Roasted Walnut Pesto Pork Burger

a spin on pork chops and applesauce

You know I’m always looking to twist up classic flavor combinations, and this one had been on my mind for a long time before I actually grilled it up.  The pesto makes the actual burger super juicy.  And the crunch of the sweet apple is just irresistible.  Enjoy!

cooking information

• Yield: 12 Burgers
• Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 12 minutes

all ingredients

• 2 Red Delicious Apples
• 3 lbs Ground Pork
• 1 Wedge of Brie
• ½ cup Roasted Walnut Pesto
• 12 Dinner Rolls If you’re in Cincinnati, Servatii’s knots are the best.

recipe instruction

1. Preheat your grill.

2. In a mixing bowl add your pesto and ground pork. Mix together and form into 12 equal 4-ounce burgers.

3. Prepare your other ingredients. Slice your apples into discs – enough for 4 on each side of the apple, so 8 discs per apple. (If you have a mandolin, use it to slice the apples very finely.) Slice your brie into strips. Set aside.

4. Add your burgers to the hot grill. Cook on the first side 7 minutes. Do not press down or move the burger too much. Flip and finish cooking on the second side 4-5 minutes.

5. To assemble your burger, add a disc of apple to the bottom, the hot burger, and then a slice of brie on top. Make sure you add the brie while the burger is warm so it’ll melt a bit.

6. Serve and enjoy!

cooking tips

• I like to use buttery sandwich rolls instead of a traditional bun. It ups your game in its presentation and also ads just the right sweet taste.
• Make sure to slice the apples not too far in advance so they don’t oxidize and turn brown. If you want to prepare in advance slice your apples and let soak in water with lemon juice added to it.
• I love working with ground pork because it’s juicy and carries flavor really well; if you want to substitute ground turkey or chicken you can too. But be careful because there isn’t a lot of fat in either of those so make sure you don’t overcook them.