-Glazed Puerto Rican Pork Burgers

Pairs well with:

Pinot Noir

Every pour of our Pinot Noir brings you a delicious blend of berry flavors and the romantic aroma of violet.

Ingredients

2 cups guava nectar
1 cup Puerto Rican rum
1 green pepper, stem removed, seeded, and chopped
1 red pepper, stem removed, seeded, and chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
4 fresh culantro leaves, chopped (can substitute 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 3/4 pounds ground pork
1/4 pound smoked ham, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
6 onion rolls, sliced lengthwise
4 ounces Queso Blanco, crumbled

 

Instructions

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

To make Rum Guava Glaze, place guava nectar and rum in a fireproof saucepan. Place on the grill and reduce by two-thirds. Set aside.

To make Sofrito, in the bowl of a food processor, combine green pepper, red pepper, onion, garlic, culantro, and extra-virgin olive oil; pulse until finely chopped (not pureed). Set aside.

To make the patties, combine the pork, ham, cumin, 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 rolls.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare; while cooking baste often with the Rum Guava Glaze. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the rolls, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of sofrito on the cut sides of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place a patty and an equal amount of Queso Blanco. Add the roll tops and serve.