Can the big flavors of Jerk cooking fit into a little burger? Oh yeah! First, I love Jerk Chicken and Pork, Jerk Wings and the Pika-peppa sauce that tops it. I also love burgers and I really enjoy taking dishes that I cook, and making them into a burger. That’s all I did here. But this mini meal still has that big flavor, it just fits into your hand.
Now the last time I asked, there were 50% of you that said you have eaten Jerk and 50% that have not. I’m hoping this quick recipe will be that push for you to give it a try. While a quick burger is not the same as the slow cooked chicken and pork, the flavors in these burgers capture that same flavors.
I serve these burgers on tostones with Pika-peppa sauce, french fries and a side salad. If you want to add in some red beans and rice as a side that would be good too. Tostones are a staple in Cuban and Caribbean cuisine. They are twice fried slices of green plantains and boy are they good. I could eat a whole plate of these on their own.
This recipe was submitted to What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free. Take a peek for more gluten free foods.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground organic chicken breast
1 pound ground organic pork
4 tsp Jerk Seasoning
2 sliced green onions
1 lime juiced
2 green plantains
Celtic Sea Salt to taste
Coconut Oil
Canola Oil
Directions:
The hardest part of making this whole meal is to peel the plantain. Cut both ends off and then cut into the peel. Be careful not to go too deep. Slice the plantains on an angle to give the largest ovals you can make.
Put the plantain slices into a pan heated to medium high that has 1/4 inch of coconut oil. Cook the plantains until brown. These cook up fast so keep an eye on them. About 3-5 minutes on the first side and much shorter on the second.
Remove the plantains and put them one at a time between the parchment paper and roll the glass over the plantain to smash. Don’t let it get too thin. If you’re lucky enough to have a tostonera then by all means use that.
Return the plantains to the pan and fry for 2 more minutes. Keep and eye on these as they literally take a minute a side.
When you take the tostones out of the pan put onto a paper towel and salt.
Now here is the hard part. Don’t eat all of the tostones until you have burgers to put on top.
Time to make the burgers. You can of course make the burgers first and then the tostones. Your choice.
Mix the Jerk Seasoning, sliced green onion and lime juice into the meats. You can take a small amount of mixed meat and fry that up to taste test the seasonings. If you want a more robust flavor you may want to add in more Jerk Seasoning to the meat before you make your burgers.
Cook your burgers on medium high in a pan with canola oil. This does not need a large amount of oil like the tostones. When the meat is firm, but still has some give, then you know they are cooked. If you cook them until they are very firm they will be dry and hard. My burgers took approximately 5-7 minutes on the first side and a little less on the second side.
Place your burger on top of a tostone and top with Pika-peppa sauce. If you want to pick it up to eat, add a tostone on top!
My Cuban husband would be pleased!
Katrina- I bet he has some good ideas about food. I'd love to hear more Cuban recipes. Hope you'll share!
I love the interesting foods you write about. I'm dying to try the plantains! Thanks for linking to "What can I eat that's gluten free?"
Linda- Plantains are really good. I love making Tostones with them.
Three things: 1) I wish we lived next door … our respective specialites would complement each other well. 2) I love that you don't have to have a traditional burger (even a gf one to have your burger on) and 3) I love fried plantains, but I've never had tostones. 🙂
Shirley
Shirley- Maybe if I were a good baker like you I'd make hamburger buns. I've never tasted one that I thought tasted good that is sans rice and dairy. I come up with all types of things to server burgers on. It's a lot of fun.
I wish you lived next door too. I have a feeling we'd never get any work done!
Oops, 2) was supposed to be traditional bun! Why don't we see errors until we hit Submit? 🙁
Shirley
Diane–You will never see me make any hamburger buns (of ANY kind), so that was a compliment, dear. 🙂 LOL on living next door … maybe not on getting work done, but we'd sure have fun!
Shirley
oh wow!! i sure miss cuban food after moving to TX. cant wait to try this!