Tuesday 26 April 2011

Spicy Pork & Herb Chilean Chocolate Burgers



Woah. Woah woah woah... this isn't a pudding. Or a pie. What's it doing here?! 

Because it's got chocolate in it! 

That's right, it's from the Green & Black's cookbook, and with every chocolate cookbook the inevitable had to happen. Savoury chocolate food.

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But to be honest, this is one of the less strange ones. Chocolate coffee lamb, for example, was....weird. It's a shame I made that before I started blogging, but I highly doubt you'd want to try it (unless you do, in which case, go you!).

I had to modify this recipe slightly, as it was originally meant to be 'Spicy Organic Pork & Herb Chilean Chocolate Sausages'. I didn't see the organic, and I didn't even know what a sausage machine was, let alone owned one. 

Other changes I made were to use ready bought minced pork (much quicker), and omit the parsley (I mean, who wouldn't?). If there's anything I hate more than aubergines, it's parsley. Coriander on the other hand, now that's a completely different story...

So, after some small changes, these are 'Spicy Organic Pork & Herb Chilean Chocolate Sausages Burgers!'.

If you read that carefully, you'll notice that my version has an exclamation mark in it. Possibly to reflect that I! Was! Very! Excited! To! Make! Them!



I ended up freezing the burgers. Uh, to, you know, save them for another time. Like, those times when I'm really, really hungry.



This is what I used. And yes, I did eat that egg afterwards (with the runny yolk, yum yum). I know enough about cooking to know that you can't use a cooked egg to bind burgers.... can you?

Now, the onions were fried, the spices were chopped, the chocolate was melted. I was ready.

And oh, I do love my blender. But the reason why it doesn't have a lid may be because I may have possibly, um, blended the lid. By accident.

I swear it doesn't make a difference!

See, they look like cookies! ...Cookies that caught the plague!

Tastes like them too.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm kidding :) 

So, as you may have guessed, I'm not sure if I like these. I think by adding the chocolate it gave it a powdery texture and strange bitter taste. But I thought I'd share them with you anyway. And it's perfect weather for a barbecue right now, so you could try these as a change from the standard beef burger!

I've served them with a bean and avocado couscous salad, but you could just as well eat them in a burger bun with the usual stuff. I mean, if we've got chilli, chocolate and meat in there, why not go all out and have some cheese too? :) 

If you make this and make any changes, I'd love to hear about it! 

Lesson learned today: As popular as bacon chocolate recipes are at the moment, there may be a reason why it hasn't extended to burgers.


Spicy Pork & Herb Chilean Chocolate Burgers
Adapted from the Green & Black’s cookbook

Takes 40 mins to 1 hour
Makes 6 large burgers

500g minced pork
2 sage leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped coriander
1 teaspoon chopped thyme
25g unsalted butter
1 tablespoon oil
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1 green chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves
½ teaspoon ground mace
½ teaspoon ground paprika
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (ground is fine too)
½ teaspoon ground cumin
90g dark chocolate (min 60% cocoa solids) broken into pieces

Put the minced pork, sage, coriander, thyme in a bowl.

Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan and sauté the red onion chilli peppers, ginger and garlic until soft, but not browned. Add the spices to the sautéed mixture while it is still hot. Cook together for a few minutes to release the flavor of the spices.

Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, suspended over  a saucepan of barely simmering water. (Or microwave in 30 second bursts).

Add the onion and spice mixture and the melted chocolate to the bowl of pork and mix together well, seasoning with a good dash of salt and pepper.

But in a blender or food processer and mix (but not too long or it will lose all texture).

Shape the mix into 6 burgers and leave to chill the in the fridge overnight.

To cook, heat a little oil in a large frying pan until smoking, add the burgers and sear on each side for 1-2 minutes, or until golden-brown all over. Transfer to a baking tray and cook in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the juices run clear when they are pierced in the middle with a skewer and the meat is cooked through.

40 comments:

  1. I have heard about savoury chocolate dishes many times but I have never been daring enough to try. But the more I hear about it, the less strange it sounds, I can now even imagine that savoury meals with chocolate cannot be that bad. Yours look just like very well-caramelised and gorgeously yummy burgers...!

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  2. Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog, which of course brought me here:D Great looking blog from a young pretty lady:) And frank too! I wouldn't try this because my boys would think I've gone bonkers adding chocolates to my burgers lol! Great shots by the way:) Cheers!

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  3. you dont like aubergines? shame on you.

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  4. These are genius! And lol at blending your lid. It sounds like exactly the sort of thing I would do too :P

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  5. these look v good. Might have to try cooking savoury things with chocolate too!

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  6. Ooooh they do sound..interesting :P I guess if chocolate works in chilli (which I can vouch it does) then it can probably work in burgers too!!!

    I love your photos as well by the way...also an amateur food photgrapher? Love, love, love it!

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  7. Hmmm... these sound intriguing. I've had mole sauce over meats ... this is certainly a different take on it. I might be tempted to try this recipe when it finally gets warm enough to grill!

