The coals are sizzling, the margaritas are flowing, and I’m gearing up for a day’s worth of grilling and chilling poolside in my hometown of San Diego this weekend. We’re cooking up hot dogs and brats, and kicking regular cheeseburgers to the curb in favor of Hoisin Barbecue Pork Burgers topped with quick-fix homemade slaw.
Ground pork subs in for classic shredded pork in this Asian-inspired take on ‘cue that stars Chinese Five Spice Powder and sweet and tangy hoisin. And while I’m all for making your own barbecue sauce, there’s something to be said for doctoring your favorite store-bought version (re: less time cooking = more time lounging).
Pile the patties and slaw atop toasted, barbecue-brushed buns, and don’t forget the ultimate celebratory grand finale: Patriotic Pavlova with Watermelon Stars. Who needs fireworks when you’re dishing out such a star-studded caloric lineup?
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Ingredients
For Slaw:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Asian fish sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 lbs wedge purple cabbage, cored and finely shredded
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions (green parts only)
For Burgers:
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup store-bought barbecue sauce (See Kelly's Notes)
- 1 ½ lbs ground pork
- 2 teaspoons Chinese Five Spice Powder
- 4 buns, halved and toasted
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, salt, sugar and vegetable oil. Add the cabbage and scallions to the bowl and toss thoroughly until well coated. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 2 hours.
Make Burgers:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin and barbecue sauce. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the pork, Five Spice and 3 tablespoons of the hoisin-barbecue sauce mixture. Mix the ingredients together with your hands and then shape the meat into 4 equal-sized patties.
- Heat and lightly oil a grill or grill pan. Cook the burgers on one side for 6 minutes, then flip, brush with the hoisin-barbecue sauce and continue cooking until cooked throughout.
- Brush any remaining sauce on cut-side of bun then sandwich patties and coleslaw between buns.
Kelly's Notes:
- While any store-bought barbecue sauce will work, hoisin's sweeter flavor is balanced out best by a slightly tangier barbecue sauce.
- The less you condense the meat while making the patties, the better. Compact, dense patties means tougher burgers.
- Hoisin sauce is considered a "dry" ingredient and should be measured as such. As a general rule, any ingredient that can be leveled off (i.e. sour cream, honey, ketchup, etc.) should be measured in a dry measuring cup.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
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Burger recipe inspired by Gourmet.
My family really enjoyed the flavors of these. Thank you for this recipe!
You are so welcome, Patti!
Kelly, Thank you for the wonderful recipes. I cannot wait to try them all.
Is there a bbq sauce that you recommend for this recipe?
Thank you in advance.
Thanks, Janet! I like Sweet Baby Ray’s :)
Have made this slaw quite a bit. I serve it with the honey balsamic pork in wraps. I’m currently preparing a bunch of freezer meals for when baby no.2 arrives. Do you reckon I could freeze the slaw without the dressing on it or would it turn out soggy when defrosted?
So glad you’re enjoying the recipe, Kate! I have never tried freezing it, so I can’t say with certainty what the texture would be like after defrosting it.
Thanks for the quick reply! So, (stupid question) is that what you would use as the “five spice” called for in this recipe? I just put it on my shopping list for tomorrow! Thanks!!
BTW-I recently found you through pinterest, I love your blog!
Not a stupid question at all! Yes, sub in the McCormick’s for the five-spice (all that matters is that you somehow season the meat, as pork – much like chicken – needs all the flavor it can get). And welcome to Just a Taste!
THese sound AWESOME! I was wondering, what is your favorite brand of Chinese fve spice? I know I have tried different spice mixes before, and have not been happy with them (to much of this or that in it-like in an “Italian spice mix) So if you have a favorite, I’d love to hear what it is!!
Thanks Nancy! Truth be told, my all-time favorite Asian spice blend is McCormick’s Gourmet Collection Far East Sesame Ginger Blend. It’s available in most major grocery stores, but here’s a link online: http://bit.ly/McCormicksAsianSpiceBlend
I use it on chicken, pork, beef – you name it! It’s awesome in these burgers, and also on chicken wings. Enjoy!
This is making my mouth water, and I wasn’t even hungry before I saw them!
That looks really delicious and I like the change up to ground pork from shredded.
Thanks, RIta! And it’s a bit quicker, too!
Think these would be good substituting the pork for ground turkey meat?
Hi Alissa! Yes, you could absolutely sub ground turkey (or even ground chicken) for the pork. Enjoy!
These look wonderful Kelly! Happy 4th and miss you!!