pork | TCS | Page 3

I can get so excited about hamburgers, you have no idea. I can think about it all day, day dream about it and talk about it. I try not to but I would love to, honestly.

I figured since Autumn is here I would just slip in one last Bbq-ed Burger. The weather has been surprisingly mild here in Holland so far, so I haven’t really made the mind swap to fall foods yet. I don’t really eat as many Burgers in autumn and winter. It just seems more like a summer food to me. So…

I came up with this burger because I am crazy about chorizo. You don’t need a lot of chorizo to get that super delicious smoked paprika flavour . I have used the dried chorizo because it’s the only one we can get here. It worked very well. Especially with the sticky balsamic onions.

Ingredients Chorizo Burger;

1 lb ground beef, organic if you possible
4 oz. dried chorizo, skin removed
1 onion, peeled and cut in four
1 garlic clove, peeled and grated
1/2 tsp. salt
a good grinding of black pepper
1 tps. smoked paprika (spanish preferably)
1 egg yolk *
1/4 C. fresh bread crumbs
1 tbsp. chopped parsley
Extra:
1 small zucchini, sliced
Roast red peppers from a jar
4 thick slices of Manchego
4 Hamburger Buns

* I never use egg white in a burger because it makes it rubbery.

Ingredients Balsamic Onions;

1 tbsp. olive oil
4 large onions, peeled and sliced medium thick
4 tbsp. coconut blossom sugar or brown sugar
3 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar, the darker the better

Method Chorizo Burgers;

Cut the chorizo in small bits, put them in a food processor together with the onion and garlic and blitz a few times until small. Put the beef and the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Add the chorizo and onion mix to the bowl as well. Mix and form into 4 patties.

Put a griddle pan over the heat. Grill the burger for about 4 minutes on each side. Put the manchego cheese on the burger as soon as you flip them over.

Grill the slices of zucchini alongside the burgers.

Method Balsamic Onions;

Heat a small frying pan and add the olive oil. When medium hot add all the onions, cook for 10 minutes of medium low heat. Add the sugar and cook another 5 minutes until dark and sticky. Finally add the balsamic vinegar and cook for an other two to three minutes until slightly reduced.

To assemble the burgers. Toast the buns, on the bottom layer a piece of grilled pepper, then 4 slices of grilled zucchini, then the burger and then top with loads of sticky glazed onions. Serve with fries and sauces of choice. I served my burgers with Aïoli.

Not quite what you were looking for? How about Deluxe Beef burger filled with Onions and Crispy Bacon, topped with Gouda

NOTE: Store leftover egg whites in a container in the freezer for a wonderful Pavlova.

Serves 2

This is a recipe that I have been making for years, at least 15 or so. I always make it for informal dinner parties for friends and family when you want something different but not too complicated or fancy.

To be honest with you, I don’t even remember how I came up with this recipe but I do know that guests have always loved it. It is an unusual combination of ingredients but that’s what makes it work. I guess you’ll just have to try for yourself.

You have to stuff the tenderloin first. Then you can cook the polenta and the prepared tenderloin at the same time, since the cooking time is about the same.

Ingredients Tenderloin;

1 Pork Tenderloin weighing about 12 – 14 oz

1 thin slice Serrano ham or Parma ham

1 tbsp. Ketjap Manis

1 tbsp. Apricot Jam

1 spring onion

Salt and Pepper

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 glass dry Sherry

Ingredients Polenta;

1 C. Polenta

2 C. milk

1 1/2 C. Chicken stock, good quality

3 tbsp. butter

1/3 C. Parmesan Cheese, grated

Method;

Start by preparing the tenderloin. Lay it out on a chopping board and make a deep cut lengthwise but not all the way thru, about halfway. Open up and flatten with the palm of your hand.

In a little bowl combine the apricot preserve and the ketjap and spread all of it in the middle of the tenderloin. Cover with the ham and put the spring onion on top. Now close the tenderloin and fasten with kitchen twine.

Meanwhile bring to a boil the milk with the chicken stock. Add the polenta and stirring now and then cook for about 18 to 20 minutes. Just before the end add the butter and half the parmesan cheese. Taste the polenta and add salt and pepper (if necessary). Reserve the other half for serving.

Heat a frying pan on the stove and add butter and olive oil. Cook the tenderloin, browning it all over and turning every few minutes. Give the polenta a stir now and then.

The tenderloin will take about 18 minutes, remove to cutting board and cover loosely with tin foil. Remove the twine and slice.

Add the sherry to the pan with the meat juices and scrape to loosen the crusty bits.

To serve, place a good amount of polenta on a plate, serve with a few slices of the tenderloin and the sherry gravy, Serve with more parmesan cheese on the side. Place a few crispy sage leafs on the polenta.

To make the crispy sage leafs, just fry them in the the pan alongside the tenderloin,frying a few leafs at a time just for two minutes or so, place them on kitchen paper until ready to use.

Enjoy

Myra Xo