Pork & halloumi burgers
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- plus at least 1 hr chilling
- More effort
- Serves 6
Ingredients
- 3 rashers thick-cut streaky bacon, finely chopped
- 3 banana shallots, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated or crushed
- 2 tbsp Creole seasoning
- 1½ tsp ground cumin
- 1½ tsp ground coriander
- 1kg pork shoulder mince
- 1 tbsp thyme leaves, chopped
- 1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
- 1⁄2 tsp chilli powder
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for frying and brushing
- 250g halloumi, cut into 6 slices
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- butter, for brushing (optional)
- 6 Kaiser rolls or brioche burger buns, halved
- 6 tbsp bacon jam (or use mayo if you don’t have this)
- 6 tbsp chilli jam or sweet chilli sauce
- large handful of Little Gem lettuce leaves, fresh rocket or both
Method
- STEP 1
Cook the bacon in a pan over a high heat until fried and crispy, about 3-5 mins. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a kitchen paper. In the same pan, gently fry the shallots and garlic in the bacon fat for 5-7 mins over a medium heat, until softened. Turn the heat to low and stir through the Creole seasoning, cumin and coriander for about 1-2 mins. Set aside in a bowl and leave to cool to room temperature.
- STEP 2
With wet hands, combine the pork mince, bacon, fresh herbs, 1 tsp each salt and pepper, the chilli powder, the cooled shallot mixture and egg.
- STEP 3
Form the mixture into six evenly sized patties. Start with a ball, then gently push down with the palm of your hands, shaping the sides of the burgers so they’re as wide and flat as possible and about 15mm thick. Finally press a dimple with your thumb in the centre of each one.
- STEP 4
Chill the patties on a plate, covered, for 1 hr for the flavours to mature and the shape to set. Will keep chilled overnight and frozen for a month. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating. When ready to cook, set your grill up for direct heat or heat a large frying pan over a high heat.
- STEP 5
Generously brush the oil over both sides of the patties and cook for 3-5 mins, in batches if needed, on the grates over the direct heat, or in a pan until looking slightly charred, then flip and cook for another 3-5 mins. If possible, use a thermometer to ensure the middles reach 75C.
- STEP 6
While burgers cook, grill the halloumi. Brush each slice with a little oil and sprinkle over the paprika. Grill for about 1-2 mins until the slices look charred.
- STEP 7
Brush butter or oil on the lids of the buns and toast the cut sides of the rolls for about 2-3 mins until golden. Spread 1 tbsp of the bacon jam on one half (or mayo), and 1 tbsp of chilli jam or sweet chilli sauce on the other, and place a handful of rocket or chopped lettuce (or both) on the base half of the bun.
- STEP 8
Rest the cooked burgers on the cooler side of the grill for about 5 mins or leave in the frying pan with the heat off. Place the patties on top of the salad leaves, then add the halloumi. Close the buns and serve.
