Asian Burgers With Pickled Cucumbers Recipes

ASIAN STYLE TURKEY BURGERS WITH PICKLED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Pickled Cucumbers: 1. In a bowl, stir together vinegar and sugar until sugar is dissolved. If using ginger, chop. 2. Slice enough cucumber crosswise into 1/8 inch-thick slices to measure 1 1/2 cups and add to vinegar with ginger, tossing well. 3. Marinate mixture at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. Burgers: 1. Prepare grill. Mince garlic. 2. In a blender, tear bread slices and grind into fine crumbs. 3. In a bowl, mix garlic with bread crumbs and remaining burger ingredients with your hands until just combined (do not overmix). Form into four 1-inch-thick patties. 4. Season burgers with salt and pepper and grill on a lightly oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals about 5 minutes on each side, or until just cooked through. 5. Transfer burgers to buns and top with drained cucumbers. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but tastes like you took all day.

KOREAN CHEESEBURGERS WITH SESAME-CUCUMBER PICKLES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add cucumbers and toss to coat, then let stand at room temperature.
• Heat broiler to high and set oven rack set 6 inches from heat. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, scallions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Mix well, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the marinade to a small bowl and stir in mayonnaise and ½ teaspoon sesame oil. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine beef and 3 tablespoons of the scallion marinade. Gently mix to incorporate. Form into 8 thin patties (each about 4 ½ inches wide) and arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush tops with half of the remaining marinade. Flip and brush with the remaining marinade. Broil until golden and caramelized on top, about 4 minutes.
• Arrange cheese on 4 patties, top with the remaining patties and let stand until cheese melts, about 1 minute.
• Pour off all the liquid from the cucumbers and stir in the remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil.
• Smear the cut side of the buns with some of the seasoned mayonnaise. Arrange bottom buns on plates. Layer with lettuce, onion, tomato, double-stack burgers, pickles and top bun. Serve with extra pickles on the side.

ASIAN SALMON BURGERS WITH PICKLED CUCUMBER ON PUMPERNICKEL

Steps:

• With a Japanese rotary slicer (see note this page) cut cucumber into 1 long spiral. (Alternatively, with a sharp knife cut cucumber into very thin slices.) In a bowl toss cucumber with vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste.
• In another bowl whisk together egg white, soy sauce, and gingerroot until combined well and stir in salmon, bread crumbs, scallions, mustard seeds, and salt to taste. In a food processor purée 1/3 cup salmon mixture and return to salmon mixture remaining in bowl. (Alternatively, chop 1/3 cup salmon mixture fine and mash to a paste with flat side of a knife.) Stir mixture to combine and form into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. Drain cucumber well.
• In a large non-stick skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and cook patties until golden, about 2 minutes on each side. Cook patties, covered, over moderate heat until just cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Arrange lettuce leaves on 4 pumpernickel slices and top with salmon burgers, pickled cucumber, and remaining 4 pumpernickel slices.