    Just found your blog ... and on a most interesting day - post-wise! Cheers!

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  8. Haha, so funny!! I applaud you for trying chocolate burgers!! Have you notified the G&B author of your quest to cook everything from the book? You totally should!

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  9. wow these look amazing and love that you turned them into burgers yum

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  10. Interesting, thats a pretty high chocolate/mince ratio. I heard of cocoa being used in savory cooking not chocolate. Sweet and pork pair well together but perhaps not bitter cocoa which may be more suitable for beef?

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  11. Oh my, these burgers look incredible! I love all of the unique flavors you added to them... I bet they taste delicious!

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  12. these look amazing - such an inviting colour

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  13. Your blog is really beautiful, how can I contact you?

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  14. I am not sold with using chocolate in savory also. Thanks for making me smile at your mishaps with the blender and for reassuring me that you won't be using a cooked egg in the meat. :)

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  15. That's a most unusual recipe, but I'm intrigued and I'd love to try it! Sounds interesting and your pictures are making my mouth water! :)

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  16. @Michael Hi Michael, if you want to contact me about my blog, please feel free to email me at puddingpielane@gmail.com :)

    To everyone else - thanks for the comments!
    @Three-Cookies I agree - if I make them again I'll definitely be trying them with beef next time!

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  17. Haha, that's so funny about your blender lid, I mean, we all have accidents in the kitchen right? I once caught an oven mitt on fire while I was wearing it! LOL. It's too bad that these burgers weren't as good as you had hoped, but you cooked outside the box, and that's all the matters! Your photos are beautiful, and good to know that fried egg didn't go to waste!

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  18. I am very intrigued, thanks for giving your honest opinion though

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  19. I would imagine that it will have a slightly bitter taste, especially with dark chocolate. Perhaps you may like it better with a little less of the chocolate. I have yet to try chocolate bacon.

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  20. These look really different, really striking photo and I'd love to try out those flavours.

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  21. Woah, really? Chocolate? Hmmm I'm skeptical... But your photos are gorgeous! What a dilemma! I love how you set up the ingredients though, shall try that style next time :)

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  22. OK I love chocolate but I need to try it in the savory dish! The burgers look amazing and yummy, it's on my list to try :)

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  23. This is new to me and boy does it look good!

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  24. I'm not quite sure about chocolate in meat dishes, but it does look good with a lovely colour! That's great that you are really adventurous at trying this one out! Have a nice day!

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  25. I never would have thought to do this. It sounds well worth a try. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  26. They look amazing. I think chocolate sounds good in a meat dish. I have seen it before with Mexican spices. Cookies that caught the plague..lol You are funny:)

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  27. OMG! Chocolate in burgers, that's quite an adventure. A while back, I made chocolate chili. It gives a wave of amazing flavors with an aftertaste of the cocoa powder.

    P-S. I'll definitely e-mail you once I have a definite itinerary. I'm pretty sure I'll be staying in London for 5-6 days. :)

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  28. These look and sound utterly divine, divine, divine.. this post is a keeper for me, I can't wait to give the recipe a try.

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  29. Thanks guys! @Victor Awesome, looking forward to hearing from you soon!

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  30. Always heard of such dish but never really seen one with recipe until today! Truly wonderful! Thx for sharing!

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  31. I've eaten Mexican once with chocolate! The taste was amazing, so I believe this one tastes as good. I am a chocolate lover so this one certainly would be great for me!

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  32. First off, thanks for being so candid about the turnout. I honestly would have had a hard time contemplating eating burgers with chocolate in it. Moreso, in all honesty, I'd have a very difficult time sharing my precious chocolate into a meat product.
    I do very much enjoy you experimenting for us ;o) It certainly eases our curious nature.

    Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  33. I'm jumping back in to answer your question. Yes, you can. Simply make the rhubarb mixture through the point you test it to make sure it holds it shape. Then put it in jars and refrigerate. It will keep for about a month in the refrigerator. I hope this helps. Blessings...Mary

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  34. Really interesting recipe. I have had dishes with chocolate before, mostly Mexican, but not from an actual chocolate bar. I can see it being a bit odd but I would totally try it.

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  35. Savoury chocolate dishes. I'm not sure about the idea, but I love your enthusiasm for it! Maybe it's worth trying after all!

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  36. I've added chocolate to chili but never to burgers. Wonder if the bf would be open to this. Looks great!

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  37. Xinmei, I find this recipe very interesting and intriguing. I might give this a try. Thanks for sharing!

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  38. The burgers look gorgeous! I've never cooked burgers with chocolate ever...very interesting :)

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  39. Oh I love how you put all the ingredients up. I love that picture very much! Chocolate is a shocking ingredient but I'm sure that gives nice savory taste! Fantastic menu!

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  40. I love this idea. I was given 100% cocoa solids chocolate that is quite unpleasant to eat on its own and I wanted to use it with some meat. Never thought about pork burgers. Hopefully will make them soon. What a lovely place you have here, I hope to come back more often. :) Regards!

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