Juan's Spicy Burger with Sweet Onions & Wilted Kale

A burger or a meat patty is my quick go to dinner during the week when we are busy with school, college and work. Though we eat very little red meat in our household we all enjoy pork and I will always have minced pork on hand either fresh or made up as meat patties in the freezer ready to be cooked.

Pork on it's own can be quite plain so I like to spice my meat patties up and as it's my sons favorite dish, I use lots of onion and garlic flavors with a touch of smoked paprika and a little chilli powder.....he likes it hot!.

These can then be pan fried quickly and then finished in the oven or cooked on the bbq or griddle.

You have to have onions with a burger! so I like to use the sweeter red onion and add red wine vinegar and brown sugar to caramelize them. Served up with some garlic scented wilted kale and you have a tasty and very nutritious meal!


for the spiced burgers........feeds 4

500 g lean minced pork
1/2 white onion
salt
pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder or more if you like it hot!
1 large clove garlic
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon tabasco sauce
50 g rolled oats
a little olive oil

2 -3 medium sized red onions
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
4 tablespoons soft brown sugar

• a food processor is just the thing for this job!.....but if you don't have one then just finely chop the white onion and crush the garlic by hand
• place the pork mince in a deep bowl, add the onion, garlic, chilli powder, smoked paprika, the sauces and the oats
• season with salt and pepper, and mix everything together well, you can use your hands for this if you like, just wash them really well afterwards and don't handle anything else but the raw meat until you do!
• form the meat into 4 even sized round patties and press them out quite flat, about half an inch thick
• place them on a baking sheet and chill for 20 minutes to let the flavors develop ( I tend to make these in a big batch and freeze them raw so the flavors are wonderful when it comes time to cook them)
• slice the red onions quite thin and leave aside while we begin the meat
• in a heavy bottomed, non stick frying pan, heat a little olive oil, about 2 tablespoons will do
• lay the patties on the hot pan and leave them for 2 minutes to brown.....don't be tempted to poke at them or move them
• turn the patties over and repeat on the other side
• when the bottoms are browned you can transfer the patties to an oven proof tray or cook the onions along with the meat if you like
• cook in the oven for approx 15 -18 minutes until cooked through

for the sweet onions.....

• using the same pan you cooked the patties in, heat another tablespoon of olive oil and fry the onions very lightly for a few minutes
• when they begin to soften add the red wine vinegar and brown sugar
• stir to dissolve the sugar and let it come to the boil
• cook quite fast for about 5 minutes
• much of the liquid will evaporate and the onions will become almost see through and very sweet and tender
• cook till the onions are soft then season with salt and pepper if you like

for the wilted kale.....

allow 100 g raw kale per person and 1/2 garlic clove per person   

• remove any hard stalk from the kale leaves
• wash the kale well then spin in a salad spinner to remove excess water
• crush or chop the garlic
• heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a wok or saute pan over a medium heat and gently cook the garlic
• add the kale and stir for a few moments
• add a couple spoonfuls of water, season with salt and pepper then cover with a lid and allow the kale to wilt in the steam
• remove the lid and turn the heat up to evaporate any excess water and add a few knobs of butter if you want

The kale should be quite soft but will have kept that vibrant green colour so serve it up......place a bed of kale on each plate, top with the spicy burger and a spoonful or two of delicious onions..........enjoy!