Looking to shake up your burger routine this summer? Put these porchetta-style grilled pork burgers in your rotation. Full of bold flavor and simple to prepare, they're a fun, welcome change from the standard beef patty.
The burgers come together easily: Season ground pork with herbs, garlic, fennel seed and lemon -- a nod to the flavors of classic Italian porchetta that's traditionally made by cooking a whole suckling pig over a pit or by roasting a rolled pork loin or belly in the oven. Form the seasoned meat into patties (plan on one-third pound of ground pork per burger). Grill the patties until nicely charred on the outside, but still juicy on the inside -- then top with crispy bacon to mimic porchetta's trademark rich, crackling skin. Cook the bacon however you like. If you want to maximize its smoky flavor, cook it in a cast-iron skillet set directly on the grill grates.
The rest of the toppings are up to you! Cheese, lettuce, mayo, sliced tomatoes and grilled onions are all fair game. To reinforce the flavor of the burgers, make a quick lemon-herb mayonnaise. For ease, start with store-bought mayo, then jazz it up with some chopped rosemary or thyme, a big squeeze of lemon juice and minced garlic. Serve with your favorite burger sides or salads, and repeat all summer long.
Make Ahead: To get a head start on this recipe, place the formed patties on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate up to a day in advance.
Get Ingredients: If you don't have everything you need on hand, you can easily purchase all of the ingredients (just click the orange button below that says 'Get Ingredients'). You can pick and choose exactly what ingredients you need based on what's in your pantry and they'll be on your doorstep before you know it.