Burger of the Week: Spicy Ginger-Scallion Burgers with Sesame Spinach

Not your typical burger, this one takes it to the next level with something a little more gourmet. Instead of saying how good the ginger-scallion burger was at whatever restaurant, you can brag about your own!

SERVES: 4
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
GRILLING TIME: 6-8 minutes

INGREDIENTS
PATTIES

  • 12 ounces ground chuck (80% lean)
  • 12 ounces lean ground pork
  • ½ cup thinly sliced scallions (white and light green parts only)
  • 1 piece fresh ginger, about 2 inches long, peeled and grated
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

OTHER

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon hot chili-garlic sauce, such as Sriracha, divided
  • 8 ounces fresh baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 4 sesame seed buns, split

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mix the patty ingredients, and then gently and briefly form four patties of equal size, each about ¾ inch thick. With your thumb or the back of a spoon, make a shallow indentation about 1 inch wide in the center of the patties to prevent them from forming a dome as they cook. Refrigerate the patties until ready to grill.
  2. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat (400° to 500°F).
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the vegetable oil, sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon of the chili-garlic sauce. Gradually add the spinach by the handful and stir just until it begins to wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the sesame seeds.
  4. Combine the ketchup with the remaining 2 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce.
  5. Grill the patties over direct medium-high heat, with the lid closed, until cooked to medium doneness, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once. During the last 30 seconds to 1 minute of grilling time, toast the buns, cut side down, over direct heat.
  6. Build each burger on a bun with chili-garlic ketchup, a patty, and sesame spinach. Serve warm.

©2014 Weber-Stephen Products LLC. Recipe from Weber’s Big Book of Burgers™ by Jamie Purviance. Used with permission.