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Juicy burgers with an Asian flair and a bit of crunch from water chestnuts!
Nothing beats a great burger done on the grill! And now that it’s grilling season, I’m making it my business to try many more of these dressed-up burgers!
This recipe isn’t new. I’ve made it quite a few times over the years and it comes originally from a Chinese cookbook that was published in the early 1960s. The book was my mother’s and when she passed away, I inherited all her cookbook collection. This was really a great cookbook too and it was written by an Asian man who funny enough was a professor of Asian culture. I misplaced the book and can’t remember the title or the gentleman’s name. Can’t find it in my bookcases so I have to search further for it.
Anyway, this burger is seasoned with soy sauce–naturally LOL. It also has minced garlic mixed in but the unusual ingredient here is water chestnuts. That’s what adds the earthiness and more importantly, the crunch.
I do quite a bit of Asian-style cooking so a can of water chestnuts is always in my pantry. They come whole or sliced. I prefer the sliced because I rarely have any dishes that would use the whole. However, you can always slice the whole ones, so that may be the best choice to keep on your shelf.
The original recipe called for dusting the shaped meat with cornstarch. This is a step I eliminated ages ago because it seemed to serve no real purpose except for making your hands gloppy from trying to coat the patties.
I always serve my burgers on kaiser rolls, and if you can get sourdough kaisers, they are the bomb with this burger (and any other). Top it all off with julienne green onions and you’ve got one terrific and tasty burger!
Crunchy Asian Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb 80-85% ground beef see NOTES
- 8 oz can water chestnuts, diced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4-6 kaiser rolls sourdough is best if you can get
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes so the flavors blend.
- Shape into 4-6 patties of desired thickness.
- Grill until burger reaches desired doneness--a insta-read therrnometer works well here. As an example, I like my burgers medium and make them about 1-inch thick, so I grill about 8 mins each side.
Notes
Nutrition
Linda says
I love the idea of the water chestnuts. That would add that crunch in a very unusual way. I love to grill this time of year and these would be a good twist on the burger. Thanks for sharing.
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda
Linda recently posted…Summer Squash with a Spicy Kick
Judith Hanneman says
They add a great dimension to the burger!
Liz says
Another Yum – thank you.
Judith Hanneman says
Thanks Liz <3
Melissa Sperka says
Gorgeous and so creative to make this Asian twist on burgers! Mus pin this one
Melissa Sperka recently posted…Easy Sheet Pan Breakfast Stacks
Judith Hanneman says
Thank you my dear friend <3