Cubana Pork Burgers Recipes

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium heat. Place a large cast-iron skillet on grill grates., In a large bowl, combine beef, pork, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 1/2-in.-thick patties. Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat until a thermometer reads 160°, 5-7 minutes on each side. , Combine mayonnaise, mustard, remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; spread over cut sides of buns. Place burgers on bun bottoms; top with Swiss cheese, ham, pickles and bun tops. Using oven mitts, carefully place preheated skillet on sandwiches. Grill sandwiches, covered, until buns are browned and cheese is melted, 5-8 minutes.

Steps:

• Grind garlic, salt, black pepper, cumin, oregano, and coriander into a paste using a mortar and pestle.
• Transfer half of the garlic and spice paste to a bowl; add lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, and vinegar. Beat the mixture with a whisk until smooth.
• Cut several inch-long, deep slits into the fatty side of the pork roast. Rub the reserved garlic paste into the slits.
• Put rubbed roast into a gallon-size resealable plastic bag. Pour the liquid mixture over the roast, squeeze as much air from the bag as possible and seal; refrigerate, turning occasionally, 8 hours to overnight.
• Remove pork roast from refrigerator, put into a roasting pan, and let warm at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Roast pork in preheated oven for 30 minutes, reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and continue cooking until pork is no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 170 degrees F (75 degrees C).

Steps:

• For the quick mojo aioli: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, cumin, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder. Cover and refrigerate until ready to dress the burgers.
• For the burgers: Mix the ground beef, chorizo, cumin, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper in a large bowl, folding it over itself until thoroughly mixed. Let the meat rest 15 minutes at room temperature or for up to 4 hours refrigerated. Shape the meat into 12 balls all the same size, then lightly press them into chubby round patties.
• Preheat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the onions and sweat until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the patties on top of the onions and press the patties onto the onions using a spatula. Let cook, 3 to 4 minutes; the onions will continue to cook and caramelize in the patty juices, adding flavor to the patties. Flip the patties and cook until firm, 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and top with the Swiss cheese.
• Spread 1 tablespoon mojo aioli on the bottoms of each Hawaiian roll, then top with a patty and a generous handful of the Mini French Fries. Serve.
• Peel the potatoes, then shred them on the largest holes of a box grater. Soak in cold water to remove starch and prevent browning, 5 minutes. Strain in a colander and dry on paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat until the temperature reaches 375 degrees F.
• Fry the potatoes in batches, moving the potatoes gently with a spider to keep them separated, until brown and crispy, about 4 minutes. Remove to a bowl, season with salt and toss to ensure all the fries are thoroughly seasoned.

Steps:

• For the pork marinade: Rinse the pork with warm water and place on a half-sheet pan preferably 1 to 2 inches deep. Carefully stab 8 to 10 slits with the tip of a chef's knife in different areas of the meat. (Note: If you are using a pork shoulder instead, cut under the thick cap of fat using a fillet knife, cutting while pulling the fat out of the way to one side, revealing the meat; do not remove the layer of fat, just detach it to make way for stabbing slits with your knife.) Using your hands, fill all the slits with garlic cloves, pressing them down into each slit. Add salt and pepper and spread evenly. Pour lemon and lime juices over the pork. Add the achiote, coriander and oregano. Using your hands, massage and spread evenly. Pour the olive oil and spread evenly. Let the pork rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
• For the blending ingredients: Add the onions, basil, olives, olive oil, green onions, green peppers, lemon, red pepper, yellow pepper and 2 quarts water to a blender. Blend until thick. Set aside.
• For the mojo marinade: Stir together the achiote, lemon and lime juices, olive oil, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and orange slices in a bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Transfer the pork to a deeper roasting pan, preferably 4 inches deep. Add the blending mixture by pouring it evenly over the pork. Now pour the mojo marinate evenly over the pork. Add water, making sure to pour on the sides of the pan and not on top of the pork, and fill at least two-thirds of the way. Cover the pork with foil, sealing tight, and place in the oven. Roast 3 1/2 hours, then remove the foil and turn the oven up to 425 degrees F. Continue to roast for an additional hour.
• Serve hot with your favorite rice and beans.

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
• To make the salsa: combine all the salsa ingredients together in a bowl; mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To make the spread: combine the mayonnaise and mustard together in a small bowl; blend well; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To make the burgers: Chop the ham in a food processor; add in the beans, chiles, and garlic; process until finely chopped.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl; add in the pork, chile powder, cumin, and salt.
• Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well.
• Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions; form the portions into patties to fit the buns.
• When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil.
• Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference-4-5 minutes on each side for medium.
• During the last few minutes of cooking, place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.
• During the last 2 minutes of cooking, top the patties with the cheese to melt.
• To serve the burgers: spread the mustard mixture over the cut sides of the bun tops.
• On each bun bottom, spread a layer of salsa; then top with a lettuce leaf, a patty, and more salsa.
• Add the top buns and serve.

Steps:

• Finely chop chorizo in a food processor or with a large knife. Gently mix together ground pork, chopped chorizo, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, green pepper, garlic and salt. Shape into 6 patties about 3/4-inch thick. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Prepare a grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat, about 450 degrees F. Grill burgers, with the lid closed, for 5 minutes. Turn and finish cooking for 4 to 5 minutes more, until cooked through or until the internal temperature reads 160 degrees F on a digital meat thermometer. Remove from grill. Toast buns on the grill, about 1 minute per side. Build burgers on buns with 1 1/2 tablespoons dressing, 1/3 cup shoestring potatoes and one lettuce leaf. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a big bowl, mix the ground pork, half the chopped garlic, half the orange zest, cumin, coriander, mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
• Evenly divide meat mixture into 4 portions; form 4 large patties about 1-inch thick.
• Preheat a skillet with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over med-high heat.
• Add patties to hot skillet; cook for 6 minutes.
• Flip and top each patty with three pickle slices, a slice of ham, and a slice of cheese.
• Cook patties for another 5-6 minutes.
• Place a foil tent over the pan for the last 2 minutes or so to ensure the cheese melts and the fixings heat up.
• While the patties are cooking, make the slaw: preheat a large skillet with the remaining vegetable oil.
• Add the remaining garlic and sliced onion to the hot oil; cook for 1 minute.
• Add in the remaining zest, orange juice, red wine vinegar, and honey; continue cooking for 1 minute.
• Turn the heat off and add the coleslaw mixture, red bell pepper, cilantro, parsley, and salt/pepper to taste, tossing to coat in the warm dressing.
• Serve burgers on Portuguese rolls with the sweet orange warm slaw on top of the burger and alongside.