Comments from the recipe testers "We cook Chinese and other Pacific rim recipes on occasions. This was Top 3 of all time. The addition of fresh ginger and the hoison sauce make the difference." Phillip Matherly, Lexington, KY "This was definately different to what I usually do. I think I will use pork for burgers more often! I think I might add a little chile [sauce] next time though. I'll be definately doing this one again!!" Ben Peterson, NSW, Australia

Chinese Mu Shu Pork Burgers

These wonderfully flavorful and juicy burgers contain most of the same ingredients found in the Chinese restaurant classic, Mu Shu Pork (also spelled Moo Shu Pork). In restaurants it is made from shredded pork, scrambled eggs, wood ear mushrooms, day lily buds, ginger, garlic, green onions, and served on tortilla-like Chinese pancakes slathered with rich, sweet, hoisin sauce, and rolled up like a burrito. Here I have deconstructed and reconfigured it as a colorful, flavorful, better burger.

Recipe

Makes: Makes 4 large burgers
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Drink: A light ale or good lager, a dryish Riesling, or a pink wine.
Serve with: A great side dish is chilled soba noodles with cucumbers, dill, sesame oil, and rice vinegar.

Ingredients for the burger
1 pound ground pork
1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup carrots, peeled and shredded with a peeler or box grater
1 raw egg
3 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated on the small holes of a box grater
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more if you like things hot)

About the ginger. This is an important flavor so use fresh ginger, not ground.

For the grill
2 tablespoons vegetable oil for brushing on the grill grate

For the mouth
6 good quality buns, brioche would be nice, kaiser will work fine
1 large sweet red bell pepper
4 teaspoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons white sesame seeds
4 leaves Romaine lettuce (or another crunchy lettuce), chopped
1/4 cup scallions, chopped on a bias

About the Asian ingredients. If you have trouble finding them in your grocery store, try AsianFoodGrocer.com

Method
1) Mix the burger ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Form into 4 patties about 3/4" thick the same diameter as your buns and slightly concave in the center (they will puff up when cooked). Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the raw meat and egg mixture.

2) Prepare the a 2-zone grill and clean the grates well. Clean grates is important because these burgers are not as firm as regular hamburgers.

3) Slice the bell in half, discard the seeds and stem, and wash. Place the two halves skin down over the hot part of the grill and close the lid. Cook until the skin blackens and blisters, about 5 minutes. Remove the pepper, put it in a bowl, and cover it with a plate so the steam will loosen the skin. Peel the skin and cut the roasted meat into thin strips.

4) Brush oil on the grates on the hot zone of the grill so the burgers will not stick. Place the patties on the grates. Cook the burgers with the cover on, for about 7 minutes or until they begin to turn dark in color.

5) Gently flip the burgers being careful not to allow them to break apart. Place 1 teaspoon of hoisin sauce on the cooked side of each burger and spread it around with a spoon. Remove when internal temperature of the burger is 160°F. If the coals flare up or the meat begins to char, move the burgers to the medium heat zone.

6) While the burgers are cooking, toast the cut side of the buns over the medium heat zone, watching them carefully so they do not burn. Remove them and spread the chopped Romaine on the bottom halves of the buns, and the red pepper strips on top of the lettuce.

7) When the burgers are done, set them on the lettuce, hoisin side up, sprinkle them with sesame seeds and scallions. Put the top of the bun next to the colorful burger and serve.

This page was revised 8/25/2009