Cheeseburgers with a Twist: Chipotle Pork Cheeseburgers

Taste: ****
Difficulty: Easy
Cleanup: Quick

Here’s a different take on a cheeseburger…use ground pork instead of beef!

These pork burgers seasoned with one of my favorite flavors — chipotle peppers in adobo sauce — were delicious.  It’s amazing that such a small amount of this ingredient can pack in so much flavor!

I forgot to pick up the tomatillos but we did use the sliced avocados and the muenster cheese.  Both were a delicious complement to the spicy pork burgers.

Chipotle Pork Cheeseburgers
Gourmet, June 2009

• 1 pound ground pork (not lean)
• 2 teaspoons minced chipotle in adobo plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, forced through a garlic press
• 4 slices Muenster cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, toasted
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 large tomatillo (1/4 pound), husked and rinsed, then sliced
• 1/2 small avocado, sliced
• 1/2 cup cilantro sprigs

Prepare a gas grill for direct-heat cooking over medium heat.

Gently mix pork, chipotle, garlic, and a scant teaspoon salt until just combined. Form into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) patties.

Oil grill rack, then grill patties, covered, 4 minutes.

Flip patties and top with a slice of cheese. Grill, covered, until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more.

Spread buns with mayonnaise and assemble burgers with tomatillo, avocado, and cilantro.