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Lemongrass Burgers

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Makes 4 servings 1x

Time about 30 minutes

Units Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed
  • 1 shallot or half a small red onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Minced fresh red chile or crushed red pepper flakes to taste
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound ground pork or chicken
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons good-quality vegetable oil
  • Cilantro sprigs, lime wedges, ketchup, and hot sauce for serving

Instructions

1. Trim the tough ends from the lemongrass and slit the stalks lengthwise to easily peel off the fibrous outer layers. Mince the tender core of both; you should have about 2 tablespoons. Trim, peel, and mince the shallot or onion and garlic; you should have a generous tablespoon of each. Put all the aromatics in a medium bowl with the chile, fish sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir and mash with a fork for a bit until everything is fragrant.

2. Add the chicken to the bowl and stir gently with the fork (or your hands) to incorporate the seasonings without overworking the meat. Divide and shape the mixture into four balls.

3. Put the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, flatten a ball between your palms to about 1/2 inch thick and put it in the pan. Repeat with the remaining balls. Let the burgers cook undisturbed, until they brown on the bottom and release easily. Lower the heat to medium-low and turn the burgers. Cook, turning once or twice more until they’re charred in places and no longer pink at the center, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve as sandwiches or in grain bowls, or on a bed of vegetables and noodles, with cilantro, lime, ketchup, and hot sauce.

— Recipe adapted from The Best Recipes in the World