Recipe: Pork Burgers

Pork: Beyond Boring Burgers

The Burger Kid-Appeal

The basic burger is a kid favorite whether on the grill or in a frying pan. And since kids are always looking for something new and fun, combine the fresh taste of ground pork with other kid-friendly foods to build exciting new burgers your kids will love.

"Pork's great taste goes well with so many flavors and ground pork is no exception," says Karen Kalsem, manager of youth communications for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). "Pair it with seasonings and toppings borrowed from kids' favorite foods like spaghetti, pizza and grilled cheese and you've got a sure hit for summer." Kalsem offers these ideas with kid-appeal for the burger:

Pizza Burgers—Top ground pork burgers with sliced pepperoni, mushrooms and a slice of mozzarella. After the cheese melts, add a dollop of pizza sauce.

Taco Burgers—Mix a touch of chili powder with ground pork. Grill and top like a traditional taco with taco sauce, chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese and even sour cream.

Grilled Cheese Burgers—Choose a favorite shredded cheese and sprinkle on a thin pork patty to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top with another thin patty and pinch the edges together to make one burger with a cheese-filled center. Kids will love the tasty, oozing cheese surprise.

Spaghetti Burgers—Hold the noodles on this kid-classic. Instead, add oregano and fennel seed to ground pork patties and top with a touch of spaghetti sauce and parmesan cheese for an Italian-style burger.

BLT Burgers—The fixings for a BLT sandwich make great toppers for the Burger. Pile on bacon, lettuce and tomato. Try Canadian-style bacon; its round shape is a fun change and a perfect fit for a burger. Finally, for an authentic feel, serve on toasted bread or a grilled bun.

The Basic Burger

1 pound unseasoned ground pork
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

Gently mix together ground pork and seasonings, shape into 4 burgers about 3/4—inch in thickness. Place over moderately hot coals in a kettle-style grill, lower hood and grill for 5 minutes; turn and finish grilling 4-5 minutes. Serve immediately, on sandwich buns if desired.