Fennel Seed Pork Burgers with Grilled Fennel Slices, Shallot and Sweet Chili Sauce

Pairs well with:

Pinot Grigio

You won’t need a bouquet of flowers when you share our Pinot Grigio. This crisp wine with floral aromas is a wonderful way to make an entrance.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons fennel seed
2 pounds freshly ground pork
3 teaspoons salt
7 tablespoons Asian sweet chili sauce
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and cut into slices (keeping as intact as possible)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 shallots, thinly sliced
6 curry naan breads, cut in half (available at Trader Joe\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s)

 

Instructions

Preheat gas grill to medium high. Grind fennel seed with bottom of spoon in bottom of large mixing bowl. Add ground pork, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of Asian sweet chili sauce and combine with hands, handling the mixture as little as possible to avoid compacting. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions, forming the portions into patties to fit the naan; set aside on plate. In small pan, place fennel slices and brush with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, turning slices to coat both sides. Sprinkle fennel slices with remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and black pepper. Brush the grill with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place fennel slices on side of grill and cook for 4 minutes. Simultaneously, place patties on center of grill and cook for 4 minutes over direct heat with grill top closed. Turn fennel slices over with tongs. Turn patties with spatula and grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the patties registers 160 degrees F, about 4 minutes longer. During the last 2 minutes of grilling the fennel and patties, place naan halves on outer rim of grill to toast, remove from grill and set aside on plate. Remove fennel slices from grill and set aside on plate. Spread sliced shallots on bottom of medium-sized pan. Remove patties from grill, place on top of sliced shallots and let rest for 5 minutes. To assemble the burgers, spread 1/2 of naan with 1/2 tablespoon of sweet chili sauce followed by grilled fennel slices and sliced shallots, divided equally among the remaining naan. Place the patties on top of each prepared naan. Spread additional 1/2 tablespoon of sweet chili sauce on other halves of naan. Place other half of naan on top of each patty, serve immediately and enjoy!