Name: Grilled Southwest Pork Burgers
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into pieces; 1 shallot, minced; 2 tablespoons milk; 2 tablespoons minced jarred hot pepper rings; 4 teaspoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary; 1 1/2 pounds 80 to 85 percent lean ground pork; 4 hamburger buns, toasted and buttered

Why This Recipe Works

Burgers made from ground pork can be notoriously dry and crumbly. To fix the problem, we added a bread and milk mixture (a panade) to keep the burgers moist and cohesive. We bumped up the seasoning with Worcestershire and soy sauces, jarred hot pepper rings, chili powder, and fresh rosemary, and we grilled the burgers over a moderate heat to keep them moist.

Before You Begin

We developed this recipe with whole milk, but low-fat will work, too. Serve with Horseradish Burger Sauce, if desired. If food safety is your primary concern, you may want to cook your burger to a higher internal temperature. To learn more, check out this guide.

Instructions

Combine bread, shallot, milk, hot peppers, soy sauce, Worcestershire, chili powder, thyme, pepper, salt, and rosemary in large bowl. Mash to paste with fork. Using your hands, add pork and mix until well combined.

Divide meat into 4 equal balls. Flatten balls into even 3/4-inch-thick patties, about 4 inches in diameter. Using your fingertips, press centers of patties down until about 1/2 inch thick, creating slight divot.

FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot.

FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Turn all burners to medium.

Clean and oil cooking grate. Grill patties (covered if using gas), until browned on first side, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and continue to grill until burgers register 150 degrees, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Serve burgers on buns.